Here’s a common question we get during Florida summers, “Why is my AC leaking water inside my home?There are multiple causes of this problem. Here’s a common question we get during Florida summers, “Why is my AC leaking water inside my home? But first, turn your AC’s thermostat to “Off” to prevent further damage to your home.To understand why this is happening, you need to know how water forms on your AC in the first place. Your AC’s inside unit contains the evaporator coil (pictured on the right) that cools the warm air blown over it. This causes condensation (moisture) to form on the coil, just like how water droplets form on a cold glass of water on a hot day.The moisture on the coil drips into a drain pan and down a condensate drain line (a white PVC pipe) that leads out your home.So, with all that in mind, here are a few things that cause that water to leak into your home. A clogged condensate drain line is the most common cause of water leaking from your AC into your home.

If the drain line gets clogged with dust, dirt, sludge or mold, that water backs up into your home. In that case, you’ll need to unclog it. There are multiple unclogging methods, like using a wet/dry vac on the condensate line.But the surefire way is to have a professional use a special vacuum to suck the blockage material out. Got an old air conditioner (12-15 years)? The drain pan may be damaged or rusted through, so water just falls right through. You’ll need to replace the pan. Is your furnace and indoor AC unit installed in the basement? If so then there is a condensate pump that pumps the water outside. But if the pump breaks, the water isn’t being pumped outside anymore. You will need to repair or replace the pump. A dirty air filter blocks airflow over the evaporator coil. When that happens, the evaporator coil gets too cold and freezes over. When it melts, it drips an excess amount of water that the pan may not be able to handle.Check your air filter to see if it’s dirty and change it if needed.

You should be changing it every 1-3 months (depending on the season). Similar to a dirty air filter, low refrigerant will lower pressure in the AC system, causing the evaporator coil to freeze over. When the coil melts, water overflows the drain pan.You’ll notice you’re low on refrigerant when:Depending on the severity of the refrigerant leak you’ll either repair the leak or replace the whole AC unit.what is the cost of a new central ac unitIf you need a new one, read our article, “My Air Conditioner is Dying, and I Need a New One…ac unit namesIf changing the air filter did not help, contact Cool Today to repair your air conditioner.home ac unit sizeAlso, ask us about installing a float switch on your air conditioner if it does not have one already.

This switch will shut down the air conditioner in case it overflows with water again.Cool Today provides award-winning air conditioning service to Sarasota, Florida and the surrounding areas like Bradenton, Tampa and Port Charlotte. If you have any questions, talk to one of our experts for help.Nearly 90 percent of all central-air service calls are related to leaks. Although these leaks tend to be relatively small, if left unchecked they can cause a tremendous amount of damage, especially if the air handler is installed above a ceiling and can drip downward. But most homeowners don't realize that a vast majority of leaks can be easily repaired without calling a service technician.There are main reasons a central A/C system leaks. First, there's a crack or hole in overflow drain pan. Second, the air filter is clogged with dirt. Third, the condensate line is plugged up.The first cause—the overflow pan—is easily detectable by simply using a flashlight. The pan is a piece of equipment that catches any condensation from the A/C unit;

if you're noticing a leak, carefully inspect the overflow pan for damage. Check each corner, along the outside edges, and, of course, directly above the wettest spot. Small holes and cracks can be patched with epoxy glue, but it's usually best to replace a damaged overflow pan.The second culprit—a clogged filter— can be avoided by changing the A/C unit's air filter on a regular basis. Most filters are designed to be used for one or two months, but you should inspect the filter every month during the cooling season. If the filter appears dirty, replace it immediately. A dirty filter will cause ice to form on the unit's evaporator coils, and when that ice melts, it drips water.The third reason—a stopped-up condensate line—is the most common cause of A/C leaks. The condensate line drains condensation from the overflow pan to the outside or directly into a drainpipe. When the line is clogged, water backs up and floods the overflow pan. Another reason to keep the condensate line clear is that most modern A/C units are equipped with a water-overflow cutoff switch, which automatically shuts down the A/C system if it detects a clogged condensate line.

The switch helps prevent water damage, which is good, but most homeowners don't know why their air-conditioning system suddenly shuts down and they call a service technician.There are a couple different ways to clear a clogged condensate line, including using a wet/dry vacuum to suck out the clog. But my favorite method is to use a product called Mighty Pump. It's a powerful hand pump that can be used to suck or blow lines clear. Invented by Stuart Oakner, a licensed air-conditioning contractor with more than 30 years experience, the Mighty Pump is available online for about $60.Still, don't wait for the condensate line to become clogged. You can avoid costly damage and expensive service calls by regularly clearing it out. And once the line is clear, you can help prevent the accumulation of slime, algae, mildew, and bacteria by pouring a little chlorine bleach down the line once every four to six months.Home Guides Home Home Improvement How Much Water Should Be Coming Out of a Drain Pipe for an Air Conditioning Unit?

Email Reddit A central air conditioner can produce gallons of condensate a day. There’s a reason your home cooling system is called an “air conditioner” and not merely an “air cooler.” Conditioning the air involves more than just taking the heat out. Humidity extraction is an equally important function of an air conditioner. Damp interior air holds heat energy more efficiently and is difficult to cool. Dry air feels cooler to occupants. But all that moisture condensed out of the air by the evaporator coil has to go somewhere. In most homes, the condensate drain pipe conveys water either to a drain point outside the house or to a connection with the household sewer. How Much Is Enough? In an arid climate where relative humidity remains well below 50 percent most of the time, the evaporator coil in a residential central air conditioner will send about about 5 gallons of water down the drain per day. In humid climates, however, the drain pipe may convey as much as 20 gallons per day.

How Much Is Too Much? Central air conditioners in some residences incorporate a primary condensate drain pipe plumbed into the household sewer drain and a secondary backup pipe that drains to the exterior of the home in some conspicuous place if the primary pipe becomes clogged. Water flowing from the backup drain pipe is an alert that a potentially damaging overflow condition is developing in the condensate drain pan. Any amount of water discharged from a backup drain pipe is too much and should prompt a call to a heating, ventilation and air conditioning contractor. References Alliance for Water Efficiency: Condensate Introduction Photo Credits Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images Suggest a Correction Interior Decorating With Wallpaper Wallpaper is a great tool to have around when it comes ... Home Decorating & Storage in Small Rooms Decorating and storage tend to go hand in hand, ... Studio Apartment Interior Decorating One thing that is great for studio apartment interior ... How to Decorate Interior Kitchen Walls You can decorate your interior kitchen walls in a ...