Water. It’s perfectly harmless…. Right? Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Understanding when it makes sense to see water coming from your air conditioner is important for all Georgetown homeowners.
It’s Normal for an Air Conditioner to Drip Water… To A Point
If you’ve ever held a chilly beverage while enjoying the great outdoors, then you’re likely familiar with the concept of condensation. Droplets of moisture collect on the outside of the cup, can, or bottle that contains your drink of choice. To put this scientific concept simply: when warm air hits the cool surface, the surrounding air reaches its dew point. The water vapor molecules in the air condense, leaving droplets of water on the glass or can.
This same phenomenon happens inside your air conditioner. As air from your home recirculates across the A/C coil filled with cold refrigerant, water droplets form and eventually, they drip off the coil into a collection pan underneath the coil. We refer to these moisture droplets as condensate. Condensate is very normal, and you’ll see more condensation on days where there is more humidity in the air.
How Much Condensation is Too Much on an AC?
Every air conditioner coil should have a drain pan to collect the condensate water. If you’re seeing water pool under the indoor air conditioning unit, then it’s possible that the drain pan is not in place. Check to make sure your drain pan is catching the water that is dripping from your coil. Another possibility is that your drain pan has rusted through and contains holes. In this case, call us to install a replacement pan.
The drain pan usually has a drain line that is connected to your home’s drainage system. So, another possibility is that the connected drain line is clogged, causing the pan to overflow with water. If you notice the drain pan is full of water, remove it temporarily and dump the excess water into a nearby drain. Then, call us to help clear the drain line.
Another place you might notice a water drip is from a PVC pipe at the exterior of your home. Many times, these pipes penetrate through the home’s exterior just above a window. This is a secondary drainage location for your drain pan. The primary drain is at the bottom of the pan, while this secondary drain (sometimes called the emergency drain) is located higher on the drain pan. The only time you should see water dripping from this drain is when your drain pan is very full. If you notice a consistent water drip from your overflow drain, it’s important to call in our team to ensure there are no bigger issues.
Preventing Drain Pan From Overflowing
Homeowners in Georgetown, Round Rock and surrounding areas should take great care to ensure drain pans are not overflowing. Water can be very damaging to your home, creating swelling ceilings or developing mold. Preventing an overflowing drain pan is critical to a safe and healthy home.
Most modern air conditioners have what we call a condensate safety switch. If your unit doesn’t have one, it’s an accessory we can install on your equipment. This device detects the water levels in your drain pan, and if the pan is about to overflow, it will signal the air conditioner to turn off. With the air conditioner off, there will be no more condensation. Once the water in the drain pan evaporates or drains below a safe level, the air conditioner will resume operation.
Repair Now!
Rule of thumb? If the amount of water coming from your air conditioner is concerning, don’t wait. Call us for a diagnosis and troubleshooting. Most water drip problems are related to the air conditioner drainage, and our highly skilled technicians can repair your AC unit back to it’s normal operation in a jiffy. Call us at 512-887-5091 for an appointment today!
