Air Conditioning Condensation Leak

It's the heat of summer or even the beginning of the season when you first turn on your air conditioner. Hopefully you've already had all the air conditioner preventive maintenance checks done and there are no problems. Everything is working fine at least for now. Suddenly you notice water around the air conditioner and you know you have an air conditioner problem. This air conditioner problem is often referred as an air conditioner leak and often customers call an HVAC contractor and say their air conditioning has an air conditioner leak. A few questions later, by the HVAC dispatcher, it is determined that you have an air conditioning condensation leak. This is not a unique problem and many people have leaking air conditioners during the season. Here are the likely reasons why your air conditioner is leaking water. Hopefully the air handler evaporator coil is not in an attic because you could be buying a ceiling unless precautions were taken.

Air Conditioner Leaking Water Problem

Your air handler has an evaporator coil in or near it. This evaporator coil is designed to operate below the dew point. Anything that is below the dew point will sweat. It's like having an ice cold glass of ice water sitting on a table in the summer time. The ice water will sweat a small pool of water onto the table or coaster. The air conditioner evaporator coil does the same thing. It sweats water from all the moisture in the air from your home. This moisture originates from the outside of the dwelling and it directly related to the humidity level of your geographic area. This is beneficial to you by dehumidifying the air which makes you feel cooler. All this condensation that is removed from the air by your air conditioning evaporator coil needs a place to go. Thus the reason you have a drain pan and drain line to drain the condensation which is produced by the air conditioner evaporator coil.

Air Conditioner Evaporator Coil Drain Pan and Drain Line

The air conditioner evaporator coil drain pan and drain line are usually in dark moist places. Dark moist areas promote the growth of algae. Over time the algae can build up to the point where it clogs the drain line preventing air conditioner condensation from draining. A simple solution to this problem is to treat the system with algae treatment or some people use Clorox. Take care in using chemicals including Clorox because many times the drain terminates into a flower bed or outside of the dwelling and not into a sanitary drain system like the municipal sewer system. A biannual treatment will in most cases prevent the evaporator coil condensation drain from being clogged ever. Most air conditioner preventive maintenance plans from your local HVAC contractor include treating the air conditioner condensation drain system with algae treatment tablets so you will not have to worry about a clogged air conditioner condensation drain.

Air Conditioner Evaporator Coil Drain Pan and Drain Line Plugs or Clogs

If your air conditioner evaporator coil drain pan or drain line is clogged there are different methods contractors use to unclog the line. One way is to use a CO2 gun to blow the line. This CO2 gun uses little cartridges that provide high pressure to the line which will blow out the algae from the line allowing the condensation to drain. This should be done by an HVAC Contractor as sometimes the drain line needs to be cut and then redone after the line has been blown. Other methods to unclog the air conditioner evaporator drain are to use high pressure nitrogen, a water hose, or a shop vacuum to suck the line out. Again, it is recommended that an HVAC technician perform the job of unclogging your drain line if it were to become clogged.

Why Hire and HVAC Contractor to Fix the Air Conditioner Condensation Leak?

Because the technician brings experience to the job, experience that will be helpful in determining if the air conditioner drain is actually the problem. It is likely that the air conditioner condensation drain line is clogged but it could be something else. For example; the air conditioning unit may have a slow Freon or refrigerant leak. If this is the case the evaporator coil will freeze up because it will operate below freezing. All the moisture in the air will freeze to the coil. Eventually the ice will melt. Typically this melting overwhelms the drain and appears to be a clogged air conditioner condensation drain line. There are other good reasons to hire an HVAC contractor to fix the problem but mainly you will have someone who is professional, identify the problem quickly, and make efficient repairs so you can enjoy worry free comfort for the rest of the season.

Here is a handyman video if you decide to fix the condensation leak yourself. Very informative video especially for people with air handlers installed in the attic. One inaccuracy to note that is in this video: The man refers to the unit in the attic as the condenser when it is really the air handler or evaporator coil. 

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