Air conditioners keep rooms cooled by removing moisture and humidity from the air. Sometimes, however, air conditioners don’t function properly and begin leaking water, causing it to pool on the floor. If you see your air conditioner leaking water, there are a number of things your A/C unit may be trying to tell you. One of the most common reasons air conditioners leak water is water buildup. After an air conditioner extracts humidity from the air, the water drips down the A/C unit’s cooling coils and builds up at the air conditioner’s base. From there, it goes through to the back of the machine. Once it reaches the back of the machine, the water should drip down a drain pipe, but a buildup of excess water may cause it to leak elsewhere.
The Drain Pipe is Clogged
An air conditioner may also leak if the drain pipe is clogged. The base of an air conditioner can only carry a certain amount of water, so when it fills past capacity the excess water is bound to leak.
There’s Internal Blockage
Similarly, a blockage in the passageways through which the moisture and water travel to the back of unit could be leaving the water with nowhere to go. This is a problem that shouldn’t be handled on your own, as you could cause more significant blockage throughout the machine.
It was Improperly Installed
An air conditioning unit could also leak water because it simply wasn’t installed correctly. The unit should be positioned in a way that allows the water to drain at the back of the machine. If the front of the air conditioner isn’t higher than the back, the water won’t be able to travel to the back of the machine. If the unit isn’t positioned properly, water can leak from the front or edges of the machine.
It’s Working Too Hard
Your air conditioner may also be leaking water because it’s simply working too hard. If its cooling coil starts to ice up, that ice will melt and begin to drip as soon as the unit is turned off. If you suspect this is the problem, you may want to call for help to see if there are safe ways to prevent this from continuing, as this could cause more serious problems later. If you suspect your air conditioner is leaking more than a normal amount of water, it could be because there is something seriously wrong with the unit. You should monitor your air conditioner and see if the excess water leakage is a recurring problem. If it is, don’t hesitate to call CW Service Pros today to find out if there’s an underlying situation with your A/C unit.