Greater Phoenix, Arizona air conditioners may leak water for a couple of reasons:
It is possible that the air flow over the indoor evaporator coil is restricted due to either a dirty coil or a dirty air filter. In either case this will cause the evaporator coil to ice up and leak water over the edge of the condensate drain pan.
Clean Coils Keep it Cool & Dry
Every air conditioning unit includes two coils that bring in cool air, and blow out warm air: The evaporator coil, often called the “indoor coil” and the condenser coil, often called the “outdoor coil.” In modern air conditioning units, the coils are usually made of tubular copper and thin aluminum fins. Keeping these coils well maintained, and free of dust and contamination, can extend the life of your air conditioner, and ensure peak performance. Change your filters regularly & have the coils professionally cleaned periodically.
- The most common reason for the air conditioner to leak water is that the condensate drain line becomes clogged causing the drain pan to overflow. During the warmer months of the year when the air conditioning unit is working hard there is a lot of moisture being pulled out of the air in the home and as this water drips down the evaporator coil and into the drain pan there is algae and other debris that form and run through the drain line. Eventually, if not maintained, this algae and debris clogs the line, forcing the water to overflow the pan.
Maintain the Air Conditioner Drain Line
The Air Conditioner drain line should be cleared before, and after the cooling season to prevent clogging in the line. An additional option is to install an overflow pan safety switch. A condensate leak or overflow into the drip tray can trip this switch, shutting down your air conditioner or heat pump system forcing attention to the problem before any damage is made to the walls or ceiling.
With regular air conditioner maintenance, the items mentioned above should be inspected on each HVAC visit so your air conditioning system can do its best at cooling your home, and can last you a very long time. Contact On Time Air Conditioning & Heating today at (623) 209-8333 to see how you can take advantage of our Energy Savings Agreement.
