Troubleshooting Steps When Water Leaks from your AC System
Over a hot Texas summer, your AC system is working round the clock to keep your whole house cool. You should expect a well-maintained system to keep up with the necessary cooling demand to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. But problems still can happen. Sometime signs of a problem aren’t obvious, but one that is hard to ignore is a big puddle – water leaking from your AC.
Finding water coming from your air conditioning system is more than just a mess that needs to be cleaned up. While leaking water can cause damage to your home, whatever is causing the leak is likely another problem that needs to be addressed. If ignored, whatever problem you have is likely going to get worse.
Identifying the Location of the Leak
How do you know if a leak is coming from your HVAC system? Usually, the place where you notice the water pooling or dripping from is a good indicator.
Water puddle in your basement
If the water leak is leaving a puddle in your basement, it is likely coming from your HVAC system. But even if it appears near a furnace, it isn’t the furnace that has a problem. That water is likely coming from the indoor unit of your home’s cooling system.
Water dripping from a ceiling below your attic
Are you seeing drips come down from your ceiling? If this is occurring right below your attic where your HVAC system is located, then it could be coming from your A/C.
Do I Need Emergency Plumber Service?
Not necessarily. You don’t want to ignore any leak for long, but it isn’t likely an emergency situation. While many things that cause a leak should need to be handled by a professional as soon as possible, a relatively small leak from your AC is not likely one that needs addressed that same night, but something that can wait until the next day or after the weekend.
Anytime you have a leak, you can call on the professional Texas plumbers here at Action Air Plumbing & Septic. And this is also true for a leak coming from your home’s cooling system. Action Air provides a full range of home system service including air conditioning repair and maintenance. That means that even leaks that are a result of an air conditioning problem can be easily handled by our experienced team of plumbers and HVAC technicians.
While there are many great Midland area plumbing companies and also great local HVAC companies, being a business that specializes in both plumbing leak detection and heating & cooling systems mean we are absolutely your local team of experts to get your leak fixed.
5 Likely Reasons Why Water is Dripping from an AC
Did you know that your air conditioning system is creating water nearly every day? As your AC works hard to cool and dehumidify your home, moisture is getting pulled from the air. That moisture collects inside the AC system. All that water gathers into a drain pan then goes down a drain line.
The first step in addressing this type of leak is determining what is causing it. Water dripping from your AC could be from a few different reasons. While most will require a professional HVAC company to fix, some issues may be something a homeowner can try to fix on their own.
If you try some of the basic troubleshooting steps and they don’t solve the leak, contact us at Action Air and we will come out to determine the cause of the problem and get it fixed.
- Dirty Air Filter (DIY Troubleshooting)
The fix could be as simple as replacing your air filter. This something just about any homeowner can handle themselves. A dirty air filter can cause a wide range of different problems. Make sure your air filter isn’t dirty or clogged. If it is, replace it and see if that stops the leak.
- Broken Condensate Pump (Possible DIY Troubleshooting)
Many cooling systems work with something called a condensate pump. This pump directs the water that is created by the AC to a floor drain or sink. Just like any part, it can break. If it does, that can be what is preventing water from getting pumped out of your house.
This is a something some homeowners may want to troubleshoot themselves. To do so, disconnect the drain line and empty the water. Remove the check valve and plug the pump back in. If it is still not working, you can buy a replacement condensate pump. If that doesn’t solve the problem, then you may have a dirty check valve. You can try to clean it or replace it.
- Clogged Condensate Drain Line (Call a Pro)
A problem with your condensate drain line is probably not something for you to fix this yourself. A professional HVAC technician has specific tools designed to fully clear out whatever is blocking an air conditioner’s condensate drain line.
- Damaged Drain Pan (Call a Pro)
The drain pan may have become rusted or damaged and therefore needs to be replaced. This repair is best left to a professional because a drain pan is usually hard to access.
- Refrigerant is Low (Call a Pro)
An air conditioner low on refrigerant can cause several problems including the evaporator coil to freeze. This can then melt which will overflow the drain pan, creating a puddle. Call us at (432) 620-8900 and we will come out and check your system. If we see that your system is low on refrigerant, we will replace all that is needed.
Preventing an AC Leak
An air conditioning leak can be prevented. Regular AC maintenance work done on your cooling system should reveal signs of problems early on. Catching issues early prevents your system from breaking down or causing problems like water leaks.
Request service from our team at Action Air Plumbing & Septic for the AC service your home needs. For less than the cost of a Netflix subscription, you can join our preventative maintenance program to have us handle your HVAC maintenance and tune-ups throughout the year. It’s a membership program that allows Action Air to take the worry and the work off your hands of making sure your home’s comfort system is working properly and efficiently.
