Your condensate line is pretty important for your air conditioner. It’s used to efficiently remove water that your HVAC system dispels. But when your drain lines start leaking, you run into a big problem.
Condensate drain line leaking means water can drain into the wrong place, cause backups, or cause water to pool up around the foundation of your home instead. We don’t want any of that to happen, so let’s take a look at four reasons your line is leaking and what to do.
1. Overflowing Drain Pan
The drain pan collects water from the evaporator coil, then the pump sends it through the drainage line. But if the pan is overflowing, that’s a sign that something in the workflow is wrong.
The bigger problem is the drain pan flooding the rest of your air conditioner and causing water-related damage. If you notice the drain pan is overflowing, it likely means there’s a block preventing the flow of water or a broken pump.
2. Cracked Drain Line
This would be the most obvious problem: the drain line is cracked. This can happen when the outside portion of the drain line is in direct sunlight for extended periods of time, since the rubber can dry out and crack.
Age and wear and tear can also cause this. While condensate drain lines should be able to last a long time, things happen. Unnecessary stress can cause it to crack, too. The point is that it could be from a slew of reasons, but thankfully these aren’t the most expensive parts to repair in your AC.
3. Condensate Pump Problems
Gravity isn’t pulling that water out of your drain pan and into the condensate drain line—a pump is. Your evaporator coil is low to the ground, and if it were to just let water run off in any direction, it would flood your air conditioning cabinet.
Condensation collects in a drain pan, but it needs to be siphoned. That’s where the pump comes into play. It’s what provides enough force to send the water down the drain line and away from your AC cabinet and your home.
4. Blockage and Pressure
It’s not uncommon for condensate drainage lines to clog over time. This can happen from build-up in the line, mold growth, and mildew. Pressure can build up in the line and cause it to split.
Blockages can also contribute to backup, which would then cause your drain pan to overflow. All of these problems we’ve talked about today can be symptoms of other issues with your drain line, so it’s important to assume that it could be any of them and approach with scrutiny.
It’s Not an Issue That Can Wait
You need to call a professional as soon as possible. If you find that your condensate drain line is leaking, you have a time clock before bigger issues begin to spring up, even if your AC still works in the meantime. Don’t hesitate; call us today to schedule your air conditioning repair as soon as possible.
Contact The A/C Guy of Tampa Bay Inc. today to schedule your AC repair and your condensate drain line back on track.