Is Your Air Conditioning Leaking Water? Here Are 8 Possible Causes

An air conditioner (AC) keeps your house cool and comfortable by extracting heat and humidity from the air. As the AC extracts humidity from the air, it generates condensate, or water, in your furnace or air handler. This water is typically sent to a drain pan and transported through piping into your home’s drain system.

Unfortunately, an error or sludge buildup could cause the piping to become clogged. When this happens, water floods the drain pan within your furnace or air handler. It can then reach your home. This is namely troublesome if your furnace or air handler is installed in the attic or above a finished ceiling.

In most homes, building codes necessitate a secondary or safety drain pan that is installed underneath the furnace or air handler. This secondary drain pan possesses piping that is sent to the outside of the home. Most of the time, the outlet of the pipe is located above the outside of a window so it’s quickly noticeable if water begins draining from this pipe outlet. It is not normal for this to occur. If you see water leaking from piping on the outside of your home, this is likely a sign the primary drain is backed up and water is now draining from the safety drain pan.

Here are the most frequent reasons for why your AC is leaking water and how to take care of the issue. Some homes will also have a safety device that will automatically shut off your AC if the drain becomes clogged. In this case your system will stop cooling unless the drain is cleaned of any obstructions. Regardless, if you find water leaking, be sure to set your thermostat to “off” to minimize any further water damage and reach out to a Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing service provider to correct the issues.

Leaking air conditioners frequently demand professional help, which is why we’re here to assist you at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. We consistently deliver Expert air conditioning repair across North America, backed by a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.*

1. Condensate Drain Is Blocked

When hot, humid air runs along the evaporator coil, water collects on the chilled metal surface. At the end of the process, the water drains into a pan underneath the indoor coil in the furnace or air handler. As the cooling sequence occurs, the condensate flows out of the pan and into drain piping before the pan fills up.

However, mold, mineral deposits, dirt and other debris could clog the drain. This stops the water from flowing away like it’s supposed to. Trust the unclogging process to an Expert like Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to ensure it’s performed properly and without causing additional damage. Service Experts can also install a safety device that will quickly turn off your AC just in case the drain becomes clogged again sometime after, thus avoiding water damage inside your home. Of course, consistent maintenance on your AC will help keep your condensate drain clean and unhampered.

2. Drain Line Is Disconnected

While not very common, the drain line connection to the drain pan may become loose or disconnected. This may happen if someone is working close to the unit or when changing out the air filter. AC leaks can occur when the drain line is lose from the pan. Take a look inside your AC to find out if the drain line is still fully connected to the coil drain pan. If it is no longer connected, we encourage calling an HVAC technician to repair this issue immediately. Schedule an appointment with Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing today.

3. Condensate Pump Isn’t Working

Some air conditioners require a condensate pump to efficiently drain the water. These pumps are required when the home’s drain system is put above the AC unit. Even if the drain is clear, water can build up in the pan and leak out if the condensate pump is broken. First, determine that the pump is currently powered. If that’s not the root cause, the AC leak may be due to a broken condensate pump. You should contact an air conditioning contractor like Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to resolve the issue.

4. Evaporator Coil Is Grubby or Broken

If you see small drips in favor of a larger puddle near the outside of your furnace or air handler, water could be dripping off the evaporator coil rather than properly moving into the drain pan and condensate line. This can take place if the coils are soiled, or if holes in the insulation smartest approach to stop the evaporator coil from going downhill is to keep up with annual air conditioning maintenance using a Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing membership.

5. Low Refrigerant Level

If you uncover a leak and the AC isn’t cooling properly, the refrigerant level may be low thanks to a leak. Air conditioners use refrigerant to generate cold air, so getting it looked at consistently during seasonal maintenance is very useful for the life span of your unit. Without enough refrigerant, the evaporator coils may freeze over and cause the drain pan to overflow as they thaw. Opposite of some expectations, your AC does not need to be replenished unless there is a leak. The system is sealed and recharging is only done when a leak occurs within the system. Call Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing immediately to repair AC refrigerant issues quickly.

6. Dirty Air Filter

Your air conditioner’s filter should be changed regularly to encourage adequate airflow. Without adequate ventilation, the evaporator coils can become too cold and freeze. The evaporator coils will then thaw, causing excess water to collect in the drain pan—potentially producing an overflow. To resolve this, try changing your air filter. If the problem persists, further repairs may be the best option. Thankfully, HVAC technicians from Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing are happy to serve you, ensuring the problem gets solved.

7. Outdoor Temperature Is Too Cold to Run AC

Air conditioners are made to provide enough cooling for warm weather. Starting your AC when outdoor temperatures are 60 degrees Fahrenheit or below could cause the evaporator coils to freeze. Once thawed, the water and ice will drop off the evaporator coils and possibly result in an overflow thanks to ice blocking the drain pan opening. If a water leak persists, schedule a Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing technician backed by our 100% service guarantee* to help solve the problem.

8. Damaged Drip Pan

Air conditioners are built to last, but nothing lasts forever. If you possess an AC that is 12 years or older, the drip pan might be damaged or corroded even with normal use. If the drain pan has holes in it, a water leak might appear as condensate seeps directly through it. Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing can replace the drain pan and ensure your AC gets back to working normally.

Our Experts Can Tackle All Your Air Conditioning Repair Needs

Whatever the reason why your AC is leaking water, Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing can solve the issue. We’ll troubleshoot and fix your air conditioner, getting it back to running again right away.

Our technicians are thoroughly trained, knowledgeable and certified to complete quality work. We have full confidence in our repairs—in fact, we back up everything we perform with a one-year 100% Satisfaction Guarantee!*

We’ll even advise signing up for a worry-free membership plan. This can help you catch AC issues, like water leaks, more quickly so you can avoid future breakdowns while keeping your house cooler.

Contact us at to schedule your air conditioning appointment in North America today!