Why is Your Air Conditioner Leaking?

A dripping sound in the middle of the night is usually one of the first noticeable signs that something is wrong with your air conditioning system. Unfortunately, a leak is a common development and doesn't help narrow down what might be wrong with your HVAC system. The best short-term solution is to place a bowl lined with a towel under the source of the drip and call in an expert technician first thing in the morning. An unfixed leak can cause water damage the longer you let it drip, and it's usually a sign that your unit isn't draining or cooling properly.

What are some of the most common causes of a dripping air conditioner, and what can you do to solve it?

If your air conditioner is dripping, then the coils might be dirty. This might not be the singular cause behind the drip, but condenser coils pick up the dust, dander, and pet hair that circulate through your house and the coils aren't regularly cleaned. All of this debris acts a bit like insulation, and your machine has to work harder and harder around the obstruction, which can lead to a frozen coil and cause water to bypass the drain.

There are two ways to respond to this problem, and both steps are essential. The first is to get your HVAC system regularly serviced. A trained technician can clean the condenser coil as well as check the condensate line for clogs and the drain pans for cracks, which are the two most common causes for drips. Only when an expert checks and repairs your system can you rest assured that the problem has been solved for the season. The second step is to regularly replace your air filter. That air filter helps catch dust and debris in the air, and a lot of general repairs are caused by an air filter that isn't changed regularly.

If you have any questions or service requests, please feel free to contact us at Blackie's Heating and Air Conditioning.