Because your air conditioner's refrigerator coil is a cold surface, humidity from the air constantly condenses on it whenever the AC is on, creating a surprising amount of water that has to be drained. When your HVAC contractor installed your AC, they included a drain line to get rid of this water. However, when something goes wrong with the system, you can still end up with water dripping out of your AC. Here’s why that may happen.

Common Causes of AC Leaks

1. Drain Line

The air conditioner's drain line can get clogged with algae, mold, and mildew, which causes the condensed water to back up and drip out of the unit. For an easy fix, turn off the HVAC system and pour cleaning solution down the PVC drain line. If the blockage doesn’t dissolve, an HVAC contractor will clear out the line with specialized tools.

2. Drip Pan

Below the refrigerator coil is a pan that catches the condensation as it falls. A crack in this pan means the water won’t reach the drain line. Some cracks can be addressed with a water sealant, while others may need to be replaced.

3. Dirty Air Filter

A clogged air conditioner filter impedes airflow. This means the air moves more slowly across the refrigerator coil and gets colder. Eventually, the excess condensation will freeze and then melt, overflowing the drain system. Change your air filter to address this issue. Generally, it should be swapped out every three months, or more if you have pets.

4. Frozen Evaporator Coil

When the refrigerant inside the AC coil dips below the intended pressure, the coil gets too cold and may freeze up. Open the blower door and check for ice. If you see any, turn the AC unit off and turn the blower on to melt the ice. If the problem persists, call an HVAC contractor to check for any leaks.

If you need an HVAC contractor to locate the leak in your air conditioner, contact Thomaston Oil in Connecticut. In addition to heating oil delivery in Litchfield and Hartford counties, they offer service plans to maintain and repair your heating and cooling equipment. To draw on their 30 years of experience, call (860) 283-4878 or visit them online to learn about their convenient service plans.