The energy bill for a typical, single-family home reaches $2,060 each year. About 42% of our annual energy use is dedicated to heating and cooling. If you have a leaking HVAC unit, however, your energy bill could rise.
Don’t let problems with your energy unit impact your energy efficiency. If you have an HVAC leaking water, you need to diagnose the cause right away.
Otherwise, your unit will work twice as hard to function, leading to increased energy costs. The unit might even break down, too.
Here are seven potential issues that could cause a leaking HVAC unit. If these problems sound familiar, call for HVAC repair services right away. Read on to discover why your HVAC is leaking water today!
1. Blocked Condensate Drain
As humid air moves over the unit’s evaporator coil, water can begin to appear on the cold, metallic surface. The water will then drain into a pan under the indoor coil. The pan is located within the furnace or air handler.
As this process continues, the condensate will flow out of the pan and into the drain pipe. This process will continue to ensure the pan never gets too full.
Unfortunately, dirt, mold, and debris can clog the drain. When the drain is clogged, the water can’t drain properly.
Consider calling an HVAC repair team. They can unclog the drain to ensure proper water flow.
Some teams can even install a safety device that will automatically turn the unit off if the drain becomes clogged in the future. Turning the unit off will ensure it doesn’t cause further damage if a clog occurs.
Otherwise, consider scheduling an annual HVAC maintenance check. Maintenance checks will allow a professional team to assess your unit. They can check for a clogged drain line or other issues.
Then, they can ensure the drain is clear and open, minimizing potential issues down the road.
2. Wrong Temperature
Once temperatures outside start to drop, make sure to adjust your HVAC’s temperature as well. Otherwise, running your unit while temperatures outside are below 60 can cause the evaporator coils to freeze.
If you have frozen coils, water will drop off the evaporator coils once they start to thaw. You could experience an overflow as a result. ice could block the drain pan opening, too.
If you have an HVAC leaking water, call a technician to assess the problem.
3. Disconnected Drain Line
If you have an HVAC leaking water, consider checking the drain line connection.
Sometimes, the connection to the drain pan can get loose or disconnect entirely. This sometimes occurs when someone is working near the unit. Perhaps you recently changed the air filter.
Either way, a disconnected drain line can cause a leaking HVAC.
Consider taking a look inside your HVAC unit. Is the drain line fully connected to the coil drain pan? If not, call your local HVAC repair team.
A technician can reconnect the drain line and check for other issues to ensure you don’t have a leaking HVAC unit.
4. Dirty Air Filter
Make a note to check your HVAC air filters every few months. Replacing the filter will ensure proper airflow.
If the unit doesn’t have proper ventilation, the evaporator coils can become too cold. Frozen coils could cause a leaking HVAC. When the coils thaw, excess water will start collecting into the drain pan.
An overflow could occur as a result.
Try changing your air filter more often, especially if you have pets. If the problem persists, talk to your local HVAC repair team. They can check your HVAC unit for other potential issues.
5. Low Refrigerant
Has your HVAC unit stopped cooling the air throughout your home? It’s possible the refrigerant level is low. A leak could cause the refrigerant levels to drop.
Your HVAC unit needs refrigerant in order to produce cold air.
Consider scheduling an annual preventative maintenance check. Your local HVAC company can check your refrigerant levels before summer kicks in. In fact, maintenance could push the unit’s lifespan over 15 years.
Otherwise, issues with your unit will cause it to work overtime. The unit could push itself to a breaking point.
If your unit doesn’t have enough refrigerant, the evaporator coils could freeze over. Remember, frozen coils can cause the drain pan to overflow.
6. Grimy or Damaged Coil
Do you see tiny drops of water around your unit or a larger puddle outside of the air handler? Maybe water is dropping off the evaporator coil instead of moving into the pan. This problem can develop if the evaporator coil is grimy or damaged.
If the evaporator coil is dirty, water will start to drip. This problem can also occur if holes in the insulation (responsible for protecting the coils) start redirecting water.
Talk to your local HVAC technician if this problem occurs.
7. Broken Pump or Pan
Does your HVAC unit use a condensate pump to drain the water? Your unit might have a pump if your home’s drain system is located above the HVAC unit. If the drain is obstructed, water will start backing up into the pan.
Then, it will leak out if the condensate pump becomes inoperable.
First, take a look at the unit to make sure the pump is still powered. If the pump isn’t the issue, check the condensate pump. Let your HVAC technician know the pump is broken.
There’s a chance the pan has broken over time, too. If your unit is over a decade old, check the drip pan. A damaged or corroded drip pan can cause a leaking HVAC unit.
If the pan has holes in it, water will appear as condensate seeps into the pan.
You can replace the drain pain to ensure the unit functions properly.
HVAC Leaking Water: 7 Common Causes That Indicate You Need Repairs
If you have an HVAC leaking water, make sure to call for help right away. Let your HVAC technician know if these issues sound familiar. They’ll ensure your unit is back up and running in no time.
With their help, you can keep your unit in the best possible shape. You’ll have an easier time keeping your energy bill low as a result.
Need help with your unit? We’re here for you. Contact us today to get started.
