The air conditioner is leaking. Why is this happening? How to solve a problem?

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Has water started dripping into the room? Cold air is no longer coming in, but the air conditioner is causing problems? – Welcome to our article. Here we will get acquainted with the main reasons for air conditioner leaks, whether it can be fixed at home and when you should contact a specialist. Let's begin!

How does it happen that water leaks from the air conditioner?

When the device operates in room cooling mode, a water mixture is formed - condensation. This is moisture that comes from the air itself and settles on the surface of the condenser, the temperature of which is below the dew point parameter.

Dew point is a measure of the air temperature at which moisture in the atmosphere becomes saturated and turns into dew. The phenomenon is actively observed in the early hours, when droplets of water appear on the grass.

If your split system is working properly, and all units are securely and correctly installed, then all condensate is removed from the room to the street. The process occurs naturally (through a drain tube) or forcefully (using a separate pump included in the housing of the air conditioning system). Something went wrong and the air conditioner is leaking - we are looking for the reason further.

Why is water dripping from the air conditioner? We are looking for a problem in the outer casing.

Since a traditional device has two components - internal and external, owners do not always check both systems. But in vain, because if water flows from the air conditioner, the external unit can become a factor of failure even more often than the internal one.

Why does the air conditioner leak from the outdoor unit:

1. Low supply of freon (refrigerant). The malfunction is solved by pouring refrigerant into the unit.
2. The evaporator is covered in dirt. Maintenance cleaning of the evaporator should never be skipped.
3. A decrease in air temperature can also cause the air conditioner to leak. This is due to pressure drops in the freon supply system. What we recommend is to install a pressure regulator in order to get rid of the ridiculous situation in the future.

Important: in some situations, the fact that the air conditioner is leaking may even be normal. Condensate leakage is observed when the split system is operated for a long time to cool or increase the temperature.

To ensure that water drains more or less safely, a special drainage tube is installed at the bottom of the outdoor unit. If it is secured and the air conditioner continues to drip, you should check the drainage for dirt inside and clean it.

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The air conditioner is leaking in the apartment - what to do with the inside

Let's consider the main problems among users of split systems, since there can be much more problems with the indoor unit than with other parts. And the entire article may not even be enough to describe the reasons.

So, the reasons why water flows from the air conditioner into the room:

1. Drain clogged. The problem was discussed earlier - take a rag and detergents.
2. Leaking coolant that has settled on the evaporator. As a result, entire plates of ice appear on the surface of the part.What to do if the air conditioner drips in this case - just call a specialist. You can do such a thing on your own that you don’t know what’s better: buy a new air conditioner or an apartment.
3. Warm air hits the fan blades directly. The situation is typical where the air conditioner is not just dripping in the room, but water is splashing in all directions. What is wrong is a defect in the part where air gets in. An independent solution is to try wrapping the hole with electrical tape. If the procedure does not give results, call a specialist.
4. Fluid drainage channels are clogged or clogged. If you service your device on time, the problem will not appear at all. But when you don't clean your air conditioner at all, then she is number 1. Try going through all the channels with a thin wire. Just be careful not to overdo it to avoid damaging the tubes. Again, if water from the air conditioner continues to flow, call the experts.
5. If water drips from the air conditioner into the room immediately after installation, the problem is in the drainage angle. Remove it and try to change the slope - the liquid needs a certain angle to flow onto the street. If it is not enough, water from the air conditioner will flow into the room.
6. Another problem, not as common as the others, is a breakdown of the drainage system. This is caused by a worn-out channel or improper installation, which causes the tube to crack. The way out is to simply buy a new part and insert it in place of the old one.

Why is the air conditioner dripping in the apartment - and who installed the system?

Quite often, even without breakdowns in the split system itself, the problem can be caused precisely by the “crooked” hands of the master. Poor quality and incorrect installation will negate the money spent on purchasing an air conditioner.

Often, the situation “why is the air conditioner dripping” involves the following problems:

1. The holes for mounting the device were not made at a right angle, as necessary, but rather at an angle. As a result, water begins to flow directly into the room, simply not reaching the drainage.
2. A hasty job or simply poor-quality material of the drainage tube can cause the water passage channel to break, and it will have nowhere else to go. And a large volume of condensate begins to flow from all cracks.
3. The heat exchanger froze due to poor-quality freon lining. It is especially noticeable if you turn off the air conditioner and wait - whole pieces of ice will fall out of it.
4. The freon supply wire is poorly insulated. Another reason why the air conditioner leaked “in the wrong direction.”

Please note that eliminating the consequences of poor-quality installation can be much more expensive than even purchasing a brand new model of climate control device. Do you want to pay 2, or even 3 times more?! If you have nowhere to put the money, then it’s possible. In a different situation, we strongly recommend enlisting the support of specialists in the field of installation of split systems.

Now you know the main factors why your air conditioner is leaking and the minimum actions that need to be taken. If you have your own story and another way to fix the device, welcome to discuss in the comments!