Is It Normal For Water To Be Coming From Your AC Unit?

Your air conditioner doesn’t use water, so it can be surprising when you discover a puddle building up around your unit. This leads to the obvious question, “Why is my air conditioner leaking water?” Today we’re going to answer that question by talking about why your air conditioner produces water in the first place and what can go wrong with your system that would cause a leak!

Why does my air conditioner produce water?

We mainly count on our air conditioners to cool the air in our homes, but they also perform another function: dehumidification. When your air conditioner is running, the evaporator coil gets extremely cold. As warm air from your home is blown over the coil, the air cools down and releases moisture (thereby dehumidifying your air).

If your air conditioner is operating properly, that moisture drips down into a drain pain that’s located under the evaporator coil. The water then flows through a condensate pipe and out of your home.

Why is my air conditioner leaking water?

Water leaks in central air conditioners are almost always caused by a problem with the condensate pan or drain pipes.

The most common of those problems is a clogged drain line. When your condensate drain line gets clogged, water backs up into the drain pan. With nowhere to go, that water will begin to leak over the drain pan and onto your floors.

Another problem that can lead to a water leak is a crack in the pan or drain pipes. If any of these parts get cracked, water can leak out of them instead of being properly drained out of your home.

Water can cause significant damage to your home, so if you ever notice that your air conditioner is leaking water into your Coachella Valley home, contact Hyde’s as soon as possible in order to avoid damage to your HVAC system, walls or floors.

How can I prevent my air conditioner from leaking water?

The best ways to avoid a water leak in your air conditioner include:

  • Scheduling an annual tune-up to have your condensate drain inspected and flushed
  • Changing your filter regularly to limit the amount of particles that get into your drain pipes
  • Installing an overflow switch that will shut down your system before a leak occurs

If you have any questions about why your air conditioner is leaking water, or if you’d like a cooling system serviced or installed in your home, contact Hydes, your Coachella Valley air conditioning contractor, at (760) 360-2202.