A leaky air conditioner can be the source of many summer annoyances. From a window sill that is permanently wet, to rotten wood that becomes difficult to repair. In a perfect world, your air conditioner should be leaking all of the water outside, but when it isn’t you can run into a few issues. If your air conditioner is leaking, it can damage the wood around your window sill. Even worse, if the problem persists without you knowing, the water-logged wood around your window can become the perfect habitat for mold and mildew. Mold and mildew can cause a slew of health issues like congestion, respiratory disorders, and in severe cases it can get a lot worse.
Fear not, however. The problems that cause an A/C unit to leak are generally very easy to address. Keep reading below to learn about a few of the leading causes of a leaky air conditioner — and how to solve them.
Reasons Your A/C Unit Is Leaking Water
Dirty Air Filter
Dirty air filters are arguably the most common cause of a leaky A/C. We get it — cleaning the filter(s) in your air conditioning unit is an easy task to forget about, but they should be cleaned or replaced every 30 to 60 days. It makes sense that it’s a forgettable task; you run the A/C all day in the summer and it just keeps on trucking. That is, until the day you notice a bit of water build-up.
When this happens, the first thing you should do is remove the filter. It will surely benefit from a cleaning, and if it’s really badly built up, replacing it may be your best option. Fortunately, the filters are pretty cheap to replace. Use this resource to learn how to clean air conditioning filters.
Clogged Drain Line
Air conditioners produce moisture as a byproduct. When this moisture forms, it drips into a collection pan that has a drain line leading to the outdoors. This line can get clogged with a buildup of debris, molds, and mildew.
If you believe that a clogged drain line may be the cause of your water ingress and wish to solve the problem yourself, start by using a wet/dry vac to remove the debris. If this doesn’t work, you may have to call a professional to help fix your A/C. They have special tools and vacuums that can force the clog out easily.
Air Conditioner Is Low On Refrigerant
If water is escaping your A/C and entering your home, it could be caused by a refrigerant leak. The first thing you need to do in this case is to check your air conditioner’s refrigerant level. If the refrigerant levels are low, it can cause the evaporator coils to freeze over, which leads to a sizable build-up of water as they thaw, then freeze just to thaw again.
Bucks County Fuel Is Here For You
Here at Bucks County Fuel, we pride ourselves on having some of the best A/C repair services in the PA, at a reasonable cost. Your family’s comfort is a top priority of ours: If your air conditioner is causing you trouble, and you don’t feel like dealing with the hassle yourself — reach out. We’re here to get your A/C back in shape quickly and hassle-free.
