Photo: A Yee, Flickr Creative Commons

Finding a pool of water around your inside air conditioning unit can be disconcerting, but it doesn’t have to be cause for panic. First turn off your thermostat to prevent further water leakage and damage, and then call your Delaware air conditioning repair specialist. They have the skills to have your unit repaired quickly and efficiently!

Why Does Water Form in the First Place?

One of your air conditioner’s jobs is to pull humidity from the air. The blower of the inside unit pulls in hot, humid air and passes it over the cold evaporator coil to cool the air down. As a result, condensation forms on the evaporator coil, just like a glass of iced tea on a hot day. This condensation falls into a sloped drain pan and down a condensate drain line that either exits outside your home or into your plumbing. If there is an issue with any of the parts involved, it will cause water to form around the inside unit. These are a few of the most common problems:

1. Clogged condensate drain line – This is the #1 cause of water leakage. The drain line can become clogged with dust, dirt, sludge, mold, or even insects, causing water to back up into your home. Your Delaware AC technician has a special vacuum to suck the blockage material out, allowing water to flow normally.
2. Damaged/rusted drain pan – If you have an older AC unit, the drain pan may be damaged or rusted through. With a call to your Delaware AC repair company, you will have new drain pan in no time.
3. Broken condensate pump – Units installed in basements or attics use a condensate pump to pump the water outside. If the pump breaks down, your unit can’t force the water out of your house. The pump needs to be repaired or replaced.
4. Frozen evaporator coil – There are two common factors that will cause your evaporator coil to freeze over:

• Dirty air filter – A dirty filter blocks airflow to the evaporator coil, causing it to get too cold and freeze over. When it eventually melts, the drain pan often can’t handle the increased amount of water. Be sure to change your air filter regularly to prevent freezing.
• Low refrigerant – Low levels of refrigerant actually cause your evaporator coil to become too cold, causing it to ice over. A certified Delaware AC technician can check your system for refrigerant leaks and perform any necessary repairs as well as restoring your refrigerant levels.

Call Your Delaware AC Repair Company

Routine maintenance can help catch small problems before they become big headaches. Leaking air conditioner units can often be prevented with regular check-ups from your Delaware AC technician. We also have emergency service to handle unexpected breakdowns. You can always count on our experienced technicians to give you excellent, courteous service. Call Gold Star today for all your air conditioning needs!