No. Well, maybe. But not in the way you’re thinking. Confused? Well, just keep reading!
If you notice water surrounding your indoor AC unit, don’t worry, you’re not imagining it. However, it is important to remember that your air conditioner does not use water in the cooling process. So, that pool of water is not the result of a leaking tank somewhere in the unit, as may be the case with water surrounding a water heater. So what’s the source?
The good news is that A) it may not be a serious issue requiring repairs and B) it may be an issue you can resolve on your own. However, the cause of the problemB could mean that there is a larger AC issue at play, and the fact is thatB any unwanted moisture in your home can result in property damages, biological pollutant growth, etc. Don’t put your air conditioning in Hendersonville, NC, at risk.
How Air Conditioners Cool
Wait, I thought this was a post about why ACs leak water. Well, it is, but the water that is leaking from your air conditioner is directly tied into the way the system cools. While your air conditioner does not use water in the cooling process, itB doesB draw some humidity out of the air as it operates.
Basically, your AC works by removing heat from the air in your home. As that heat is removed, humidity that was in the air collects on the system’s evaporator coil, which is where the refrigerant evaporates in the indoor unit. That moisture drips off of the coil into a condensate drain pan. Are you with us so far? Good, because now we’re going to get into what might be going wrong with your system.
Where That Water Is Coming From
AB veryB likely cause of your “water leak” is an issue with the condensate drain assembly. If the drain pan is misaligned, for instance, the moisture dripping off of the coil may simply be missing the mark and winding up on the floor around the unit. It’s also possible that the pan is cracked, or that it is overflowing because the drain line is clogged with algae. Replacing the pan or cleaning out the line with a simple solutionb a wet vac might also come in very handyb are tasks that enterprising homeowners can handle on their own, though we’re of course available and happy to look into the situation for you.
The Worst-Case Scenario
We are not alarmists, and we’re not trying to scare you into services you don’t need. However,B you need to understand that there is a potentially serious cause of this issue. You may have a refrigerant leak that is causing the coil to freeze over. When the ice melts off of that coil, it can overwhelm the drain assembly and result in an overflow. A very dirty air filter can actually cause this problem as well, though. If you see ice on your coil but the filter is fresh,B let us know immediately so that we can deal with any refrigerant leak you may have.