Why Your AC is Leaking and How to Fix It

Nothing is more stressful than an unexplained leak in your home. Besides the obvious frustration and inconvenience, a malfunctioning air conditioner can lead to thousands of dollars in costly repairs. If you’ve noticed water coming from your AC system, our experts are here to provide some insight into potential reasons why there’s a leak and how you can fix it.

4 Possible Reasons For a Leaking AC

1. Damaged/Rusted Drain Pan

If you have an older unit (12-15 years), it’s possible that the drain pan may be damaged. When the pan rusts through, water that should be draining will instead fall right through. To stop the leak, replace the drain pan typically located underneath the evaporator coils. If you are unsure where to find this drain pan, contact your local HVAC professional.

2. Dirty Air Filter

A good rule of thumb is to change your air filter every 1-3 months. For those with pets or airborne allergies, the filter should be changed more often. A dirty air filter can block the airflow over the evaporator coil. If this happens, it can get too cold and freeze over. When the ice on the coil melts, too much water can drip into the pan causing it to overflow into your home.

3. Low Refrigerant

Similar to the dirty air filter, low refrigerant causes the evaporator coil to freeze and melt excess water into your home. The best way to avoid this is to know what the signs are of low refrigerant in your unit and remedy that before it presents a significant problem.

How to tell if your refrigerant is low:

• The air conditioner isn’t cooling well
• A hissing or bubbling noise – a result of refrigerant leaking

In the case of low refrigerant, you can either recharge it yourself or call a professional. If you’re interested in doing it yourself, follow these steps:

• Assess your unit
• Determine the type of refrigerant you will need
• Turn off your AC unit
• Recharge system with refrigerant

In many cases, though, to ensure you’re getting the most out of your air conditioner, call your HVAC contractor when a problem arises.

4. Clogged Condensate Drain Line

A clogged drain line is actually the most common cause of water leaking from your air conditioner into your house. Over time, these drain lines often get clogged with dirt, dust, sludge, or mold. If this happens, the water can back up into your house causing a notable leak. There are ways to solve this yourself, but usually, the best way is to call a professional.

Let Bertie Heating & Air Conditioning help!

If you notice an AC leak in your home or office, our experts at Bertie Heating and Air Conditioning are here to help. There’s no convenient time for a malfunctioning unit, so don’t hesitate to take advantage of our 24/7 emergency services. We aim to provide the best service possible, and we will do our best to get your air conditioner up and running again in no time. Contact us today to get your AC back in business!