Air Conditioner Repair: Part 3

Did you ever wonder what caused air conditioners to drip water? Growing up, we spent a lot of time at my grandparents home. I remember their home having a window unit air conditioner that leaked water. They placed a five gallon bucket under the drip to catch the water and dumped it every other day or so.

What causes air conditioners to drip? Condensation. Air conditioners create significant condensation, which exits through a plastic drain tube. This should go into a floor drain or be carried away by a small “condensate pump.” If water forming at the base of the unit, something could be blocking the water’s flow, or leaking, or there is another possibility that the pump may not be working.

Here are a few steps you can follow to possibly repair your air conditioner:

1 –One of the tubes could be leaking. In that situation you will need to replace it.

2 – Find the condensate pump and pour water into its pan. If the pump doesn’t immediately start, either it has no power running to it or it is broken. Be sure the pump is plugged in and test the circuit. If it’s broken, you will have to get it repaired or replace it.

3 – If the pump runs but doesn’t empty the pan, there is a check valve just before the discharge tube that could be stuck. Unscrew the check valve, loosen the ball inside, and look for an obstruction.

4 – Another problem could be that the drain tube is clogged with algae. In that situation run a wire through it to clear it. To kill the algae, you can pour a dilute solution of bleach through the pipe a few times.

5 – If ice is blocking the tube, it could be frozen over do to a dirty filter. Check the filter. If the filter appears to be fine, the air conditioner’s refrigerant supply is probably low. For this step it is probably best to leave it to the experts. You can find a Dallas-Fort Worth air conditioner contractor near you in our contractor directory!