How to Repair a Water-Leaking Aircon

Water leaking from aircons, if left ignored for a long period of time, can cause significant problems such as mold, stained walls, or property damage if left unchecked. 

Notably, leaks are more common than you’d expect, where they start as a few drops, which are easy to ignore. But if you wait too long to act, the leaks can cause mold and stain your walls.

Therefore, in this post, we’ll explain how to fix a leaking air conditioner at home.

Easy Steps on How to Repair Water-Leaking Aircon

1. Find Out Where the Leak’s Coming From

Start by identifying which part leaks. If water drips from your indoor unit, a blocked drain is likely the cause. On the other hand, if your outdoor unit leaks, it could be a refrigerant problem.

2. Turn Off the Power

Before you continue, and for your safety, turn off your air conditioner and cut off the power. 

Always ensure you disconnect the electricity before you investigate further for your safety and to avoid electrical accidents.

3. Unclog the Drainage Pipe

Because most leaks come from a blocked drainpipe, use the right tools, such as a vacuum or a manual pump, to suction out the gunk.

Alternatively, mix warm water and vinegar and pour it slowly into the indoor drain pan to break up algae. Importantly, don’t use bleach, as it damages pipes and harms the environment.

4. Wash the Air Filter

Dirty filters block airflow, causing the evaporator coil to freeze. Notably, as the ice melts, water leaks to areas it shouldn’t.

Therefore, to wash the filter, slide it out, wash it with mild soap and water, dry it, and reinstall. Importantly, you can clean the filters every few weeks if they are used often.

5. Check the Drain Pan

The drain pan that sits right under the coil, after years of use, may crack if it is made of plastic material, or the metal ones may rust.

Notably, for plastic cracks, you can use HVAC-grade epoxy to patch. On the other hand, severely rusted pans need to be replaced.

6. Check the Level of the refrigerant

If the refrigerant is low, never attempt to refill it yourself. Instead, always hire a certified technician for this. This ensures they refill it safely and in compliance with the regulations.

7. Make Sure the Unit’s Level

Usually, your air conditioner needs a slight tilt toward the drain. However, over time, older units may shift out of alignment, leading to water pooling.

Therefore, you can use a spirit level if necessary to confirm whether the unit is properly mounted. Notably, if it’s misaligned, you can slightly adjust the mounting bracket or contact an experienced technician to come and fix it to avoid damaging pipes.

When to Call a Pro

Usually, while you can fix leaking pipes as a DIY project, if leaks persist, stop the DIY and call a professional immediately. 

Importantly, some of the instances you should contact an air conditioning repair and servicing company immediately include cases of: 

• Frozen coils
• Cracked major parts, such as the blower wheel.
• Water drips from the outdoor unit’s refrigerant lines.

Mainly, when the technician comes, they use specialized tools and their expertise to diagnose the root problem and fix it.

Conclusion

With many possible causes for air conditioning water leaks, DIY repair can be complex and time-consuming. Therefore, hiring a qualified air conditioning servicing company helps ensure proper diagnosis and long-term solutions.

Lastly, although the leaks may seem like a small issue at first, they won’t resolve on their own. Importantly, you shouldn’t ignore them until it’s too late. Instead, get them fixed quickly to avoid expensive damage, higher power bills, and costly repairs.