You may feel alarmed if you begin to notice water leaking out of your air conditioner. After all, water can quickly damage your home and increase the likelihood of mold growth. While water in your AC is normal, a leak is not. But don’t panic just yet. Most of the time, a water leak is a problem with an easy solution.
You can call our team for AC repair in Charlottesville, VA, and we can help identify the cause of a leak, fix it, and prevent it from happening again in the future. In the meantime, you can keep reading to learn more about what causes water leaks in an air conditioner and how you can prevent leaks from ever happening in the first place.
Condensate Drain Line
If you’re not familiar with how an air conditioner works, you may be wondering why there is any water in the system at all. As part of the cooling process, your air conditioner removes heat from the air as it filters through through and channels the heat outside. But it also removes humidity as part of this process. The humidity condenses together into water droplets that drain out through the condensate drain line.
But this drain line is fairly small, and very prone to getting clogs from dust, dirt, and even mold growth. If you notice a water leak, it is most likely from your condensate drain line having a clog. Don’t attempt any DIY repairs yourself, because you may make the problem worse. You definitely want an expert to look at the drain line and ensure that the clog gets fixed completely.
Preventing Condensate Drain Clogs
The best way to prevent water from leaking out of the line is to keep it completely clear. There are two ways you can do this. The first is to make sure you change your air filter on time each month. Your air filter is the barrier that keeps dust and other particles from entering your air conditioning system. If the air filter gets to full, dust and dirt can get through and make their way through the system, and yes, even into the condensate drain line.
You can also flush the condensate drain line monthly using vinegar. This helps to ensure that any particles that are beginning to stick to the sides of the drain line get broken down before a clog can develop. Vinegar also helps to eliminate mold, and mildew spores before they have a chance to spread. Just open the closet to the indoor portion of your AC unit and locate the pipe that has a screw-on cap. Take the cap off, pour in some vinegar, and secure the cap again.
We can’t control the weather outside of your home, but we can control the weather inside your home. The team at Mack Morris Heating & A/C is here to help with AC services so schedule your appointment today.