We’ve talked before about the problem of refrigerant leaking from an air conditioning system. We’ve also talked about why you don’t want to see ice forming on your AC. This post meets halfway between those two: we’re talking about leaks, and we’re talking about water. Refrigerant isn’t the only liquid that may leak from an air conditioner. You might see water leaking from your indoor AC cabinet. Why does this happen and is it a reason to call us for air conditioning repair in Shreveport, LA? We’ll answer those questions below.
Why There’s Water in Your AC
You might wonder why you have water in your air conditioner in the first place. If you have a basic understanding of air conditioning systems, you’ll know they don’t use water to cool the air. There’s a different type of cooling system called an evaporative cooler that works that way, but the standard AC circulates chemical refrigerant to provide cooling.
However, water vapor is a byproduct of the air conditioner’s cooling process. As the indoor evaporator coil absorbs heat to cool the air, it also causes moisture in the air to condense along the coil. This is one of the reasons ice can sometimes form on the coil: if the coil is still too cold, this water vapor will freeze.
This water moisture leaves the air conditioner through a condensate drainage system, which consists of a pan below the refrigerant coil, a drain, and a pump to draw the water through a line and out of the home. When you hear the sound of water dripping in the AC, it’s the drainage system at work.
How Water Can Leak From Your AC
Now that you know the basics, we can explain how this water may end up leaking out of the air conditioner.
- The condensate pan, which is usually made of plastic, can become brittle and crack over time, allowing water to drip through.
- The drain can become clogged up, often with algal growth, which will rapidly cause the pan to overflow.
- A burnt-out motor in the pump will also cause the pan to overflow.
- Corrosion on the drain can cause it to become detached from the pan, leading to water falling through the bottom of the pan.
- If the condensate coil freezes over, unthawing it can lead to too much water for the condensate system to handle, causing an overflow.
Yes, You Want This Repaired
Water leaking from an AC is bad for several reasons:
First, if the pan overflows, it will trip a limit switch that shuts off the air conditioner. If you notice that the screen of your thermostat has gone blank, it’s probably because of this overflow.
Second, poor drainage and leaking water increase the humidity levels inside the AC. This promotes rust and mold growth, both of which can ruin the air conditioner.
Finally, you don’t want water damage in your house, do you?
It’s easy to have a leaking AC repaired. Just call our technicians—we’ll diagnose the problem and have the AC back to work!
Moon’s Air has provided whole-home comfort since 1971. Call us for service today—it’s good to be Mooned!