When you notice a problem with your air conditioner, we hope that your first instinct is to schedule professional AC repair in Glendale, CA. However, there are some problems that may not require such action. While we don’t want to encourage DIY repair attempts, we do want to encourage you to rule out simple issues before scheduling service.
If you notice that your air conditioner is leaking water, for instance, we’ve got some tips on what to rule out first. Why? Because your AC doesn’t actually have a water tank that can leak! It’s not like a water heater. So where’s the water coming from? That’s what we’re going to dive into today!
It May Be Condensation
If you don’t really understand how it is that your air conditioner works, then this is probably a confusing concept for you. Condensation? Like on a cold glass on a hot day? Well, yes. Exactly like that.
Have you ever heard someone say “it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity”? That’s because humid air holds heat much better than dry air does. And, when your AC cools your home, it actually removes a lot of humidity from the air.
The AC is not a dehumidifier, of course, but it can remove quite a bit of moisture from the air when it runs very consistently. And all that moisture has to go somewhere. In an AC system, it collects on the evaporator coil, drips off, and is drained away.
That means that a cracked condensate drain pan could be the cause of your problem. That drain pan may also just be clogged, or misaligned. If that’s the case, you can adjust it as necessary or pour a cleaning solution down it to fix the problem. The drain line may also be leaking, which is an easy fix for us.
It May Be Ice Melting
Your AC, as stated above, is not a dehumidifier. It is also definitely not a freezer, and it should not be generating ice. If it is, then you have a problem on your hands. It’s just a question of how serious a problem.
If you have not changed your air filter in a long time, then you may have airflow that is so restricted it can cause icing. Basically, the indoor coil is getting too hot, and that condensation is freezing on it. It can then melt off, and wind up leaking.
You may also have a refrigerant leak, and that is a major problem. You might see icing on the outdoor unit if this is the case. Running an AC that is low on refrigerant can cause irreparable damage, so you need to have this checked right away if you think it’s a possibility.
