Is Your AC Leaking? Here's What to Do!
July 3, 2020
Having an AC Leak in Your Home Can Cause Significant Damage
When water is leaking in your home, it's definitely not a good thing and something you want to address ASAP. Aside from the initial health hazards of mold and mildew growth, it can also cause a lot of damage to the drywall, wood, and insulation in your home. If the water is leaking from your HVAC unit, the ususal culprit is the condensate drain, and the runner-ups are dict obstructions, a clogged air filter and/or low refrigerant levels.
Below we go into a little detail about each one that may help you determine where your problem begins.
Condensate Drain Pan
The drain pan does a number of things to help your home, number one being that it protectsyour home against water damage. How, you ask? It collects water resulting from the air conditioning process and keeps the unit from having biological growth and subsequent failure.
You should check the pan regularly for cracks, clogs or other damage. If the pan itself is not damaged, there's a good chance that it could be the drain line.
Condensate Drain Line
The condensate drain line is an exit route for excess water to drain from your unit. These lines can get clogged with algae, gunk, rust, etc., and when this happens the water backs up and you have a leak. Sometimes you can dislodge the leak yourself with a shop vac or compressed air. A thin, flexible wire can work as well, however you need to be very careful so as not to puncture the drain line. The best way to avoid this is to get your HVAC unit serviced regulary.
Clogged Air Filter/ Duct Obstructions
Usually a clogged air filter is the result of a dirty air filter, and can be easily changed. If it's a clogged duct, check them by lifting out the register and inspecting for debris that may have fallen into the duct. Also, make sure nothing is blocking them as this will obviously hamper air flow.
Low Refrigerant Level
Very common as well, low refrigerant levels cause pressure to drop and the unit will not work properly. This plunges your system into a cycle of freezing and thawing, which will cause water to leak.
If you suspect an leaking air conditioner that is not easily remedied, please give A-1 American Services a call, and one of our technicians will be able to determine the problem, and have you back to cool comfort in no time. We have been servicing the Hampton Roads area for over 20 years! For services in Virginia Beach, Newport News, Williamsburg, and surrounding areas, call A-1 American at 757-425-2400
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