When you’re out enjoying your yard on a sizzling summer day in Toronto, you might notice water leaking from your air conditioner outside. It looks a bit worrying, but should you panic? Should you call the Toronto AC repair experts?
No… at least not yet. A little water around the air conditioning unit outdoors is not necessarily an emergency. Read on to find out how much leakage is too much and what could be causing it.
How Much Water Is Too Much?
It’s normal to see a small puddle of water under your AC’s outdoor unit from time to time. This condensation is most common in extremely hot or humid weather when the system works extra hard.
For now, it’s best to keep an eye on it. If the dripping continues for several days, contact Husky for air conditioning repair.
Reasons Why Your Air Conditioner Is Leaking Water Outside
Blocked Drain Line
The drain line’s purpose is to drain off condensate, the liquid formed as a natural part of the cooling process. Sometimes, the line can become blocked by substances like dirt, algae, mould, or rust, leading to leakage.
You might (repeat: might) be able to clear a small clog yourself with the help of some chlorine bleach or a thin wooden skewer. However, if you’re not 100% sure what you’re doing — or if you’ve got a larger clog — have a professional take care of it.
Dirty Air Filter
Is your air conditioner not blowing cold air? It could be a sign of a dirty air filter. A dirty, clogged air filter will restrict air circulation and is at the root of many HVAC problems during the summer and winter. The solution is simple and one that you can definitely DIY. Just remember to:
- check the air conditioner filter every 30 days for excessive dirt and debris AND
- change it at least every three months. Change the filter before you turn on your air conditioning at the start of the cooling season, as well.
Damaged Condensate Pan
The pan which catches air conditioning condensate may rust or form cracks. Often these cracks are minuscule and are difficult to spot with the naked eye. Check the pan using a flashlight for better visibility. Minor cracks are repairable, but you must replace a badly damaged condensate pan.
Temperature Too Cold
When the outdoor temperature is below 16°C, it’s really too cold to run your cooling system. The air conditioner is likely to freeze up.
As a result, your drain pan could overflow, resulting in water leakage around your outdoor unit. In this case, you might want to check that your thermostat is working correctly and that it is positioned away from any sources of heat (which could make for an overly high-temperature reading).
Low Refrigerant
Liquid refrigerant is an essential air conditioner component — it absorbs the heat from your house. Occasionally your cooling system may leak refrigerant. The lowered refrigerant level makes the pressure drop, and the evaporator coils ice up. You’ll need to pursue two repairs for this common air conditioner problem (both of which require expert help) — a top-up of refrigerant and elimination of the leak.
Husky Handles Air Conditioning Water Leaks
When you’re worried about water leaking from your outside AC unit — or any other air conditioning issue — call Husky. We’ll send one of our skilled, experienced technicians to take care of the problem and get your house nice and cool again.
To keep your systems in top shape, we also offer air conditioner maintenance plans and HVAC replacement throughout the GTA.
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