Water damage is never a fun situation, and taking all precautions to avoid water damage is crucial. However, what happens when potential water damage sources are from areas of your home you suspect the least? In some situations, homeowners may notice that their own AC has been leaking water, which can be alarming. Thankfully we're here to break down why this can happen and how you can take steps to avoid this hassle!
Clogged Condensate Lines
With any HVAC issue, the cause can depend on various factors that all need to be considered. In our experience, we usually notice that air conditioners tend to leak due to a clogged condensate drain that impedes your system's drainage functions. These condensate lines get blocked due to dirt and dust, so regular cleaning of your HVAC system is essential!
Dirty Air Filters
Speaking of cleaning your HVAC system, another likely cause of leaky AC units can also be linked to your air filters. Dirty air filters can play a role in causing poor airflow into your AC unit, leading to an overworked system with improper airflow that can cause your evaporator coils to freeze. Frozen evaporator coils can quickly lead to malfunctions that leave you with a leaky AC.
Condensate Pump Or Drain Line Issues
In some cases, drain line connections from your AC to the system's drain pan can get disconnected, which results in leakages that can go unnoticed. Likewise, if your AC unit uses a condensate pump for drainage, malfunctions with that pump can cause leakages.
Steps To Take
The best advice we can give to homeowners is to clean their HVAC system quite seriously. We know that cleaning is not the most fun activity that comes to mind, but dirt and dust build-up can quickly get out of hand if you're not careful. Dirty HVAC systems lead to malfunctions that create leakages and impede energy efficiency, leading to more repairs and a higher utility bill.
If you need to clean your AC unit, always power off the system entirely before opening up any panels or cleaning surfaces. Be mindful of the panels and any fins near coils as these components are sensitive, so you want to avoid damaging them with sharp objects while you clean.
When it comes to repairing your AC, the best thing to do is call our technicians at (702) 820-1723 so we can make sure to rule out all possible causes of an AC leakage. At The A/C Guys® we want to make sure we just don't put a band-aid on your HVAC issues. We want to solve and address the issue at the root! So don't hesitate to call us, and we can find the most cost-effective solution for you!