This is a question that
AC contractors around Volusia and Flagler counties often hear, either anxiously in an urgent phone call or email, or occasionally with a degree of curiosity from a friend or relative.
Air Conditioner Leaking Water, but is it?
In a moment, we’ll consider the five most common reasons for this problem. Before we do, however, there is another answer: it isn’t actually leaking! Air conditioners are expected to dehumidify the air and this often leads to a degree of simple condensation rather than actual leakage.
That said, if you were to discover either a pool of water or an obvious degree of leaking, then this is often an area that needs to be professionally addressed by a
Daytona Beach area HVAC provider. So, here are the five key possibilities:
There was an installation problem
This might be a situation that has followed on from a problem when it was originally
installed. Perhaps the pressure on the system is too great, or possibly the unit simply isn’t level. For the latter, a quick check should provide the answer. With the former, search around the house for any closed vents, as the added pressure this causes sometimes leads to valve leakage.
Your condenser pump is broken
This can quickly be tested simply by pouring some water into the condenser pan and seeing if the excess is pumped away. If it isn’t, then the next check is to confirm that the power to the pump is OK. If it is, the two remaining causes are likely to be either the condenser itself, or the motor.
There is an air leakage situation
When your AC seals aren’t tight, it’s easier for an excess of warm air to enter the unit. This leads to air moisture condensing when it contacts the cold air inside the system. The result is the excess moisture you find below the unit. The solution here is to both reseal the unit and then to make sure everything is completely closed.
A blockage of the drain hole
Each AC unit has a drain hole for the removal of water. It might simply be blocked by either accumulated dirt or gathered debris. A check of the tubing can confirm this, and clearing any blockage should quickly solve the problem.
Baby, it’s cold outside!
In the words of that old song, this is a climate, rather than a conditioner, situation. A drop in temperature can lead to water pooling around the air conditioning unit, simply because it cannot evaporate as easily as it otherwise would. When the outside temperature heats up again, this water should soon disappear.
If you find any pooling of water, then it makes good sense to find out the cause, and then deal with it as necessary. If you don’t, then your AC unit is not running as well as it could, meaning that it is costing you extra dollars. It’s also likely that your home environment isn’t as pleasant as you’d want it to be. Unless the cause is easily rectified, such as waiting for the days to become warmer, then a quick call for a professional repair can surely provide the most useful solution.
