What to Do About an Air Conditioner Leaking Water - Tips from Your AC Repair Experts

June 27, 2016

Summer is not the time you want to fret about AC repair. You have better things to do—like taking a vacation or chilling by the pool. When you’re dreaming of the pool this summer, it’s most likely not a pool of water by your air conditioner. What’s causing it and how can you fix it? Air-Right Energy Design, Inc. can help.

Turn Off Your System

The first thing you should do if you notice water puddling near your indoor unit is to turn off your system because water could destroy its electronic components. Water pooling around your indoor unit is a warning that something is either leaking or not draining and it’s probably time for an AC repair. Don’t panic. Just call us. It could be a quick fix. The following are a few normal causes of a faulty air conditioner that are uncomplicated to repair.

Clogged Condensate Drain

Part of your air conditioner’s duty is to extract moisture from the air in your house. This moisture has to be drained away from inside your unit through a condensate drain. One of the most common causes of a leaking air conditioner is when this drain becomes back up. When this happens, the water will spill out into your home.

Change Your Filters

The most painless thing you can do to keep your system functioning as it should is replace the air filter. If your air filter is grimy, it keeps air from flowing over the evaporator coil. This can cause the evaporator coil to become coated in debris and dirt. When this occurs, your coil could ice up—which is a sign of trouble.

If your evaporator coil ices over, you’ll have to defrost it by shutting your system off and switching your blower from “auto” to “on.” Hopefully, the ice will melt slow enough that your drain can handle it.

Whenever you realize water or ice around your AC unit, your preferred course of action is to turn it off and call us to come take a look. It’s likely a minor problem, but we’ll take care of it and give you peace of mind. Give us a call at 703-260-1148 if you notice any problems that might require AC repair, or if you’re ready to schedule your annual air conditioner maintenance.