Why Water Is Leaking from Your Air Conditioning

Why Water Is Leaking from Your Air Conditioning

As we head into the warm temperatures of summer in San Bernardino, you may notice more water heading into the drain pipe of your air conditioner; this is normal, considering the higher rate of operation your air conditioner is experiencing. But leaking water from other parts of your air conditioner, including the condensate tray, is not part of normal operation and will need repair. Water leaks can do a great deal of damage to your home, so don’t let a water leak make your air conditioning repair larger than it has to be – call Russell’s Heating and Air Conditioning immediately.

Reasons Why Water Can Leak from Your Air Conditioner

Your air conditioner is a closed system, so if water is doing something other than draining from the condensate tray into the drain pipe, there is most likely an issue. Here are some tips to help you should you suspect a water leak with your air conditioning system:

Reason #1: Problems with the Condensate Tray

The condensate tray in your air conditioner is a metal tray with a slanted bottom that collects the condensation from your system. The bottom is slanted to allow for easy drainage of the excess water into a drain pipe that takes the water outside your home.

A few things can go wrong with the condensate tray that can disrupt the draining process:

• The tray is not slanted properly
• The tray is not connected to the drain pipe properly
• There are holes or cracks in the bottom of the tray from which water can escape

In any of these scenarios, the water going into the condensate tray can drip onto your floor, causing leakage. While this kind of leaking can yield small amounts of water, if left to drip continuously for a long period of time, the damage that accrues can be serious.

Reason #2: Detached Drain Pipe

The drain pipe that is attached to the condensate tray is a simple piece of PVC that can detach from the tray. When this happens, the water from the tray will empty onto the floor below. During a routine maintenance appointment, the condensate tray and drain are inspected to ensure that the tray and drain pipe are securely connected.

Reason #3: Clogged Drain Pipe

The wet, cool environment of the drain pipe is the perfect place for things like mold, mildew and even algae to develop and grow. If the pipe isn’t cleaned, these items, plus any other type of debris, can clog the pipe. Once the drain pipe becomes clogged, the water can back-up into the tray, eventually causing the tray to overfill and spill water over the sides. This will continue until the clog is removed.

Regular AC Maintenance is the Key

With every routine maintenance visit, your condensate tray and drain are inspected and cleaned, adjusted or repaired as needed, helping you avoid the above-listed problems. Condensate problems can start out small but can do a great deal of water damage if left unrepaired for a long period of time. Don’t let your air conditioning repair needs turn into additional water damage repair needs – call Russell’s Heating and Air Conditioning for air conditioning repair service in San Bernardino today.