AC Leaking? A Technician Explains Air Conditioning Service | Hinckley, IL
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Nearly 90 percent of all homes in the United States have some form of air-conditioning compared to most countries worldwide. This indicates the crucial role an AC plays in our everyday lives by keeping us cool and comfortable during the sweltering summers.
But, sometimes, these systems may fail to function. Most of the time, the problem could be due to poor maintenance. For proper performance, your air conditioning unit needs regular maintenance and care. However, only 42 percent of residents in the United States bother to have an air conditioning service. Seeking regular AC services from a reputable provider makes your air conditioner last 40 percent longer.
Regular maintenance saves you from a rise in electricity bills, breakdowns, malfunctions and ensures you don’t experience poor operation. Air conditioning leaks are among the issues experienced by homeowners in Hinckley, IL, but some folks may not know what causes the leak or how to go about the problem.
Don’t be troubled; in this article, you’ll discover several reasons your AC may be leaking water. However, before exploring some of the common causes of AC leaks, it’s essential to know why the air conditioner collects water and if you can continue using a leaking AC unit.
Why Does an Air Conditioner Collect Water?
The HVAC system is responsible for maintaining the temperature and affects your house’s humidity levels. AC units have evaporator coils, and the warm air drawn from your house is blown over the cold evaporator coils, causing them to condense, making it less humid. The resulting moisture trickles into a drain pan connected to the condensate drain line, which leads out of the house and drains the water outside.
When your AC is leaking water inside your home, it means there is excess moisture accumulation in the unit, and the air conditioning is unable to remove the extra water.
Can the AC Be Used When Water Is Leaking?
Some homeowners ignore the leaking water because the AC still functions as expected. But, after some time, you’ll notice your home in Hinckley, IL, is not cooling down efficiently.
In cases where you notice the water is dripping from the AC, it’s advisable to switch off the system and locate the leak. At this point, it is wise to seek the help of an air conditioning service expert to fix the issue because if the AC keeps running, compressor failure will be inevitable. Also, the leaking water is dangerous to your furniture, walls, ceilings, and other household items.
Clogged Air Filters
You may be wondering how a clogged air filter could be the reason your AC is leaking. It’s simple; a clogged air filter obstructs the airflow, hence affecting the entire AC. This is how it happens; the AC functions by absorbing and cooling the humid air from your home.
Before cooling the air, water droplets from condensation collect on a drip pan and are drained out of your home via a condensate line. But if the airflow has been obstructed, these droplets will freeze into layers of ice, and when they melt, you notice the leaks.
Regular air conditioning service ensures your air filters are clean and functioning throughout the year. To avoid clogged air filters, it is good to change them regularly because they get covered with layers of dust with time.
Clogged air filters are more common for folks who smoke, those who have pets, and individuals using scented candles.
Clogged Condensate Drain Line
This is the common cause of leaking water from ACs. The function of the condensate drain line is to suck out excess water and humidity, but with time, mildew, dust, pollen, or other debris collects, blocking the line.
Some modern air conditioners are designed with a cutoff switch that shuts down the AC when it detects a clogged condensate line, hence protecting your property from water damage. If your unit lacks this option, you may need an air conditioning provider to inspect the line.
To ensure your condensate line does not clog, it’s advisable to have a professional from a reputable air conditioning company clean it annually. Cleaning the line and ensuring the overflow sensor works appropriately will help avoid line clogging and backing up issues.
Incorrect AC Installation
If you are thinking about installing your new AC unit on your own, you better be careful because AC installation mistakes are pretty common. Faulty installation affects your AC performance and even shortens its lifespan. AC installation needs to be handled by an experienced and skilled air conditioning service expert to avoid costly installation mistakes, including a leaking AC.
If you notice dripping water from your newly installed air conditioning unit, then the problem could be incorrect installation. For instance, your AC and drain pipes may not be proportional, disrupting the drain pan’s water flow, resulting in water leaking from the unit.
If a central air conditioner is not leveled correctly, it can cause water to spill inside the house. To know if the leaking problem is due to incorrect AC installation, always check if there is water around the indoor air handler or the outdoor unit. After determining the cause, ensure to have a licensed air conditioning service to re-install the AC properly.
Frozen Evaporator Coil
Another reason your AC unit could be leaking may be due to frozen evaporator coils. Evaporator coils become covered with ice because of low refrigerant levels and dirty air filters. In such cases, it is essential to have a trained air conditioning service professional equipped to handle the complex parts of HVAC systems.
Rusted Drip Pan
Due to the extra humidity of your home in Hinckley, IL, the drip pan may rust, causing condensation droplets to fall into the drip pan. This causes water to keep leaking from the air conditioner.
You may notice this, especially on air conditioning units that have been operating for 15 to 20 years. In such cases, the best option is to have a licensed air conditioning service provider replace the rusted drain pan.
Faulty Condensate Pump
A condensate pump is responsible for pumping water inside a condensate line outside of your home. If the pump is not working, then water won’t be drained from the condensate line. Instead, it will accumulate and start spilling from the AC.
Call Our Trusted Air Conditioning Service Experts To Fix Your AC Water Leak
Now you are familiar with issues that could cause your AC unit to leak. With regular air conditioning services, you can avoid AC water leak issues. At Just In Time, we conduct annual tune-ups to ensure your air conditioner operates at peak performance throughout the year! Besides HVAC services, you can rely on us for carpentry, plumbing, and remodeling services. Give us at Just In Time a buzz today!