Six Reasons Why Your Air Conditioner Is Leaking Water in Dallas, TX

When scorching summer weather comes to Dallas, our air conditioners get a real workout. Maybe today is one of those sizzling-hot days, and your air conditioner is running full blast. But after a while, you start hearing an odd dripping noise coming from the unit. You realize with alarm that the system is leaking water.

Below, learn the most common reasons why your air conditioner is leaking water, then call us for AC repair in Dallas, TX.

Top Reasons Why Your Air Conditioner Is Leaking Water in Dallas

Before we dive into the reasons why your cooling system is leaking water, it’s helpful to understand how your unit works. Air conditioners work by drawing humidity out of your home’s air. This moisture, also called condensate, drips into a condensate pan, where a drain pipe carries it out of your home. When something goes amiss with this process, you can end up with the leaking you’re seeing now.

Here are the top air conditioner water leak causes and what to do about them.

1. Clogged Condensate Drain Line

When your air conditioner runs, humid, warm air passes over the evaporator coil inside the unit. During this process, moisture forms on the coil and then drains into the pan beneath the air handler. Normally, the water in the drain pan flows out through the drain line before it overflows onto your floor.

But if your condensate drain line gets blocked, this draining process can’t happen, and you end up with a big mess on your hands. Condensate drain lines commonly become blocked by dirt, mineral deposits, and mold.

To fix an AC drain line blockage, you’ll need to have an HVAC technician clean the drain line. Annual maintenance can prevent your drain line from getting clogged again.

2. Disconnected Drain Line

Normally, the drain line is securely attached to the drain pan. If someone accidentally bumped the line, it may have become disconnected, causing your air conditioner to leak water. Or, if your system is new, the technician may not have installed it properly.

In either case, the solution is to call a repair company to have the drain line reconnected.

3. Damaged Drain Pan

How old is your air conditioner? If it’s over 10 years old, a damaged drain pan may be the reason your air conditioner is leaking water.

Around the 10 to 15-year mark, the components of your air conditioner can start developing problems, and that includes the drain pan. Metal drain pans can rust and corrode, allowing the water inside them to leak out onto your floor. Call an HVAC tech to have your drain pan replaced.

4. Refrigerant Leaks

That liquid you’re seeing on the floor might not be water at all. Rather, it could be refrigerant leaking out of the unit. Most air conditioner refrigerants are colorless and odorless, so they look exactly like water.

If you have a refrigerant leak, you’ll likely notice other signs besides a wet mess on your floor. Your air conditioner’s performance will gradually decrease, leaving your home uncomfortably warm. Refrigerant leaks also make a telltale hissing noise.

Call an HVAC pro right away if you suspect a refrigerant leak. Don’t try to fix the leak yourself; refrigerant is dangerous when handled incorrectly.

5. Condensate Pump Failure

If your home’s drain system sits above your air conditioning unit, you’ll need a condensate pump to push built-up moisture outdoors. Should your condensate pump fail, you can end up with a messy drain pan overflow.

If you suspect a condensate pump failure, first check whether the pump is receiving power. If it is, but the pump still refuses to work, you’ll need to call an HVAC company in Dallas for repairs.

6. Frozen Evaporator Coils

Usually, the water that forms on your system’s evaporator coil drips down into the drain pan. However, if your evaporator coil freezes and then thaws, the sudden rush of water can cause it to leak out of the system and onto your floor.

Evaporator coils can freeze due to dirty air filters, poor airflow and low refrigerant levels. The best way to prevent your evaporator coil from freezing is to schedule annual air conditioner maintenance.