Common Signs that Your Air Conditioner May Have a Water Leak

There are many signs that your air conditioner may have a water leak. Some are obvious, such as visible dripping from the unit. You should also be aware that there are other, less obvious indicators that your unit may be suffering from a leak.  Below is a list of common signs that your unit is experiencing a leak:

• Hissing sounds are coming from your unit
• Pools of water gather under the unit frequently
• Air is not blowing properly from your unit
• There is a loss of cooling power in your unit, making your home warm despite manually lowering the temperature
• You have higher electricity bills without higher or unusual use of the unit
• Water is dripping from the unit

Any of these signs, alone or combined, indicate a problem with your air conditioner. They should not be ignored, as leakage is often an indication of a greater issue.

Common Causes of Air Conditioner Leaks

Your AC unit is a complex machine, with many working parts that must be maintained and monitored throughout the year. When you notice your air conditioner is leaking water, there are several factors that could be causing the leak:

Dirty Air Filter: When your air filter is too dirty, it can block airflow over the evaporator coil of your aircon unit. This causes the evaporator coil to become too cold and freeze over. Eventually, the ice on the coil will melt and cause dripping of water into your home

Broken Condensate Pump: The condensate pump is an important component of aircon units that are installed in the basements. This pump moves the excess water outdoors, keeping your home dry. However, if the pump breaks or is malfunctioning, the water will stop being pumped outside and will gather inside of the unit.

Clogged Condensate Drain Line: When your drain line gets clogged with dirt, dust, mould or other materials, water can get backed up and leak through the unit’s outer layer.  A clogged condensate drain line is the most common cause of water leakage from aircon units.

Low Refrigerant: A lack of refrigerant in your system can cause a lower pressure inside of your unit.  The lower pressure also makes your evaporator coil freeze over, causing a major leak when the coil unfreezes and overflows the drain pan.

What should you do if you notice your Aircon is leaking Water?

If you have noticed your air conditioner is leaking water, or if it displays any of the warning signs listed above, the next step is to call a certified HVAC technician. Waiting to act, or assuming the problem will “fix itself” will cause further damage to your unit. This damage can lead to untimely breakdowns and more costly repairs down the road as other parts of the unit become affected. Leakage from your aircon unit can cause major problems, so when you are unsure if your system is working correctly, the best option is to have a technician check it out as soon as possible.

Air-Rite has been catering to HVAC requirements of homes and commercial spaces for over 29 years in Australia. We have a fleet of fully equipped service vehicles and highly trained personnel for all applications – whether it’s a small routine service, a fast-response emergency breakdown repair, or complex air conditioning system or refrigeration refurbishment or installation.  We have the heart of a small business with large company capabilities.  If you require an HVAC system of any kind, feel free to get in touch with us! We provide sales, installation, maintenance, and repairs.