Air conditioners should always produce some amount of water. This is the natural result of airborne moisture beading on the cool walls of the condenser—like the condensation that forms on a cold glass of lemonade on a hot day. This water will drip until a puddle accumulates beneath the unit.
But how much is too much?
Sometimes, the amount of water coming off your AC unit can indicate that something’s wrong. Luckily, there are a few things you check before calling a technician.
The first thing to examine is the compressor cycle. Water should only drip from your condenser when the compressor is operating. In the hot Virginia summer, your AC should cycle on and off every few minutes— watch to confirm that the dripping slows and stops between cycles.
Another indicator is evaporation. Normal water leakage should dry up under the hot sun on a summer day. If a puddle remains on the ground under the unit for several days, consider calling a professional HVAC company.
Typically, water leaks are caused by the following problems:
- A rusted collection pan: The condensate pan can crack as a result of corrosion as it ages, causing collected water to leak. Replacing the collection pan is a fairly simple fix.
- Installation error: Newer air conditioners that leak excessively are likely to have been improperly installed. This problem could be the result of an undersized or incorrectly inserted condensate pan, or improper drainage piping.
- Lack of refrigerant: Low refrigerant levels can lead to low pressure in the cooling system. This, in turn, can cause ice to form on the evaporator coils. Flashback to high school chemistry: When pressure drops, so does temperature (remember PV=nRT?). Ultimately, the coils can freeze over completely, causing the condensate pan to overflow.
- Clogged air filter: The air filter is responsible for keeping the evaporator coils of your AC system running smoothly. If they become dirty or blocked, the coils can freeze and cause overflow from the condensate pan.
- A clogged drainage pipe: Condensed water is strategically routed through your air conditioning unit by drainage pipes. Occasionally, one of these pipes can become blocked by insects or debris, causing backfill and overflow. A technician will need to clean out or replace sections of piping to fix this problem.
- Cold weather: As autumn approaches, when the temperature outside can nearly match the temperature of the air it produces, your AC unit can overcompensate during its cooling cycles. Below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, the internal temperature of the unit can even drop to the point where evaporator coils begin to freeze, which leads to water leakage.
Fitch Services performs reliable, expert repairs and routine maintenance to keep any heating or cooling unit operating to spec. If you notice excessive water being generated by your AC unit, contact Fitch for help.
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See All ReviewsJulie D. (Charlottesville, VA)I can’t say enough good things!! We had an emergency, no AC during the 113+ heat wave on a Friday holiday afternoon (worst timing!!!). I called multiple companies and only Fitch called me back.
Larry was fantastic!! He kept me informed as to when he anticipated getting to us, and called when on his way, and showed up when he said he would.
He was, again, fantastic! Explained the issue and promptly fixed it. Our house was literally 98 degrees. Everything is running smoothly!
And, for an emergency call late on a Friday afternoon, the cost was incredibly reasonable.
I highly HIGHLY recommend their services. We now have them on speed dial and will absolutely be using them again for our needs, even for other services they offer we have yet to use.
Again, thank you Larry & Fitch Services from us and our pups - for being there when we needed you most and delivering exceptional customer service. 5 stars for sure!
Barbara M. (Charlottesville, VA)I am proud to say I have been a client of Fitch Services since they began. My family has always received courteous and timely service for plumbing, heating and air conditioning, and electrical issues. They have installed and maintain a whole house generator. That was a fantastic decision. I use their annual maintenance plans for all of my systems. I personally recommend Fitch Services.
John K. (Charlottesville, VA)I knew of Fitch Services and their technicians via my place of employment. The technician's honest and forthright approach to their work was very much appreciated... They were initially contacted to come to our residence to address a clogged kitchen sink drain line. It was suggested to us we replace the drain line instead of snaking it. When the old drain line was cut out and shown to me, it was amazing anything had gotten through that line! Glad we chose to replace it... We also inquired about replacing/updating all the galvanized supply lines in our home. The scope of the work needed and how it would be done was discussed to make sure we understood... We appreciated the honest assessment of how the project might or would go. While the technicians were on our project, they kept us updated with daily conversations towards the end of their working day. The finished project has been great! We were excited to finally have full flow of the hot water! Fitch is now our 'go to' plumber.
Tom P. (Charlottesville, VA)I've used Fitch for a few years now for both electrical and plumbing work. They are professional and do a great job on things both big and small. Twice we have had pretty huge jobs and they have come in under budget. Plus, the service technicians are friendly and work hard and the office staff communicates very well. Definitely recommend!
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