Finding water leaking from your air conditioning unit can be pretty stressful. A little condensation is totally normal. Your air conditioner pulls moisture out of the air to cool things down, but it shouldn’t be leaking enough to cause real damage.
Here are some of the most common reasons your air conditioner might be leaking:
1. Blocked Condensate Drain Line
This is hands-down the most common cause. All that condensed water is supposed to drain out through a small PVC pipe. Over time — especially in humid areas — algae, mould, dirt, and gunk build up inside and completely clog it. Water backs up in the drain pan and overflows.
2. Dirty Air Filters
A clogged filter blocks airflow across the evaporator coils. The coils get way too cold, ice forms, and when the unit stops or the ice melts, you get a sudden flood of water that the pan can’t handle.
3. Frozen Evaporator Coils
Tied to the dirty filter problem, but low refrigerant, bad blower fan, or restricted airflow can also freeze the coils solid. Once the ice melts (especially when the AC cycles off), water pours out everywhere.
4. Cracked or Rusted Drain Pan
The pan sits under the coils to catch water. After 10–15 years, especially in coastal or humid spots, it can rust through or crack. Water just leaks straight out instead of going down the drain.
A Few Other Possibilities
- Low refrigerant (causes freezing — needs a licensed technician to find/fix the leak and recharge)
- Faulty condensate pump
- Poor original installation (pipe not sloped right, disconnected, etc.)
What to Do Right Away
Turn the system off immediately. If you notice ice on the coils, poor airflow, or a clogged drain line, then give JC Refrigeration Cape a call, so our qualified technicians can get it fixed before it’s too late. Refrigerant work and coil issues are best handled by certified professionals.
Most leaks are preventable with regular filter changes and an annual service visit before summer hits.