During the operation of the air conditioner, the owner may encounter the problem of liquid leakage from the outdoor or indoor unit. Such a malfunction can not be left without attention, because the equipment needs immediate repair.
In this article, we will consider what is important to know if condensate leaks from the air conditioner, for what reasons it happens, and how to repair the malfunction.
Where does the water come from in the air conditioner and why does it start to drip
The main function of an air conditioner is air cooling. A number of mechanisms in the indoor and outdoor unit cope with this task. During operation, the condensate is formed on the evaporator (cooling element), which should be drained into a special container, and then through a drainage pipe is directed outdoors.
Due to various malfunctions, the condensate formed on the evaporator can drip past the tank, leaving streaks on the walls next to the unit, get into the fan, or flow out of the tank without going through the drain line. Before determining the course of repair work, you need to find out the exact cause of the malfunction.
How much condensate the air conditioner produces
The amount of condensate produced is determined by the power parameter of the appliance according to the following formula: per 1kW of cooling capacity – 0.5-0.8 l/h condensate. That is, if in a house there is a split system at 3kW, the average volume of condensate will make 1.5-2.4l/h.
Leaking outdoor unit of the air conditioner: causes, how to eliminate
Some owners notice condensation leaking from the outdoor unit. Let’s consider what causes it and how to eliminate the problem.
Causes of condensate leaking from the outdoor unit:
1. Low refrigerant level. Such malfunction is solved by topping up the split system with freon.
2. Dirty evaporator. To fix this problem it is necessary to carry out preventive cleaning of the evaporator.
3. Pressure in the refrigerant line has dropped due to a drop in outside temperature. It is recommended that a pressure regulator be installed to prevent similar problems in the future.
In some cases, it is normal for the outdoor unit to leak. You can notice condensate leaking when the split system is working for a long time on cooling, as well as in a situation when the air conditioner is working on heating.
For safe drainage of the liquid, you can install a drainage hose in the bottom opening of the unit. If it is already installed, but water is still leaking from the unit, chances are the drain is clogged with dirt and needs to be cleaned.
Leaking air conditioner indoor unit: causes, how to fix
There are many reasons for condensation leaking from the indoor unit. Let’s consider them and determine how you can eliminate the detected problems in the work of climate equipment.
Causes of condensate leakage from the indoor unit:
1. Clogging of the drainage tube. The problem is easily solved by cleaning or blowing out the drain hose.
2. Freon leakage, which causes an ice crust to form on the evaporator. This malfunction cannot be eliminated by yourself. In this case, you will have to call specialists from the service center.
3. The air conditioner cooler is subjected to a warm air stream. With such a malfunction, the splashes of water literally fly to the sides. The cause of the malfunction is a defect in the housing, where the air stream penetrates. You can try to correct the situation by treating the housing with insulating material.
4. Clogging of liquid outflow passages. With timely preventive cleaning of the air conditioner, this problem does not occur. If by the negligence of the user clogging of technical apertures nevertheless occurred, it is necessary to conduct careful cleaning of apertures, using a thin wire. The main thing is not to overdo it, otherwise, there may be other breakdowns of the device. If this way failed to solve the problem, you need to call experienced craftsmen.
5. If the condensate drains from the unit immediately after installation, you need to remove the unit and check the angle of the drain pipe. If it is insufficient, water can flow out of the unit without getting into the tank.
6. Another reason for water leakage after installation can be a crack on the drain tube, formed during installation due to careless actions of the craftsman. This problem can only be solved by replacing the damaged tube.
What to do if your neighbor’s air conditioner leaks
In the apartments of many-story houses, we often face the problem of water flowing down from the conditioner of the neighbor living on the floor above and water falling on the outside unit of a split-system of neighbor from the floor below. The drops can get in a window, hit the window sill or outdoor unit, beating off a “drum roll”.
In this case, you need to talk to your neighbors and ask them to turn the drainage pipe slightly to the side. If the neighbors refuse to help solve this problem, you can install a protective canopy for the outdoor unit of the split system.
Any malfunctions in the operation of the climate equipment should not be left unattended. If you noticed the leakage of water from the air conditioner, you have determined the cause of the problem, but if you can not solve the problem yourself, be sure to contact the service center. Experienced specialists will quickly troubleshoot and resume the normal work of the split system. The timely repair will exclude more serious damages, preventing the expensive equipment from breaking down prematurely.
Don’t wait until the air conditioner is completely out of order. In the case of untimely repairs, there is a high possibility that a long complex repair will be required. Even a few days without air conditioning in the summer heat in San Diego County, CA will bring great discomfort to the whole family. But by calling the masters from SDAC Heating & Air Conditioning you can avoid this problem.
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