Why is My AC Unit Leaking Water Inside?

One of the most common problems you’ll run into with home AC is the unit leaking. Should you discover your air conditioner is leaking water inside, it’s essential to take care of the situation as quickly as possible. If you identify the source of the problem early on, it’s going to be easier to fix the issue. Letting it linger can expand the problem, ultimately costing much more in the long run. That said, if your air conditioner is leaking water inside, the following represents a few likely reasons why.

The Condensate Drain Line Is Clogged

One of the top causes of AC units leaking water into your house is a clogged condensate line. Over time, the drain line will collect dust, dirt, and even mold. This can turn into a thick sludge that lodges inside the drain line as it mixes with moisture naturally pushed through the AC unit. When this happens, water will begin to back up and pool into your house. 

To correct the problem, you need to clear the drain line. There are a handful of ways you can go about doing this. If you have a wet/dry vac, you may be able to suck out the clog. If this doesn’t work, and if cleaning the drain line doesn’t do anything, your best bet will be to bring in a professional. 

Drain Pan Is Damaged or Rusted

How old is your AC? If you are using the same AC unit as when you first purchased the property, chances are it’s past its prime. While annual AC maintenance can help with avoiding this kind of issue, when you have an old AC (usually around ten years or older) the drain pan will eventually become damaged or even rust. When the pan is rusted or damaged water will drip right through. 

In order to correct this kind of an issue, you will need to replace the drain pan. Of course, if your AC is older than a decade, you should consider replacing the entire system. While this will be more expensive initially, you’ll save a sizable amount of money every month on your energy bill over maintaining the old unit.

Dirty Air Filter

You need to be swapping out your air filter every one to three months (typically more frequently during the summer, if you have seasonal allergies or pets). If you let the air filter go longer than three months without a change it will reduce air flow, which can hinder the productivity of the evaporator coil.

As the evaporator coil begins to collect dirt the air filter is missing it will increase the chances of freezing over. When it freezes over it will then begin to drip as it melts and overflows the pan. Thankfully, this is a simple fix you can perform on your own. Plus, if you purchase several air filters at a time you will save money on each filter.