If you live in Florida, your air conditioner is one of the most important appliances you have in your home.
Temperatures often soar over 100 degrees in the Sunshine State, and home without air conditioning is not only uncomfortable, but it may be dangerous as well.
If you notice a small amount of water leaking out of your air conditioner, it is usually nothing to worry about, but if you notice a significant amount of water underneath the unit, you may have a problem. You may be able to fix this issue yourself, depending on what is causing the problem.
Your air conditioner is very dependent on its evaporator coils. They are what turns water into vapor inside your AC unit.
If the coils cannot turn water into vapor, the water will freeze and eventually melt, causing a leak. There are a couple of things that can stop the evaporator coils from doing their job.
The Air Filter is Dirty
When an air filter is dirty, air will not be able to travel through the unit, and it will not be able to cycle properly.
The coils of the air conditioner will freeze up and the air conditioner will not be able to expel vapor. This can cause the coils to freeze up and eventually leak water.
You should clean your air filters frequently and replace them on a regular basis. Although you may have heard they should be replaced once a year, people who live in Florida run their air conditioners more than most people. It is a good idea to replace your filters every six months.
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The Unit is Low on Refrigerant
Evaporator coils require refrigerants to work properly. If your AC unit does not contain enough refrigerant, the coils may freeze up. The water will not be converted to vapor, and ice will form and melt.
This may cause a water leak underneath your AC unit. You may also realize that your house isn’t quite as cool as it used to be.
If your AC unit does not have enough refrigerant, it is best to call an air conditioning repair person. It is not like adding coolant to your car. There is likely to be a refrigerant leak in your AC unit, and it can be very hard to determine where the leak is coming from.
The Drain Line is Clogged
Your air conditioner has a primary and a secondary drain line. The primary line is used to transport moisture that has accumulated in the drain line to the outside of the house. The secondary line simply acts as a backup when the first primary line is clogged.
If both drain lines get clogged, you may end up having a rather severe water leak. Sometimes unscrupulous air conditioning companies will use only one drain line when installing an HVAC unit so that there is no backup in the event of a clog.
Cleaning your drain line is easy if you just follow these steps:
- Turn off your air conditioner.
- Open the unit.
- Look for the drain line.
- Open the drain line cap.
- Clean it out with a wire brush.
You may also want to pour bleach into the drain line occasionally to make sure it is clean. If you change your air filter, clean your lines and pour bleach into your drain lines and you still have a leak, you should call an HVAC specialist. Your air conditioner is important. Taking good care of it will keep your home safe and comfortable.