When the refrigerant level of your car's air conditioning system becomes low, it will decrease the pressure on your AC system. Lower pressure will cause the evaporator coils to ice up and freeze, and this can cause the condensate drain pan to overflow and leak water.
Many times when the vehicle's air conditioner is in use, there will be water dripping from the condenser's drain visible under the vehicle, which is perfectly normal. The window air conditioning units in the house will also allow condensed water to drip to the ground and is a natural part of the unit's operation.
A clogged condensate drain line is the most common cause of water leaking from your AC into your home. If the drain line gets clogged with dust, dirt, sludge or mold, that water backs up into your home. In that case, you'll need to unclog it.
When the drainage system that carries water from your AC system away from your home becomes clogged with dust, dirt, and other debris, water can back up into the unit and eventually overflow, causing it to spit water. To fix this issue, you must unclog the drain line or have a professional HVAC technician do it.
Water leaking from your AC unit isn't dangerous, but refrigerant leaks are. Exposure to refrigerant leaks for extended periods is poisonous to your body. Air conditioners use refrigerant to turn warm air into cool air.
Maybe you noticed a puddle of water indoors after your AC runs for an extended period of time — whichever is the case, if your air conditioner leaks water, it's important to schedule AC repair immediately.
Specifically, the evaporator core leaks water from under the passenger side of the engine compartment when the air conditioner is being used. This is normal use. Coolant: if the liquid smells sweet and appears to be tinted or colored (yellow/green), it could be coolant.
Your air conditioner should naturally drain water that was once humidity out of your home. On average, you can expect 5 to 20 gallons of condensate per day. If water is not draining, your climate may be too dry or your system is not functioning properly.
Dirty or Blocked Air Filters
When your AC's air filter accumulates debris, it may become blocked. This may freeze up the car air conditioner's evaporator coils, which will cause excess water to overflow from the condensate drain.
You see water on the floorboards.
Your AC has a drain hose that directs excess moisture away from the evaporator coils and out the undercarriage. If this hose is clogged, condensation will accumulate in the unit and begin dripping into the cabin.
That humidity becomes liquid, so it's natural that water should be expelled as it drains. But any water draining from your car AC should be a drip, not a waterfall! Any more than a saucer-sized patch is a concern.
Your car leaking water, especially near the back of the vehicle, is normally caused by air conditioning condensation or exhaust condensation. Both of these kinds of leaks are normal. Your biggest concern should be if the liquid isn't water, but there are easy ways to test that in your Arlington home.
The actual leak repair depends on the component that's leaking. A simple O-ring can cost just a few dollars plus labour, but a new air conditioning line or condenser can cost hundreds of dollars. All-in, you can expect to pay $150 to $1,000 or more for a leak repair.
A drip or two of water leaking from under your car is normal, but if it is increasing in frequency and volume, your car needs to be checked.
Despite the way it may look, your car leaking water from the AC is usually not serious. Whenever you activate the air conditioning, it creates a bit of condensation, which can present as a small puddle of water. If you see small puddles like these near the back of the engine compartment, that's probably the cause.
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.
Your car's A/C removes heat and moisture from the cabin via an evaporator core, which is chilled using a refrigerant that rapidly absorbs heat from the air pushed across its fins by the blower motor. As the warm air passes over the cold evaporator coil, the moisture from that air condenses into water droplets.
Clogged Condensate Drain: This is one of the most common reasons for air conditioner leaks, and it happens to be one of the easiest problems that homeowners can check for on their own. Dust, dirt, and other debris can clog the drainage system that carries water from your AC and away from your home.
Turn off the power to the air conditioner. Remove the access panel and inspect the overflow pan. Use a flashlight to inspect the drain pan and the overflow drain pan. Note any cracks, dents, holes, rust, and mold or algae build-up.
HOW TO FIX. First, locate the drain pan and inspect it for any cracks or breakage. After that, replace the damaged drain pan with a new one and ensure its correct installation. Practising such fixes of water leaking from the car AC will help prevent any further leaks in the car AC.
Faulty Water Tank: If you notice water leaking from the bottom of the unit, it may indicate a more serious issue such as a broken tank or small holes in the unit. For minor holes, applying an elastomeric sealer can provide a temporary fix.