There are several possible reasons why condensation is pooling under your air conditioner. Fortunately, water leaking from your indoor air-handling unit usually isn’t a catastrophic problem, such as a failed compressor or blower motor. Though, it does necessitate a quick response. Here’s what you need to know.
What Causes Condensation?
One of the essential services your HVAC technician performs during air conditioner maintenance is inspecting and cleaning the evaporator coil. The evaporator coil is the component of your air conditioner that cools the air in your home. As warm return air is pulled across the evaporator, condensation naturally forms on the coil.
Common Condensate Problems
Since condensate is supposed to be present in your air conditioner, the flooding is actually a drainage issue. Condensate on the coil is supposed to drip into a condensate pan. A drain line is attached to the pan, and conveys the condensate through a pipe outside your home or to a floor drain.
Following are the three common reasons for air conditioner drainage malfunctions:
- Clogged: Condensate carries debris into the drip pan. Moreover, the drip pan can harbor mold and algae growth. Over time, these contaminants can clog up the drain line.
- Broken pan: A broken or rusted condensate pan will spill water in your home if your air conditioner doesn’t have a shutoff mechanism, such as a float switch.
- Malfunction: If your air conditioner does have a float switch, but it’s malfunctioning, you’re going to have puddles of water in your home.
Solving Your Condensate Problem
Broken drip pans, drain lines and float switches need to be replaced. The best case scenario is that your drain line is just clogged up. Your HVAC technician uses a powerful blower to blow the clog out of the line.
Next, the evaporator coil, drip pan and drain line are cleaned and chemically treated to help prevent microbial growth. Moreover, your HVAC technician should suggest installing a float switch in the drip pan or directly in the drain line.
If you need help solving air conditioner condensation problems in your Eastern North Carolina home, contact Jackson & Sons today.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Eastern North Carolina (including Wayne, Johnston, Greene, Lenoir, Pitt and Duplin Counties) about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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