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Why Your Air Conditioner Leaks? flashmover.com/why-your-air-conditioner-leaks
Air Conditioner Leaks
Water seepages are a significant concern in every household or building. It will make you think about the source and the damage it does to your home. A majority of the time, the leakage is sourced from your AC unit. In this case, you need to call a professional to know why your air conditioner leaks and get it repaired immediately.
How to Minimize Loss? If you think that water is dripping from your AC system, you must follow a few steps to minimize loss. Below are the steps:
Switch Off the AC Unit This is the first and foremost step to stop water seepage and protect your appliance from further damage.
Wipe Out the Water Next, you should wipe out all the accumulated water. It will save walls, flooring, rooftops, furniture and fixtures, and home décor from damage. You may use a shop vac if the accumulated water quantity is high. 1/4
Possible Reasons for Internal Leakage in an AC System Your AC’s internal unit comprises the evaporator coil that works to cool the warm air. When warm air (sourced from the external environment) gets in contact with the cold condenser, it condenses and changes into water vapor. The moisture that forms on the coil drips into the drain pan and then runs down the condensate drain channel leads outdoors. The most prevalent reasons that cause internal leakage in an Air Conditioner include: Blockage of Condensate Drain Canal Disconnection of Drain Canal Rusted or Blocked Drain Canal Faulty Condensate Pump Freezing of Evaporator Coil Dented or Dirty Coils READ ALSO: Best Things To Do In Sheboygan When leakage occurs, you should call the Heating and Air Conditioning Service in Cumming for a detailed inspection. Although the experts do the job for you, you must understand the cause of AC leakages and their possible solutions.
Drain Canal Issues and AC Leakages Problems with the condensate drain canal are the most prevalent causes of AC leakage in a building. Your AC unit cools the area by eliminating water vapor from the air, and water condenses. When the system functions, the condensed vapor gathers on the evaporator coil and moves along the drain channel. So, the drain canal is a sensitive area for inspecting water leakages in an AC. It usually gets blocked with dirt and debris carried into the channel (with the condensate). This accumulation can cause seepages or damage to the canal. Sometimes canals are improperly fixed due to installers’ poor job. Hence, vibrations can make it lose and cause leakage. In this case, you should immediately call Air Duct Repair and Replacement in Cumming for treatment.
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Drain Pan and Pump Have the Potential to Cause Leakage If your AC system or air handler is in the basement of the building, your drain channel will empty the condensate into the drain pan. The condensate pump further pumps it out. And if the central AC system is in the ceiling or crawl space, there is a possibility that your home has a gravity-controlled drain canal that carries the condensate outside. Although this setup is efficient but can cause leakages in many ways: When the drain pans get older than ten years, they rust and develop pits and fissures The condensate pump can break, causing the drain pan to run-off READ ALSO: Perpetual Remodeling Syndrome - Exterior Home Renovation You should call a pro to get the rusted or broken pan and pump replaced in this scenario.
Frozen Coils and Air Conditioner Seepages You must act right away if you observe a coating of frost or ice on the evaporator coils. You should not ignore this issue because if your AC unit keeps functioning in this condition, your compressor can explode. Hence, it will cause you to replace the entire system and lead to a costly repair.
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In this case, an AC system’s internal leakage can be considered a good thing. A seepage will signal you timely that there is an issue with your system and help prevent compressor failure. It is why it is essential to turn off the system immediately. Coils tend to freeze for several reasons, but the common ones include restricted airflow (over the evaporator coils) caused by blocked filters or an outflow of refrigerant. You should always seek the help of a trustworthy and expert HVAC service provider.
Filthy and Defective Evaporator Coils Cause Water Seepage If you have ignored your annual AC maintenance, your AC coils are perhaps getting layered by dust and filth. It can also damage the insulation on the outside of the coils. Whatever the reason is, it will hinder the condensate’s normal drainage into the drainage canal. Alternatively, it gets side-tracked by the holes in the insulation and the collected debris and leaks from the coil instead of moving along the condensate canal. Hence, if you observe small leaks and water pools, you should look for tell-tale drips sourcing from the evaporator coil. You will require a thorough coil cleaning and insulation replacement in this case. If you know your AC system, cleaning the coils is not challenging. Experts recommend seeking a professional’s help as an untrained person might damage the delicate coil fins by using inappropriate cleaning products or wrong methods.
How Water Can I Expect My AC to Leak? During the process, your air conditioner will produce minute amounts of water vapors. The amount of water that outflows from an AC depends on many factors that include the thermostat setting and the external temperature. Tiny amounts of condensation near your air conditioner drain canal are average. But on a hot and humid day, when the AC tends to work harder, you can imagine more water leaking than average. A small pool beneath the condensing unit is likely in standard AC operation.
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