Home › Common Problems › AC Leaking Water Inside
AC Leaking Water Inside
in Hartford, CT
An AC unit pulls moisture out of your home's air all summer long. That water drains out through a condensate line, which is a small pipe leading to a drain or outside. Hartford's humid summers, with frequent stretches of humidity above 80 percent, mean your system is pulling more water than most. If the drain line clogs, the water overflows and damages whatever is below or around the air handler.
Quick Answer
Water leaking from an indoor AC unit in Hartford is almost always a clogged condensate drain line or a cracked drain pan. Connecticut's humid summers mean these units pull a lot of moisture from the air, and that water has to go somewhere. A clogged drain backs water up into the air handler and it spills out. Call (860) 200-8934 before the water damages your ceiling, wall, or floor.
Telltale Signs
Warning Signs to Watch For
- Water stains or wet spots on the ceiling below the air handler
- Puddles on the floor around the indoor unit
- The system shuts off on its own because the overflow float switch tripped
- Musty or moldy smell coming from the vents
- Visible rust staining on or below the indoor unit cabinet
- Drywall near the air handler feels soft or is bubbling
Root Causes
What Causes AC Leaking Water Inside?
Clogged Condensate Drain Line
Algae and mold grow inside the condensate drain line during humid Hartford summers. Over a season or two the line clogs completely, water backs up into the drain pan, and then overflows onto whatever surface is nearby.
The Fix
Condensate Line Flush and Cleaning
A technician flushes the line with a wet-vac or pressurized air and treats it with an algae tablet. Doing this once a year at the start of the cooling season prevents most clogs.
Cracked or Rusted Drain Pan
The drain pan sits under the evaporator coil to catch condensation. In Hartford homes with units installed in the 1990s or earlier, these pans are metal and rust through over time. Once cracked, the pan leaks even when the drain line is clear.
The Fix
Drain Pan Replacement
The technician removes the old pan and installs a new one. Modern pans are plastic and will not rust. This is a straightforward part swap that stops the leak for good.
Frozen Coil Thawing and Overflowing
When an evaporator coil freezes up, as happens often during long hot Connecticut summers with dirty filters or low refrigerant, all that ice melts at once when the system shuts off. The drain pan cannot handle that much water at once and it spills over.
The Fix
Coil Repair and Drain Pan Inspection
Fix the root cause of the freezing first, which is usually a dirty filter or low refrigerant. Then inspect the drain pan for damage from the repeated overflow events.
Self-Diagnosis
Which Cause Applies to You?
Check the signs you're observing to narrow down the likely root cause before your inspection.
| What You're Seeing | Clogged Condensate Drain Line | Cracked or Rusted Drain Pan | Frozen Coil Thawing and Overflowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standing water in drain pan and system shut off on its own | |||
| Drain pan has rust stains or visible cracks along the bottom | |||
| Large volume of water appeared quickly after system shut off | |||
| Slow drip that has been going on for weeks | |||
| Ice visible on coil before the water leak started | |||
| Musty smell from vents along with the water leak |
Free Inspection
Get a Diagnosis in Hartford
An on-site inspection is the only way to confirm which cause applies to your property. Free, no obligation.
(860) 200-8934Free on-site inspection
Written estimate before work starts
Serving Hartford & surrounding areas
Other Problems
Services That Fix This
Also Helpful