Why do Air Conditioners Produce Water?
If you have ever stood next to your air conditioner and heard water, you may be slightly concerned. There are many appliances that use water as part of their process, but air conditioners are not one of them. Yet, air conditioners do produce water over the course of the cooling process.
What happens is that your air conditioner, while cooling the air, creates condensation as both part of the process and as it pulls the humidity out of the indoor air in your home. When your appliance is working properly, the water will drip down into a collection tray and will be ferried down a drain. This means you can hear the water, but you should never see it.
What to Do If Your Air Conditioner is Leaking?
If you physically see water coming out of your air conditioner, this is an indicator of a problem. However, there can be several reasons for it.
- Clogged Drain — The best case scenario for leaking water out of your air conditioner is that the drain is clogged. Some debris may be preventing that water from draining away and it is pooling before coming out in other ways.
- Ice Build Up — If your air conditioner is having issues, it can start producing ice on the outside unit. This ice then melts and it creates leaking water.
- Leaky Ducts — On humid days, an overabundance of water can be a sign that there is a breach in your ducts. This means it is endlessly taking in humid air and overproducing moisture.
Regardless of the reason your air conditioner is leaking water, it needs to be addressed. The issue is that air conditioners are meant to drain a certain way. Pooling exposes the unit to moisture which can lead to damaging rust. This means that your air conditioner could prematurely decay and need replacement. If this is the case, contact us today to see what Wayne Price Heating & Air Conditioning can do to help.