High home humidity levels and poor insulation can cause condensation on AC ducts. Dirty air filters and ductwork with blockages can also trigger AC condensation. Combat condensation on AC units by maintaining ductwork, adding insulation in key spots, and using a dehumidifier.
The cause of sweating vents is simple. Air that's humid enough finds a surface cold enough. When vents start beading up with water--or worse, dripping--either the humidity is too high or the vent is too cold. It's not hard to figure out which of those two is the culprit. Just find the dew point of your indoor air.
There could be several factors causing your air conditioner to leak water, including: Dirty air filters– when your AC air filter is dirty, partially blocked, or completely clogged, your air conditioner's evaporator coils are more likely to freeze up, causing excess water to overspill from the drain pan.
To unclog an AC drain line, turn off the power to the unit. Locate the drain line and use a wet/dry vacuum to suck out the clog. Flush the line with water using a garden hose or cup of water. Check and clean the drain pan under the indoor unit.
If seeing droplets on windows around the house has left you scratching your head, it's worth knowing exactly what causes condensation. You're most likely to see this common problem in winter. This tells us that condensation is caused by the difference in the air temperature inside your home and the outside environment.
The temperature in your home
This can cause condensation. Keep doors of unheated rooms open to allow some heat into them. Ideally your home should be heated between 18 to 21 degrees Celsius, but older people, babies and people who are less mobile may need it to be warmer.
The first company you should call is a mold and moisture remediation company. Those folks are pros at knowing what to do first so that your home gets fixed efficiently—and without risk of lingering health or structural issues.
Without prompt attention, excess condensation could overwhelm your air conditioner's drainage system, causing damage within your home. This damage can range from high humidity levels that lead to mold and mildew proliferation and spots, to structural damage from drainage water that accumulates and puddles.
If the cause of the dripping is condensation, you can insulate the air ducts to prevent warm air from meeting cold air. If the cause of the dripping is a clogged condensate drain line, you can clear the clog with a wire, wet vac, or by pouring a water/vinegar solution in the pipes.
So, how much water should drain from an air conditioner? On average, a functioning air conditioner in a typical home can drain anywhere from five to 20 gallons of water per day. Keep in mind that these numbers are ballpark figures, so don't feel alarmed if your unit shows slightly different behavior.
Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition in which a person sweats excessively and unpredictably. People with hyperhidrosis may sweat even when the temperature is cool or when they are at rest.
One of the most obvious signs is a puddle of water in your AC's drain pan, which proves the water isn't draining as it should. Other signs include: Standing water near your air conditioner's condenser unit. A moldy smell around the drain or from your system's vents and registers.
Use your AC in conjunction with a dehumidifier to significantly reduce moisture from the air. Dehumidifiers are similar to air conditioners, but they're optimized for absorbing moisture instead of heat. You can make your home feel up to 10 degrees cooler by running one in tandem with your AC unit.
To get it right, Elizabeth Reilly from GreenSavers, 8-time ENERGY STAR Contractor of the Year, advises, 'For most homes, setting the thermostat between 68-72° Fahrenheit (20-22° Celsius) will work well to balance comfort, energy-efficiency, and to keep dampness and mold at bay. '
Condensation is caused by warm moist air coming into contact with cold surfaces such as windows and walls. It happens mainly during the colder months, regardless of whether the weather is wet or dry. Condensation is completely normal and is the most common cause of dampness in the home, especially in colder rooms.
By placing a bowl of salt near your windows, it will draw in and soak up any moisture from the environment, reports the Express. With less moisture present, the likelihood of condensation forming when indoor air meets the cold window glass decreases.
The real issue with condensation is that it can lead to black mould. Patches of black mould around windows, on doors and on walls doesn't just look unsightly, it could be making you seriously ill. The main symptoms from mould are: Stuffy nose.
Use dehumidifiers and air conditioners, especially in hot, humid climates, to reduce moisture in the air, but be sure that the appliances themselves don't become sources of biological pollutants. Raise the temperature of cold surfaces where moisture condenses. Use insulation or storm windows.
Flush Condensate Drain Line
The repair cost to have the drain line flushed runs between $75 to $250.
Using Bleach in Your AC Drain
Be sure to use a minimum of 2 cups once or twice per year. Be advised, however, that some newer units no longer recommend bleach or vinegar due to oxidation/degradation concerns. In these cases, boiling water is recommended.