The drip, drip, drip of water from your air conditioner can be a reassuring site as you survey your gardens outside - knowing that a cool oasis awaits inside. A large part of the air conditioner's job is to remove moisture from the air. The less humid the air, the cooler you will feel. The air conditioner is designed to do this through a series of coils and hoses. However, you do not want to have the dripping occur inside the home. Luckily, there are some common sense measures which can be applied to alleviate the problem.
Tip 1 - Make Gravity Work for You
The air conditioner should be installed so that it leans slightly downward toward the outside, to encourage the water to flow outward. If this is not the case, you will need to shim up the bottom of the air conditioner on the inside of the house. This is why it is important for the outside of the framework be fully sealed to protect the framework from the winter elements which could compromise the shape of the frame.
Tip 2 - Check the Drain Hole
Make sure the drain hole is not blocked. If it is, unblock it. Do not drill any holes in the air conditioner, that could damage the unit.
Tip 3 - Check the Seal in the Framework
Make sure the framework around the air conditioner is sealed. The warm moist outside air mixing with the cool air inside will create condensation, just as weather fronts can cause precipitation.
Tip 4 - Look for Icing on the Coils
If the there is ice on the coils when the air conditioner is running, you will need to get it serviced.
Tip 5 - Check the Internal Drains
If water is pooling up in the front of the machine, it may be because of water channels in the air conditioner that are clogging up. Try cleaning them. If this does not work, then you will have to take out air conditioner and have it serviced.
Tip 6 - Check the Outside Night Temperatures
This may be a familiar scenario at the beginning or end of the cooling season. All is fine with the air conditioner when you prepare for bed. The cooling air from the air conditioner unit lulls you into to a long comfortable sleep, but you awake in the morning to see water dripping from icy condenser coils. This may be because the outside temperatures dropped below 60 degrees Fahrenheit that night. Check with the weather bureau. If that will be the case the next night, then turn off the air conditioner at night. You may want to get time to automatically turn the air conditioner off and back on during the projected cool time range during a given night.
Tip 7 - For Central Air Conditioners, Check the PVC Pipe
Central air conditioners usually have a PVC pipe to drain off the water from the system. A wet/dry vacuum can usually suck out the clogs in the drain pipe. If that does not work, then used compressed air to push out the clogs. You can also use a garden hose to flush out the line backwards. Use the highest pressure nozzle available for such a job.
Tip 8 - Check the Coil
If none of that works, then check the coil drain pan for a hole. Check to see if the coil is dirty. You may be able to clean the coil with soap and water. If it is too dirty it will then need to be replaced. If you have to take the unit apart to clean it, then you should call a cooling contractor for help.
Posted by: TrustedProsSuggested Reading For You
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