Because of Toowoomba’s hot summers, the air conditioner is most likely running overtime. If your air conditioner started to leak water, you might be wondering why and what you should do about it. Don’t panic though, there are plenty of reasons for such a problem. Addressing the issue early is also a good move. In this article, we will share with you some of the possible causes of AC leakage and the steps you may take to resolve the problem.
Clogged Filters
If the filter becomes clogged with dust and dirt, the flow of air to and fro the evaporator coil will be restricted. This makes the temperature inside the unit significantly drop. Ice builds up inside the unit with the freezing of the evaporator coil. Therefore, when the air conditioner is turned off, the ice from the frozen coil is melted. This causes leakage once the AC is turned back on, and the water is being pushed with the airflow.
Low Refrigerant Level
When the amount of refrigerant decreases, so does the pressure within your air conditioning unit. It could cause your evaporator coil to freeze as well. Like the problems with a clogged filter, the ice buildup will cause leaks when melted. You should always get your refrigerant levels checked to avoid such an inconvenience. Other indicators provide an irregular hissing or bubbling sound, which may suggest a leak.
Cracks on the Drain Pan
Drain pans are custom-made from high-quality metal sheet to perfectly fit a specific air conditioning unit. Under normal circumstances, drain pans are tough enough to withstand moisture and heat. However, drain pans also have their lifespan limit. With constant use, they will begin to show signs of damages and corroding. When the drain pan has cracks or holes caused by rusting, water being stored on it will eventually leak.
Wearing of the Drainpipes
The air conditioning unit you use at home has a hose for drainage. This drainpipe is typically connected from the outdoor unit to the gutter. With time, weathering, and exposure to the heat of the sun, drainpipes can wear, crack, and thus, leak. This is often the case with the water leakage of your AC’s outdoor component.
High Relative Humidity
Weathering plays an important role in the early damages of the air conditioning unit. High relative humidity, to be particular, is among the main culprits of damages to both indoor and outdoor components. It can also cause the leakage of your air conditioning unit.
Since air conditioners are designed to remove the moisture in the air, it must perform more on humid regions. As Toowoomba is an area with high relative humidity, air conditioners in the area are required to work more than their usual operations. It is not to mention that the humid climate causes us to use the air conditioners non-stop. Overusing the unit can cause damages to either the condenser coils, the drain pan, or the hose. Which will all lead to water leakage from the unit.
How to Solve Water Leakage
Although water leakage does not often cause an immediate malfunctioning of the air conditioning unit, it must be resolved the soonest. Water leakage can cause further issues on the air conditioner when left unattended. Furthermore, the hissing sound and dripping of water are very uncomfortable.
If you have no idea where the problem is, you should not attempt to solve the leakage on your own. It is advisable to contact a reliable AC contractor like BCTM Leggatt to properly address the problem and find the best solution for it.
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