ac « Gina Branch

My Air Conditioning Is Leaking

By Tom Branch, on May 5th, 2012

I received an email from a client this evening. It read, “My AC is leaking!”

It’s that time of year in Texas. We’ve had temperatures into the low 90’s and people are firing up their air conditioning systems for the first time. Some people never notice the water dripping from a pipe that exits over a window while other people think it is normal. I’ve ever seen one where the owner placed a large potted plant under the drip! Why waste water?

It’s not normal! If you see water dripping, most likely your primary AC drain is plugged.

The water produced by the AC normally drains into the primary drain that is attached to the home’s plumbing. At the end of last season there was water in the trap that dried out leaving mold, lint, and other residue that clogs the trap. When that happens, the water overflows into the Overflow Pan and runs out through the overflow drain which usually exits the home over a window.

Don’t panic! It’s easy to fix.

Pour a little chlorine beach into the primary drain (the cap on the top of the drain comes off), let it sit for a few minutes, and then wash it down with plenty of clean water. This usually clears out the trap and everything is fine again.

If this does not clear the clog or you’re not comfortable with this process, you should call an HVAC technician who can repair it for you.