A/C Leaking Water? Why It’s Leaking & What to Do in New England

Got a Leaky Air Conditioner?

Oh no! It’s a New England heatwave and there’s a pool of water formed around your A/C unit. Let’s figure out what the issue is, and stop your air conditioner from leaking more.

Why is my air conditioner leaking?

There are several possible reasons that your A/C condensate is dripping onto the floor:

• The tube through which the condensate is supposed to drain may be clogged.
• The tube may be disconnected from the condensate drain pan.
• The connection between the drain pan and the tubing may be blocked.
• The coil may be icing over due to problems with either dirty filters or an improper refrigerant charge.
• The AC drain pan itself may be rusted out.
• The condensate pump may have failed.

This might seem like an issue with your air conditioner (well, it kind of is…), and you want to call on your heating and cooling expertise for help. But, believe it or not, this is actually more of a plumbing issue.

Here’s why:

Your air conditioning system’s cold indoor evaporator coil not only cools your home but dehumidifies it too. This is an important part of the function of your A/C system.

The indoor coil is mounted on top of your furnace or, in some cases, an air handler that’s located in your basement, utility room, or closet. The coil is designed to drain off that condensed humidity, through a tube to a drain, by gravity or with the help of a small pump.

It’s a drain that you’re dealing with here! Put your plumber’s hat on!

Water on the floor around your indoor air conditioning unit is a sign that something has gone awry with this AC condenser drainage system. That’s why we’re here to help.

How to stop your A/C unit from leaking water

1. Turn off the air conditioner to stop the problem from getting worse.
2. Clean up the water immediately so that you don’t slip! (This also prevents water damage to the walls and floors.)
3. At your thermostat, set the fan switch set to “Auto” instead of “On”. If the fan runs continuously, when the air conditioning turns off, the fan will blow all that water into the air stream and re-humidify the air in your home.

That should stop the leaking for now.

Beware! If you see that ice is accumulating on the indoor coil when you’re sleuthing around, you’ve discovered a symptom of a serious problem. The problem must be dealt with before you burn out your compressor.

Fixing an issue like this one is very expensive and you’re better off having your air conditioning contractor check out your unit. Need more assistance? Take a look at our Plumbing Repair services.