Why is My Air Conditioner Leaking Water?

The rise in mercury and the demand for air conditioners are directly proportional to each other. However, just having an air conditioner is not enough; you need to ensure that it functions properly and is free from any water leakage. You should know that a leaking air conditioner can either function less effectively or worse, may stop working completely. Sometimes, an air conditioner leakage may even prove to be fatal for a household or an office set up. Therefore, you must be aware of the ways by which you can detect leakage in an air conditioner so that you can call the technicians for a timely repair.

Ways to Detect Air Conditioner Leakage

• Electronic Leak Detector: These are the most common methods in Parker available to detect a leaking air conditioner. The electronic leak detectors are designed in such a way that they can locate leaks very closely. Even if the leaks are small, you can easily find it out with the help of these detectors. It is important that you take a note of the instructions that come along with these leak detectors to successfully detect those unwanted leaks.
• Ultrasonic Leak Detectors: Such leak detectors are comparatively new in the Parker market. Basically, they work on the principle of sound waves. These ultrasonic leak detectors try to listen to the sound of air or Freon that escapes through an air conditioner. These leak detectors are a bit costly and require a quiet environment to detect the leak. As a result, they might not be very suitable for households.
• Ultra Violet Dye Leak Detector: This method of leak detection with the use of ultra violet dye is comparatively a complex form of AC leak detection. Here, ultraviolet rays are put into the water or Freon and the air conditioner leakage can be understood if the ultra violet dye comes out along with the water or Freon. However, in this method, one would require ultraviolet lamps or flashlights.

Ways to Repair Air Conditioner Leakage

If you have an air conditioner leaking water, it is not just enough to detect it. It is equally important that you know the basic ways to repair it. Some tips to repair your air conditioner leakage are the following:

• In case you happen to detect an overflowing pan, you have to check each and every corner and specifically that corner exposed to higher levels of water. The smaller holes or cracks can be easily repaired with epoxy glue, but the best way is to replace the entire damaged pan.
• Another common problem is a clogged filter. You can easily avoid such a condition by changing the AC filter on a regular basis. Generally, filters can be used for one or two months, but it is recommended that you keep a careful eye on your filter every month. The moment you find it dirty, change it immediately. This way, you can stay away from shelling those unnecessary service charges on account of sudden malfunctioning of your AC unit.
• Another very common cause of a leaking air conditioner is a clogged condensate line. The main function of this condensate line is to drain condensation from the overflow pipe to the drainpipe. When the condensate line gets clogged due to some reason, the water has a tendency to flood the overflow pan. Another reason to keep this line clean is that the recent AC units have a cutoff switch which makes them stop functioning in case the line is congested. The best way to clean this condensate line is with the use of a wet and dry vacuum that pulls out all accumulated clogs from the condensate line.

Prevention of an Air Conditioner Leakage

It is true that there are ways to detect as well as prevent leaking air conditioners, but the best option is to prevent such leakage from happening in the first place. The steps that might prevent an air conditioner leakage are the following:

• Regular Inspection: Whenever you change an AC filter, it is suggested that you inspect the condensation line as well for any kind of accumulated moisture.
• To Check the Entry and Exit Points of the Condensation Line: It is the best practice to check the condensation line carefully when the air conditioner is running. You should find out whether the water gets properly drained or not.
• Cleaning the AC unit on a Regular Basis: Depending on your use, it is suggested that you clean the unit at least every 3 or 6 months. You can easily do it at home with a piece of nylon string or a cotton rag.

These are some of the ways to detect, repair and prevent air conditioner leakage. Thus you can improve energy efficiency of your air conditioner. However, it is recommended to call the service engineers in times of emergency instead of experimenting on your own with some home remedies.

Author Bio

Taufiq Raihan is an expert HVAC contractor in Denver based At Parker Service Company. He provides installation and repair services of Air Conditioning, Boiler, Furnace and Heating.