During the summer, we sometimes show up to repair a plumbing leak in a home only to find out that the plumbing system is not responsible for the leak at all. Air conditioners can also leak water into the home and, depending on the location of the unit, can damage any important structures underneath it. A leaky air conditioner is often a quick fix for a trained technician, but what caused the leak in the first place?
The Condensate Drain System
The condensate drain system is responsible for evacuating water from the air conditioner. But how does the water get there in the first place? Your air conditioner uses a chemical blend called refrigerant to move heat from place to place. When it moves through the inside evaporator coil, it absorbs heat and then dissipates this heat outdoors. As the warm air from your home blows over the evaporator coil, it cools down, and moisture can collect outside of it as condensation if the air is humid.
Typically, the moisture that collects on the coil should drain after it drips into the tray beneath the coil. The tray is set at an angle and the condensate should flow through a hole in the tray into a drain system. The only reason your air conditioner would be leaking water is if something had gone wrong.
What Goes Wrong
There are a number of things that may go wrong with the condensate drain system, including the following:
- Poor drainage setup
- Cracks and holes in the condensate tray
- A clogged condensate drain
But you can prevent these from occurring by scheduling air conditioning maintenance each year. With an air conditioning maintenance visit, you technician will clean out your condensate drain and check for these issues and other problems throughout your HVAC system.
APC Plumbing & Heating provides air conditioning maintenance and prompt repairs, with same-day service available. When your air conditioner is leaking, you know who to call. We’ve been in business in the Denver, CO area for 30 years, and we have someone in your neighborhood today.
