Monitoring Your A/C Units For Leaks is Important

Air conditioners and high-efficiency combustion furnaces create significant condensation, which exits through a plastic drain tube. This should go into a floor drain or be carried away by a small “condensate pump.” That is if everything is working properly.

If water is pooling at the base of the appliance, something may be blocking the water’s flow, or leaking, or the pump may not be working. The unit may also be leaking refrigerant, but we will address water leakage issues first.

To avoid water damage to your structure:

1. Look to see if one of the tubes is leaking. If it is, replace it.
2. Test the condensate pump by pouring water into its pan. If the pump doesn’t start, either it isn’t receiving power or it is broken. Be sure that it’s plugged in and test the circuit. If it’s broken, either get it repaired or replace it.
3. If the pump runs but doesn’t empty the pan, the ball-like check valve just before the discharge tube is probably stuck. Unscrew the check valve, loosen the ball inside, and look for an obstruction. If it appears that a condensation drain tube is clogged with algae, remove it if possible (you may have to cut it and replace it later with a coupling). Run a wire through it to clear it. To kill the algae, pour a dilute solution of bleach (1 part bleach to 16 parts water) through the pipe.
4. Ice may be blocking the tube. If this is the case, be sure the filter isn’t dirty. If the filter appears to be fine, the air conditioners refrigerant supply is probably low. This is when it’s time to call an air-conditioning technician.

If water is leaking inside the system, and the system is not cooling, it could be because the cooling coil froze. This can be caused by low refrigerant charge or insufficient airflow. You will need to have a technician correct this.

If your air conditioner is leaking refrigerant, either it was undercharged at installation, or there is an internal leak. If it leaks, simply adding refrigerant is not a solution. A trained technician should fix any leak, test the repair, and then charge the system with the correct amount of refrigerant. Remember that the performance and efficiency of your air conditioner is greatest when the refrigerant charge exactly matches the manufacturer’s specification, and is neither undercharged nor overcharged. Refrigerant leaks can also be harmful to the environment and you can avoid inefficient system operation by frequently checking your system refrigerant level during warmer months.

RECENT CASE STUDY

“I noticed a leak from my central air/heat unit inside my house. I thought it was my condensation pump going bad, so I replaced it, but then I noticed that I still had a leak, so I took off the cover and took out the air filter, and saw that there was water leaking from the turbine-looking fan unit just underneath the furnace portion of the air/heat unit (I think the leak is from higher up in the cooling system and the water is just draining downward). For now I have some pans collecting the water, but I was wondering if this is going to be an expensive repair (as in having to replace the entire unit), or something where a repair guy could locate and repair the leak without me having to do take out a second mortgage or something.”

Reply:

“1st your drain line may be stopped up, if you have a wet-vac there should be a vent in the drain line as soon as it comes out of the unit, pull the other end of the drain line out of the condensate pump, either purchase a 3/4″ pvc cap and cap the vent and suck the drain out from the condensate pump end or have someone cover the vent with their hand and try to make a seal as best as possible.

2nd the unit could be freezing up, which is caused by having a dirty evaporator, dirty blower, or due to alow level of Freon.

3rd for an older unit, the primary pan in the evaporator coil may have a hole in it, and you may have to change the coil, which you will want to consult with a professional about.”

For water damage caused by your HVAC system, NuBilt is always available 24/7 by calling 303-368-4688.

Also Read:

• How Does an Air Conditioner Work?
• Central Air Conditioner Repairs

About NuBilt's President

Issa Ashour

Issa Ashour, President of NuBilt Restoration & Construction, co-founded the property restoration company back in 1994. Since then, the company has successfully restored 1000's of properties.Connect with Issa on Google+.

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