When your air conditioner is dripping water, it’s critical to figure out what’s causing the problem. A variety of factors might contribute to the problem, some of which are relatively simple to address.
We’ll look at the most common reasons air conditioners leak water in this piece. These leaks can also be prevented in the first place by following these guidelines!
How Does A Car AC Unit Work?
Removing heat from an automobile and replacing it with cool, draught-free air is how an automobile’s A/C system works. The term “heat exchange” refers to this procedure.
A condenser coil is used to expel heated, moisture-laden gases outside after they have been compressed to become liquids (which acts like an exhaust pipe).
If these coils are not properly maintained or repaired in a timely manner, water leaks can occur. There could be an issue with your air conditioner’s operation if you detect drips coming from it.
Why Does My Air Conditioner Leak Water?
There are numerous reasons why an air conditioner could develop a leak.
For instance, its compressor has degraded over time as a result of normal use. Another possible cause is the accumulation of ice that has accumulated over time due to condensation in your unit.
Also, leaks can happen because of holes or cracks that allow moisture to seep through your ceiling, wall, or floor into other areas of your home, such as bedrooms where people sleep at night!
Even though there are many possible causes for an AC unit to leak water, we’re here to assist you fix this problem and avoid it from happening again in the future! Please have a look at the information we’ve provided above.
Symptoms of Leaks
Evaporators in most air conditioners are notoriously leaky. The evaporating coils in your system are housed here, and their job is to remove heat from the vehicle’s interior as well as from its occupants and various components, such as the engine.
Compressors that cycle on and off more frequently than usual may lead some individuals to believe they have a leak. If you know what to look for, you’ll be able to tell if a system is leaking.
In the event of an evaporator leak, the refrigerant levels are unlikely to go below about 75% before being recycled into your car’s high side with each compressor cycle, even if you have an issue with that (typically every 30 seconds or so).
While it’s rare for the levels to dip this low, if this does not occur, your compressor will not turn on at all.
If you see any of these symptoms, you’re more than likely dealing with a water leak.
Finding Your Leak
Now that you’ve detrmined that you have an issue in one of these ways, you can use a variety of techniques to determine where the leak is coming from:
Unscrew the Drain Plug
Let any remaining refrigerant gas drain out of your car’s passenger side footwell by removing the drain plug (typically a screw cap).
Doing this will prevent the gas from being rerouted back into your A/C system while you are inspecting for leaks.
Make sure that you don’t damage any key electronic systems or wiring in that region by removing any screws keeping plastic paneling in place around where the evaporator unit is placed and allowing all refrigerants to escape there instead.
Replace Your Compressor Accumulator
When your compressor, evaporator, and expansion valve aren’t working, pressurized refrigerant is stored in an accumulator, a large metal container. Because it dries out the air before it reaches to your A/C vents, it helps keep moisture from accumulating inside of those components as well.
There is an excellent chance that your old accumulator had a leak that allowed moisture from high humidity or outdoor temperatures to freeze on the evaporator unit and build up brown sludge inside.
If you find any of this junk in your accumulator, you’ll need a new one.
Replace Your Expansion Valve
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Refrigerant systems typically employ one of two types of valves.
those that rapidly expand gas traveling through them to release pressure from their system (on the low side). those that pull liquid refrigerant from the high side to the low side to relieve some of the pressure on the high side.
Expansion valves are made up of a combination of both sorts of valves, and in most cars, they may be identified by the long, narrow copper pipe that exits and enters the expansion valve.
These kind of valves have the disadvantage of being destroyed by moisture or debris entering because of the severe temperatures they are exposed to on both ends.
The tube may need to be cleaned if water is dripping from it, but if not, you’ll have to buy a new one.
All Day, Every Day, Keep Your AC Running Allowing the A/C to run for long periods of time (such as overnight or while you’re at work) could help you find the leak areas in your car’s A/C system.
This is due to the fact that the refrigerant gas circulates throughout the system as it is being used.
Your windshield visor or other elements of the passenger compartment may become drenched in water due to a gas leak in the A/C system, which you may track back to its source by looking for water dripping from parts of the A/C system that release this gas.
Replace Your Evaporator Unit
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Within your car’s passenger compartment, near to the blower fan, you’ll normally find the evaporator unit hidden behind a plastic panel. In order to replace it, you’ll need to have access to the extra space behind this panel.
It’s not good news if you rely on your car’s air conditioning system to keep you cool in the summer, but fixing the evaporator unit should be a top priority if you’re driving about with a defective one.
If Your System Has Been Sitting For A Long Time Replace The Oil From Your Accumulator
The refrigerant gas in a car that is left idle for a long length of time tends to evaporate, leaving behind oil-based moisture and minute amounts of dirt.
The compressor accumulator (which pumps lubricating oil into your compressor) can easily become blocked or damaged by any of this muck left behind, resulting in a complete compressor failure in your A/C system.
Before turning on the A/C for the first time after repairs, you must change this oil, which is why we recommend doing so as part of a total system cleaning or repair procedure.
FAQs
How To Prevent A Leaky Air Conditioner?
Before turning on your air conditioner, ensure sure the coils are clean to avoid drips. For this to be effective, the device must be cleaned of any dust, grime, or leaves that have accumulated over time.
Additionally, you should inspect your AC unit for any holes or cracks and fix them quickly if you find any!
The external condenser coil of your air conditioner should also be monitored, especially in hot weather when this part is more susceptible to damage. The coils should be cleaned with a garden hose every few months to prevent them from becoming clogged with leaves and other debris (or more often if necessary).
Keep your AC unit’s air filter clean so that it doesn’t become infested with contaminated air, which can lead to leaks in the future!
When Should I Replace My AC Unit?
As a general rule, how often do you replace your A/C unit?
The majority of the time, the response is never. This is due to the fact that these objects, when properly cared for, can live for decades. In other words, what happens when it begins to leak water all over you?
As a result, perhaps it’s time to think about upgrading that aging system.
So, if your air conditioner is leaking water, don’t put it off any longer!
Taking action sooner rather than later will reduce the risk of serious injury.
Conclusion
However, if you feel that your automobile has a leak that is most likely caused by another problem, such as damage from road debris, you should take it to a skilled repair (which may also explain why moisture is accumulating inside under its plastic covering).
In order to avoid frustrating clients who’ve previously spent money on repairs only to have the same problems recur shortly after, it’s best to detect and treat several problems at once.
When your air conditioning system has been fixed, the time has come to do routine preventative maintenance, such as changing its oil and making sure that its internal components are maintained clean and clear of dirt, so that you can stay cool as long as possible.
It may be easier than you think to maintain your air conditioner running smoothly year after year with a little bit of effort.
