3 Reasons Your Air Conditioner Might Be Leaking

You don't typically expect to see water coming out of your air conditioner. Some amount of condensation is to be expected, but true leaks are a sign of trouble. If your air conditioner has sprung a leak, you should identify and resolve the problem as quickly as possible. Here are three reasons your air conditioner might be leaking:

1. Your overflow tray is damaged.

Most air conditioners contain an overflow tray beneath the evaporator coils. Some amount of water is produced during normal AC operation, and the overflow tray usually catches this water so it doesn't spill out onto the floor. However, if the overflow tray is damaged, water will be able to leak through any available cracks. You can check your overflow tray by opening up your air conditioner. If you don't feel comfortable doing this yourself, you can wait for an AC technician to do it for you.

2. The air filter is full.

Your AC's air filter is designed to catch unwanted particles before they make their way into your house. The air filter leads to cleaner, less polluted air. However, it needs to be changed regularly. When your air filter is full, your air conditioner will have a harder time pushing air through it. This can cause cold air to get trapped in your AC unit, which may freeze your evaporator coils. When this happens, water will begin to drip out of your AC. You can solve this problem by simply replacing your air filter. Do this on a regular schedule every three months to prevent this problem from recurring.

3. The drain line is clogged.

Your air conditioning has a drain line installed to move condensation out of your AC unit. This line usually drains out the back of your air conditioner. If this tube becomes clogged, water can backup and spill out. An air conditioning repairman can unclog your drain line or replace it if necessary.

If you notice water dripping from your air conditioner, don't wait until the problem worsens. Pick up the phone and contact your local air conditioning repair company. If you've already identified the problem, let the representative know over the phone. This will give them additional information that can be useful when coming up with a price estimate for you. If you're still unsure about the exact source of the leak, a repairman can come to your house to diagnose the problem themselves. Most underlying reasons for a leaky AC unit can be fixed quickly and inexpensively.


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