Stop water leaks from your air conditioner

The three most common reasons for heat pump water leaks are dirty filters or heat exchange coils, blocked drains, and a shortage of refrigerant. They are fairly simple to diagnose and repair.

Remember: Turn off the power supply to your air conditioner before trying any of the following!

1. Dirty filters or blocked heat exchanger

When the filters, or the heat exchange coil, are dirty or blocked, this causes a restriction in the air flow. This, in turn, can cause the coil temperature to drop. If the temperature of the coil drops below zero, the moisture in the air that condenses on the coil can freeze and form small flakes of ice that are then released from the air conditioner, causing water leaks.

Check the filters and if they look dirty, clean them well with the hose or shower head. Remove all dirt and spray them with an antiseptic kitchen or bathroom spray to kill any bacteria or mold on them.

Check the aluminum coil behind the filters. If it’s covered in dry lint, try vacuuming the coil carefully with your vacuum’s brush attachment. If it is particularly dirty, you will need to use a garden spray bottle and a strong kitchen cleaner that removes grease. Spray it on the coil, let it work for about 5 minutes, and then rinse the coil with the spray bottle. This should remove dirt and improve air flow. Be careful not to spray water near the electrical panel of the air conditioner.

ALWAYS read the manufacturer’s manuals on how to properly clean your heat pump or air conditioner.

2. Blocked drains

In a wall mounted ductless air conditioner, a blocked drain can be quite obvious and easy to diagnose. Water will generally drip down the wall from the rear of the unit and can also leak through the air outlet at the front if the drain is blocked.

Stand on a small ladder and look down from the top of the air conditioner. Towards the bottom of the heat exchanger there is a small plastic tray that is designed to collect the condensate produced by the cooling mode of the air conditioner. Check that this tray is not full of water or overflowing.

If your outdoor unit is directly behind the wall that the indoor unit is mounted on, your drain pipe will likely follow the pipe through the wall and drip into the garden. If this is the case, find the end of the drain tube on the outside, wipe the end with a cloth, and then blow as hard as you can into it. This should clear any blockages.

If you cannot remove the blockage yourself, or if it is buried within the wall, you will need to call a professional HVAC service company and reserve a service call.

3. Your air conditioner is leaking and has lost refrigerant

If your air filters and heat exchanger are clean and you have a lot of air flow, your air conditioner should deliver a lot of cool air. If you have a hard time cooling the room for a few hours and then water starts to drip out of the vent, you may be low on refrigerant.

Set your heat pump to the lowest possible setting and let it run for a while. Next, check the heat exchange coil under the filters. If it’s covered in ice, your air conditioner is leaking and requires a professional repair. If your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak, the leak will need to be found and repaired before additional refrigerant can be added.

When in doubt or if these tips don’t work, contact your local air conditioning company for service.