Many of our customers have the air handler for their AC in their home’s attic space. This location works for a lot of homeowners for a number of reasons, but it means making sure that you stay very aware of the potential for leaks. While it’s never good to have a leaking air conditioner anywhere, having a leaking AC in your attic can mean a lot of water damage to deal with to your ceiling and walls. What is the main cause of leaking? We’ll discuss this more below.
Removing Moisture
Your air conditioner cools your home by removing both heat and humidity. As the moisture is removed from your air as a gas, it turns into water when it meets the evaporator coils because the coils are cold. The moisture drips through the coils to a pan known as the condensate tray. This tray is slanted and is connected to a drain pipe known as the condensate drain pipe. This pipe drains the excess moisture to your sewer or septic line.
Problems with the Condensate Array
One of the most common problems that AC technicians see with a condensate array is a clogged drain pipe. Clogging can develop from either mold growth inside the line or from debris that has fallen into the line and creates a block. When the condensate drain line is blocked, the water can’t drain properly; eventually, water flowing into the line will back up in the pipe, and then also back up into the tray. The tray will continue to fill if the pipe is attended to, and will spill over the sides at some point.
The tray can also become problematic. If the tray develops holes and cracks, water seeping into the tray from the coils will fall directly to the floor. Should the tray shift and disconnect with the drain line, the water will flow out of the tray and onto the floor as well.
The best way to make sure your condensate array is working as needed is to schedule annual maintenance. But if you are already seeing the signs of a leak in your Kerrville, TX home, call the experts at D’Spain Sales & Service, Inc., for AC repair right away.
