Water around your indoor air handler or furnace is alarming, but it’s one of the more common summer service calls.
Where does the water come from?
Your AC removes humidity from your home as it cools. That moisture collects on the evaporator coil and drips into a drain pan, then drains away through a condensate drain line. In a healthy system, you never see any of this. When you do see water, something in that chain has broken down.
The most common causes:
Clogged condensate drain line. Over time, algae and debris block the line. When water has nowhere to go, the drain pan overflows. You can try flushing it with water and white vinegar, but if it’s fully blocked you’ll need a wet vac or a technician.
Frozen evaporator coil thawing out. If your coil has been freezing and then thaws, you’ll get significant water the drain pan may not handle. If you see ice anywhere then water on the floor, that’s likely it. Shut cooling off, run fan only to thaw, then address the root cause.
Dirty evaporator coil. A dust-coated coil doesn’t drain properly. Water hangs up on buildup and can miss the drain pan entirely.
Don’t ignore water inside your home. Water damage and mold are real risks if left to sit.
By Gregg DeMille, owner of Timber Creek Services in Farr West, Utah.
Need help with this? See AC Repair or call or text (801) 832-5302.