If you’ve ever seen water dripping from your AC vent in the summer, you know without a doubt that water dripping from specific devices, especially electric ones, can be scary. It’s essential to take care of this issue. When trying to fix water dripping from the AC vent, the most vital thing is to look for possible explanations for its occurrence. Fixing dripping water in your home is a good idea since humid conditions encourage mold growth. Try not to take water dripping from your AC vent lightly. Leaving leaks unattended could result in permanent damage to your AC and unnecessary bills.
The one tell-tale sign that your AC vent is leaking is if the ceiling nearest to the vent has stains. Experts can tell you about some things you should look out for when your AC is malfunctioning. That will ensure that your AC is in good shape.
Are you experiencing water dripping from the AC vent in the ceiling? Read on for more useful information.
What Could Cause Water to Drip from AC Vent
Different things can cause water to drip from an AC vent. Most AC’s come built to overcome some of the factors that could cause them to start malfunctioning this way.
If you decide to investigate the issue yourself, ensure that you take all necessary precautions. The most important thing is ensuring that you turn off the AC, including the circuit breakers, for your protection.
Here are some issues that cause leaky vents:
- Leaking refrigerant
- Dirty filters
- Malfunctioning condensate pump and condensate line
- Incorrect installation
- Frozen evaporator coils
- Rusty drain pan
How to Fix a Leaky AC Vent
Once you know what the problem is, you can then proceed to fix it and take care of water dripping from the AC in the process. Some of the issues may require parts replacements which means you will have to designate funds for maintenance. Do what you can to take care of water dripping quickly and call for help when you need to.
So how do you fix water dripping from the AC vent?
1. Look for leaking refrigerant
You need to note when looking at a potential refrigerant leak that refrigerants are hazardous. There are protocols to follow when handling refrigerants. Once refrigerant leaks, it causes the evaporator coils to freeze.
Eventually, the ice thaws and drains into the drain pan. If the drain pan happens to overflow, that’s when you start to notice the water dripping from the AC vent. Sometimes AC experts can repair the source of the leak. If the leak and damage are too significant, you might end up having to replace the entire AC unit.
2. Replace the filters
Sometimes the reason your AC is water dripping from the vent is that the filters need replacing. Air filters in an AC unit remove dirt and pollen from the air. Cleaning them may not be enough. You might have to go as far as replacing the filter. After being in use for a long time, the filter gets caked with dust which means it won’t perform as required. Dust-clogged filters encourage condensation to form on the coils. The condensation ends up freezing and then melting and drips through the vents.
You can take the lead to counter the possibility of water dripping from the AC vent. Try letting a few factors guide you on how often you should replace or clean the filters. Consider the number of people living in a home and the amount of dust and debris in your compound.
3. Unclogging The Condensate Line And Replacing The Condensate Pump
The condensate line gets clogged with dust and debris like a filter. However, with a filter, the best option is to replace it. All you have to do is unclog the condensate line using vinegar to avoid water drips caused by a clogged condensate line.
Again, on the subject of condensation, you can check if the condensate pump is broken. A broken condensate pump can cause water to drip from the AC vent. You can spot the pump right next to the condensate line.
Its function is to collect all water from the AC to pump it outside your home. If it fails to perform correctly, then it means that there will be a water issue in the AC. All you can do in that situation is replace it.
4. Clean Evaporator Coils
It’s a usual thing for a significant amount of condensation forms on the evaporator coil. Issues start to occur when the condensation freezes. When that happens, it gets in the way of air, causing the whole system to underperform.
Any new condensation that forms cannot get through to the drip pan and instead gets blown towards the vent. The remedy for the problems is arranging for your unit to undergo regular maintenance. Such practices ensure that you replace filters and clean the coils as regularly as possible to prevent water from dripping from the AC vent.
5. Rusty Drip Pans
Drip pans are essential since they accommodate condensate. A standard drip pan has galvanized steel construction. Galvanization ensures that it won’t rust when exposed to the elements. A drip pan is supposed to maintain its nature throughout.
The only reason that drip pan rust is in case of scratches. Scratches can happen during installation. Rusting is therefore inevitable since the surface becomes exposed.
Since rust happens in stages, you can catch it before it gets too intense on a drip pan. You can repair the scratches on the drip pan using simple household tools. You can try a painters’ caulk in case a silicon caulk is out of reach. Ensure that you properly prep the part on a drip pan you want to apply for the best results.
Final Words
To fix water dripping from the AC vent is easy when you first understand the source of the problem. If you suspect that a problem is beyond your abilities as a homeowner, you should consider getting expert help. You might discover other issues with your AC when having the dripping water issue checked out. To stay on top of things, you can try to have regular maintenance on your AC unit.
You may also read: 6 Signs Your Air Conditioner Needs Replacement or Repair
