-Oh, my air conditioner is leaking water! What I can do?
Every time there is a leak in your home in Alicante, it is natural to feel worried. Water damage can be expensive to repair, and it does not take long to occur once a leak begins. Even the simplest leak can damage floors, walls, ceilings, carpets and even furniture. If your air conditioner has started to leak, it is crucial to take action. Before continuing, turn off the air conditioner and clean the dripping water. Water damage can occur within a few minutes of a leak, and you will want to protect your home from potential damage while investigating the cause of the leak. While an leaking A / C is cause for alarm, most leak-related failures can be quickly repaired by ours HVAC technicians.
Why my air conditioner is leaking water? Reason 1: Frozen evaporator coil
Your air conditioner has several important components to help you cool the air in your home. One of these components is called an evaporator coil, and it cools the refrigerant passing through it. It does this by absorbing heat from the air inside the house and sending it to the condenser coils outdoors.
If you don’t get your yearly A/C tune-up, the evaporator coil may be covered by a thin (or thick) layer of dust. When the coil becomes dirty, it cannot exchange heat between the indoor air and the refrigerant. This can cause the evaporator coil to become too cold, which can result in ice formation. Over time, the entire coil can be wrapped in ice.
If you notice a puddle of water under your air conditioner, check the evaporator coil. Water could be dripping from a layer of ice and frost that grows around the coil. Although this is something you should solve immediately, it is unlikely to cause permanent damage to your unit. Turn off your air conditioner, place a towel under the unit and schedule an appointment for a simple air conditioner repair.
Reason 2: clogged drain line
As we mentioned in previous posts, your A / C is responsible for removing moisture from the indoor air. High humidity levels make it difficult for your air conditioner to cool your home, so it removes moisture as part of the cooling process. This drain line may become clogged over time, similar to any other pipe in your home. When this happens, water can accumulate inside your unit. If the drain is not cleaned in time, the collected water will spill from the condensation tray and drip onto the floor. This is one of the most common causes of air conditioning leaks, and it is also easy to solve! Our HVAC technicians can remove dust, dirt or mold that has accumulated inside the drain line.
Reason 3: the drain pan is rusted
Another part of the air conditioner that can cause a leak is the condensation pan. As discussed earlier, the condensation pan collects the moisture that is extracted from the indoor air. After grouping in the pan an inch deep, the water travels through a drain pipe to the outside of your home. The pan prevents moisture from dripping from inside your air conditioner and seeping into your home. Because the pan is shallow, it can overflow if the condensate drain becomes clogged. Any water that spills from the pan will seep into your home. Condensate drain pans can also oxidize over time, especially when your air conditioner is ten years old or older. Holes and cracks in an oxidized condensate pan can allow water to seep into your home.
Why my air conditioner is leaking water? Reason 4: low refrigerant
It is a common mistake to think that air conditioners use refrigerant in the same way that cars use gasoline. This is incorrect. Your air conditioner does not require regular refrigerant refills. However, your A / C may experience failures that cause refrigerant leaks, which is usually indicated by a whistle or bubbling coming from the system. If your air conditioner is experiencing a refrigerant leak, the unit must be repaired and the lost refrigerant must be replaced. Without the correct amount of refrigerant, your air conditioner cannot extract heat from the indoor air. This prevents your air conditioner from cooling your home and can also cause the evaporator coil to get too cold. When the evaporator coil reaches a certain temperature, it will begin to form ice inside your unit. This ice can make your air conditioner leak water to your home.
Regular maintenance
A leaking A / C should always be treated as soon as possible, regardless of the cause of the leak. Water damage can occur very quickly, and not repairing the air conditioner the first time you notice the problem may cause a major failure. If you see water dripping from your air conditioner, call Alpino Clima immediately and place a towel to prevent moisture from damaging your floor.
As always, the best way to prevent your A / C from developing a leak is to get your annual A / C tune-up. Don’t forget to schedule yours before the start of the summer!
