Can someone help me with a leaky air conditioner?
Question:Every time I turn on my central air condtioner it starts to leak water from from a plastic tank at the bottom of the coils. I have tried sealing this with water prooof caulking, and water proof duct tape but this has not helped. If I trun my air off then the leaking stops but as soon as I turn it on it starts again. Does anybody have an idea how to fix this?
Answers:
As with anything, it's hard to analyse in cyberspace but I suspect that your overflow valve is blocked, and your tank which is designed to contain condensation is overflowing. Filters probably need to be changed..call a local pro.
That water in the pan has a drain line that goes to the outside of the house. The line is clogged with most likely mold. Find the hole where the water is suppose to drain out and unclog it. Go outside and find the drain pipe that drips out onto the grass and check that it is not plugged up. Pour a solution of bleach down the pipe to clean it out after you clear the clog.
Actually your air conditioner is supposed to drain water when it is working, so there's a good chance it's actually doing what it is supposed to.
Or is there another drain it is supposed to be going out?
I don't have central air (I wish!) but I have two air conditioners - one is a 'window-shaker', which mounts in a window of course and has a steady drip of water out the back when it is cooling, and a portable one on wheels that I vent to the kitchen window with a special hose and that has a water tank (like a dehumidifier) that I have to empty every now and then when it is cooling.
It is called condensation, it is very normal. It is the same in a car's air conditioner, if you notice underneath a car when it is stopped, a puddle of water, it is normal.
There should be a hole for the water to drain out, perhaps this hole is plugged up, so it hasn't anywhere to go. Central air is usually mounted on the roof of a house or apartment or outside sitting on a concrete slab and fully self contained. I think you are referring to a window or mounted in the wall type air con.You have to have a run off from the water.It is also called sweating of the coils. This should answer your question.
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