Image by Achim Hering CC BY 3.0 Wikimedia Commons
Having big or small pools of water in the house that weren’t there originally is not a good sight to see. This can be concerning especially when the homeowner starts to look around to see where the water is coming from. It also stresses homeowners to think about the expense of having the source and also the house fixed.
Homeowners do experience or encounter problems with their air conditioning (AC) units from time to time. These problems may be overheating, noisy units, and one of the most common problems which are leaks.
Leaks coming from the air conditioning unit may be caused by different problems in the AC. This may be because of rusty coils or the pipes are not functioning properly.
Common Causes of Air conditioning leaks
Drain Line Problems
This line or pipe is also known as the condensate drain. The drain line is the part of the AC that pulls moisture from the air. It is where water or moisture from the air is drained.
Problems in the drain line that may cause the unit to leak include the following:
- The drain line is disconnected.
- The drain line is clogged with sediments or dust.
- The installer of the line to the unit is damaged or rusted.
Pan and Pump Problems
The pan and pump of the AC unit are the parts that collect water from the air that is collected and pumped into the drain line. If these two parts are damaged, the unit will start leaking water.
The leak is more likely to happen if the unit is located in the basement. This is due to the conditions in the basement where it is cold and most time moist.
There are two problems in the pan and pump that may cause the AC unit to leak. These are:
- The pan is old, thus making it easy to rust. This causes the pan to have cracks and holes.
- The pump is overworked and breaks down.
Coil Problems
The evaporator coil is also called the evaporator core. This is the part of the AC unit that absorbs the heat. So basically, this is where the cold air comes from in the unit.
Problems from the coil may cause the unit to leak. These problems include a frozen evaporator coil.
A frozen coil may be due to a clogged filter. The evaporator coil may also be frozen due to a leak on the refrigerant.
Easy Fixes
Once the homeowner knows the problem inside the AC unit, most will try to fix the problem on their own. Some easy fixes include the following:
Leaking Refrigerant
- Adding refrigerant solution
- Using a Freon leak repair kit
Frozen Coil
- Cleaning the evaporator coil from debris and dirt
Clogged Condensate Drain line
- Using wire to rid the pipe of sediments, algae, and even mold
- Cleaning the drainpipe by pouring about a cup of liquid chlorine bleach down the line
Some homeowners also use leak stop agents to solve their leaking AC problem. A leak stop agent is a blend of cleaning chemicals. It is said to seal small leaks inside the air conditioning units.
Possible Problems with DIY solutions
Most homeowners want to save money on repairs that they do easy fixes on their Ac Problems. This is mostly for problems regarding a leaking air conditioning unit. Some may work but not all.
Doing DIY solutions may do more harm than good on the AC units. Some problems include:
Damaging the Unit with Cleaning Solutions
Keep in mind that some parts of the AC unit are made from delicate materials such as metal, copper, and plastic. Using solutions such as bleach may damage the coils.
Over-refilling the Refrigerant
Some homeowners say that refilling the refrigerant keeps it from leaking, but this is not beneficial at all. The refrigerant placed or refilled must be in an exact amount.
Placing too little may cause it to overheat. Putting too much may damage not only the refrigerant but other parts of the AC unit as well.
Health Problems
The chemicals being used to clean some AC parts are strong. If the homeowner is not that knowledgeable on the use of the product, they may develop certain health conditions.
Keep in mind also that the chemical solution may react to the materials inside the unit differently. It may rust, corrode or cause some parts to break or develop cracks.
There are AC leak problems that can be handled by homeowners on their own, but it is still best to call in the professionals. This is because they:
- Have the right tools and skillset for the job
- Have more knowledge/experience on how to deal with the problem
- Offer a long term solution for the problem
- Thoroughly assess and examine the unit for other problems
It is best to call in professionals to handle problems even if they seem small. This is to avoid further problems and bigger expenses due to damages.
Homeowners near or around the Frisco area may contact us for any HVAC needs. At Air Repair Pros, we are ready to assist you with your AC problems.
Air Repair Pros operates in Frisco and Mckinney. The Frisco office is located at 1467 Witt Road #201 Frisco, TX, 75034. Homeowners may also come to visit us at 2150 S Central Expy #200 Mckinney, TX 75070.
