Being a homeowner requires a lot of work. You need to stay on top of all maintenance needs throughout the entire year. It is never a good idea to wait on the maintenance of the systems in your home. Delaying the maintenance could end up costing you a lot more money in repairs. Be sure to maintain your HVAC system by replacing the filters as recommended. Also, check for any leaks or drips around your ac unit. Is water dripping from the AC dangerous? No, water dripping from your ac unit is not dangerous, unless mold and mildew begin to form.
Let’s take a look below at how we can determine a leak.
How Can I Determine If I Have A Leak?
Determining where the leak in your ac unit is, can be fairly simple. There are only a few areas in the ac unit that could cause water to leak. Let’s take a look below at how we can determine the leak.
- Water damage – If you begin to notice water damage around the air handler unit, it will be present on the floorboards or the walls around the unit.
- Standing water – There could be a puddle of water sitting around the unit.
- Full condensate pan – If the pan is full, you have a leak. The typical condensate pan does not fill up that quickly.
- Mold – If you notice a moldy smell or mold spots around the unit there is a leak.
What Causes My AC To Leak?
Believe it or not, there are a variety of reasons for your ac to leak. Let’s take a look below at what can cause your ac to leak water.
- The air filter is dirty – A dirty air filter causes the restriction of air through your unit. If the airflow is restricted the evaporator coil could freeze. Frozen evaporator coils will cause the air conditioning system to leak water. If the evaporator coil freezes and then thaws, water will leak into the drain pan and overflow.
- Low Refrigerant – Low refrigerant levels can also cause the evaporator coils to freeze. If you notice ice on the outside unit there is low freon. Check for a freon leak and then call your local professionally licensed HVAC technician.
- Clogged drain line or disconnected condensate drain – If your condensate drain line gets clogged, the drip pan will fill up and leak into the unit. Also, if the condensate drain pipe gets disconnected the water will drip from the unit into your home.
- Broken condensate pump – This pump is designed to move water from the condensate plate. If the pump malfunctions and stops working it causes the drip pan to overflow.
What Dangers Should I Be Concerned About?
When it comes to a leaking ac unit, the leaking water can create some headaches for you. Let’s take a look at what those concerns might be.
- Electrical issues – If the air conditioner is leaking water and is too close to the electrical parts of the ac unit, you risk a shorting out of the ac unit. This would cause an immediate shutdown of the unit and create some major damage to the unit.
- Mold and mildew – If the water drips and overflows the condensate pan, the water goes to the walls and floor of your Air handler closet. The water will sit in the sheetrock and wood and create a breeding ground for mold and mildew. This also creates poor indoor air quality for your home.
- Insulation and sheetrock damage – The material that makes up sheetrock and insulation are very delicate materials. If they get wet, they become soggy and do not dry very easily. Water can reduce their strength and cause some major structural issues in the home.
Other Recommended Maintenance
Now that you are aware of how water dripping from your ac unit might be dangerous, this would be a great time to read up on how long an HVAC system lasts. The moment water starts to drip could be an early sign that your ac unit is starting to fail.
Next, before you get into messing around with the ac unit while looking for the leak, be sure to turn off the electricity. This way, you do not accidentally electrocute or shock yourself. Study up on where the breaker for your ac unit is located.
Lastly, conducting maintenance on your ac unit will allow it to stay operational for a long time. It is always a great idea to read up on how to clean the outside ac unit. Doing this will ensure a longer lasting ac unit.
When Do I Call A Professional?
Hiring a professional HVAC technician will save you time and money. They can troubleshoot the reasons for the leak and make the repair. Also, consider calling your local home inspection team. They can inspect your entire ac unit before you hire the technician. Having notes from the inspection about what is in good working condition can save you from spending extra money.
Conclusion
Maintaining your ac unit is a very important part of keeping the longevity of the unit as long as the manufacturer states. If you do not maintain the unit and the lifespan is projected to be 12 years, then you risk reducing the lifespan of that unit.
The moment that you notice any leaks from your unit you should call on your local HVAC technician. Additionally, reach out to your local home inspection team. Also, the leak could have caused other damage to the structures of your home. Call Waypoint Property Inspection to inspect your home in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Lakeland, Orlando, Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, and surrounding areas.
