AC leaking water can have various reasons. No matter why your AC is leaking, it should be stopped as soon as possible to prevent further damages to your air conditioner unit. Here we are going to explain 8 possible reasons for AC leaking and the way to stop it. But before that, have you ever thought how a device without any water and without connecting to any water source, can leak water?
To answer this question, first we should know how an air conditioner work and where does this water come from?
How an AC unit work that can cause leaking?
Air conditioner does a very simple job: heat transfer. It transfers heat out of the room.
Imagine a glass of icy water. You can easily see heat transfer. As you know, hot air is more humid than cold air. When the hot air touches the cold wall of the glass, its humidity turns into drops and sits on the glass. Heat lost from the air is transferred to the glass and then to the water inside that. So the water temperature goes up.
Now let's go back to air conditioner and the AC leaking again. When the AC unit is working, the room hot air is suctioned inside the unit and flows around a cold metal component called evaporator. Evaporator is in fact that glass of icy water. It is cold because a cold gas flows inside it. The room hot air touches the cold evaporator and turns into drops on evaporator surface just like what happened in the glass. Heat is absorbed by evaporator cold metal and transferred to the cold gas inside it. So the gas warms up too. Meanwhile, the air inside the unit leaves it through AC windows or vents without its previous heat to cool down the room.
The water generated in this way by condensation, leaves the unit through drain pan and drain tube or hose.
Tip: about 5 to 8 gallons of water leaves the air conditioner unit everyday which also depends on the air humidity and the system efficiency.
Why is the air conditioner leaking water?
Now that you know about air conditioner function and how water is produced in this device, we can talk about the AC leaking reasons:
Clogged drain line can cause AC leaking
The AC condensate drain line removes the water in the air conditioner unit. If any dust or debris blocks this line, the AC starts leaking water.
In order to fix this problem, you should clean the drain pan and the drain tube.
Warning: before starting any service or repair operation, turn off the AC unit and unplug it.
You can use a vacuum cleaner to pull out the debris inside the tube. When all the debris is removed, use vinegar solution to clean it. Let the solution stay inside the tube for at least 1 hour, then wash it with water and make sure it continuously flows out of the other end.
Dirty air filters a reason for AC leaking
Dirty air filters limit the air circulation and cause evaporator coils to freeze. The solution is a so easy: regularly washing the air filters and replacing them in case of any wear and tear. Try to check the filters every month.
Note: cleaning the air filters every 30 to 90 days, can stop the evaporator coils freezing and consequently the AC leaking.
Refrigerant shortage inside the evaporator and AC leaking
The low level of refrigerant can cause some parts of evaporator coils to freeze and the AC to leak. One of the signs of refrigerant shortage is the AC not cooling well.
Warning: in case of any evaporator coils freezing, turn off the unit and don't turn it on until the problem is solved.
Faulty condensate pump causes AC leaking
If the line directing AC condensate water out is not steep enough, a small pump should be used to help the water get out. The pump is installed inside, beside or under the AC indoor unit. If the pump is faulty, it can't pump the water out. So, we will have a leaking air conditioner. The pump should be repaired or replaced to stop the AC from leaking water.
Low air temperature a reason for AC leaking
If you turn on your AC unit in a cold environment in cooling mode, the evaporator coils will freeze up and will cause AC leaking. To avoid this problem, don't turn on your air conditioner in less than 15°C.
Broken or rusted drain pan creates AC leaking
If you are using your air conditioner unit for more than 10 years, the drain pan might be cracked or rusted. So, you will have a leaking air conditioner. You can mend the drain pan, but it's better to be changed.
Tip: some AC systems have a specific switch which turns off when the filter or drain tube are clogged to prevent AC leaking. In this case, just check the filter, the drain tube and drain pan.
Incorrect AC installation and AC leaking
If you have recently installed your new air conditioner unit and it's leaking water, you may have chosen the wrong AC size for your room or simply you have installed it incorrectly. Just check everything again to stop the AC leaking.
Not insulated AC tubes can cause water leaking
The tubes under the main unit are so cold and in case of not being insulated, the cold glass scenario will take place and the air moisture will drip inside the room from the tubes. So, you will have a leaking air conditioner.
Is AC leaking dangerous?
AC leaking water isn't dangerous for you but it shouldn't be ignored. It will gradually turn into a big problem. The water can penetrate into the wall or floor and ruin the carpets or the wooden floor. It can cause mold growing which can be harmful for your health. So, fix it before it makes a big problem.
If you need more information about air conditioner and refrigeration systems, you can watch air conditioner training course in HelloTechnic website. Our experts will teach you everything about AC installation, service, troubleshooting and repair, all through films and animation to make you an AC technician.
