Why is our AC leaking so much?
Question:I live in an apartment and all week long my AC has been leaking what I guess is water. I put a bucket there and it fills up in a day or sometimes twice and today it poured from the ceiling like hell and it filled up about 3 buckets in half a minute, so whats wrong? I told my apartment manager and they sent someone, but they did not fix it and today I asked them again and they didn't so now I have to wait until Monday. BAH!
Answers:
Maybe because your weather is so humid..
It's condensation from the humidity in the air. When the air conditioner was initially installed, it was incorrectly placed where it couldn't drain outside.
Maybe you need a new ac.
If it's a/c unit the condensation drain is plugged or draining in the wrong place. If it is a swamp cooler it could be a float problem or rusted out, leak in the water feed line.
The problem with your AC is not the machine, it is probably the installation.
If your AC is a window unit, the unit should have been installed so that the back is angled down. The rear should also be extended out enough to safely channel the water away from the side of your building.
You may want to consider moving if your landlord is that irresponsible. He/she is causing more water damage everyday the problem is not resolved.
Based on the info provided, it sounds like the primary drain line for the ac is stopped up. Under normal conditions, the refrigeration coil will remove moisture from the air and it will drop into a drain pan which is then piped out of the house. AC systems have a secondary drain which is typically piped to the restroom. Sounds like they need to get in and vacuum the drain lines and clean the drain pans.
JE has the right idea, your drain pan is full probably due to a clogged drain. Get a shop Vac and go outside to the pipe where the water used to drip, usuall close to the A/C unit and suck that pipe out good. Just put a rag around it to seal it.
You will get a bunch of crap come out, but once done should be clear for a couple more years.
Don't have a shop vac? Keep the buckets handy or turn off A/C till monday.
The outside section of a window A/C is the condenser and condensate drains slots. They are exposed to the elements and dirt and lord knows what else being kicked up. If you can remove the a/c from the window (or sleeve if a through-the-wall unit). Take the cover off and clean out not just the condensate drains but the entire pan. You must also clean the coils with cleaner and water. Let it all dry and reinstall. As previous contributors said, it should be pitched so condensate can run outside. You dont have to pitch it yourself, A/C manufacturers are designing the units with a built-in pitch. The only reason you will have to pitch it yourself is if you have a drainage problem that needs to be addressed.
The vaporization pan drain tube is plug. If the apartment has a maintenance man he should unplug it in 15 -20 minutes.
TJH has the right idea. Wikth a shop vac, clean out the pipe where the drain comes out. After years of standing water in a drain line, mold and mildew builds up inside the pipe and clogs it, causing it to overflow the drainpan. After you get it draining, pour about a cup of Clorox bleach into the drain pan and let it drain down. This will kill the mold.
It could also be a rusted drainpan under the evaporator coil. If this is the case, at the very least the pan needs to be replaced. This has to be done by a tech. Sorry no quick fix for that one.
You need to raise heck with the manager. This is a severe problem that needs to be taken care of ASAP. Dont let them put it off till monday. Force them to call someone.
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