AC Condensation Leaks Are a Common Source of Household Floods
AC condensation leaks are the most common household flood that we see when temperatures begin to soar in August and September in San Diego. If water is pooling around the air conditioner, when the air conditioner is being used, then it is likely that there is a air conditioner condensation line leak or pump leak.
Why Is Water Pooling in an Inside Air Conditioning Unit?
Part of your ac unit’s task is to pull humidity from the air. The inside device’s blower draws in hot, humid air through the return grille and over the inside system’s cold evaporator coil to cool the air down. When that happens, condensation/droplets form on the evaporator coil. It’s just like when water droplets bead up on a glass of ice cold water on a hot summer day in Southern California
That water on the evaporator coil drips onto a sloped drain pan and funnels down onto a condensate drain line. That drain line (normally a PVC pipe) either exits out the home (typically near the outdoor unit) or into your plumbing.
Common Problems That Cause Air Conditioner Water Damage
The warm, damp environment underneath an air conditioner’s evaporator coil is a perfect breeding ground for algae. This natural advancement might migrate into the condensate drain line or the drain catch and also form a blockage. Condensate overflow because of a clogged drainpipe may be captured by an overflow pan underneath the air conditioning unit, but if the overflow pan is missing out on, or has actually broken, rusted or established a leak, or if the overflow pan’s drainpipe line leads to the same main drain line that is blocked, water leaks will occur. Home water damage from a hidden air conditioning system condensation line leak can be considerable, in addition to expensive, by the time a leak is finally discovered by the homeowners.
If the drain line gets clogged by dirt, calcium buildup from San Diego’s very hard water, insects, mold, or anything else, the water has nowhere to go but back into the home.
Another problem may be a dirty evaporator coil. Dirt will mix with the water and fall down into the pan, clogging the drain.
“Air conditioner floods or condensation line leaks are much more common than someone might think” says Joe Colombo, owner of Gold Coast Flood Restorations. “Condensation leaks can create a lot of water damage, this is because they often go unnoticed. Many leaks are hidden by walls or they are in low traffic areas, and frequently the leak is not spotted until somebody sees a visible spot on the walls or feels a wet spot on the carpet.”
The higher humidity and dark areas around the condensation lines might also make them prone to mold growth. As the mold grows, it gets dispersed through the heating and cooling system or HVAC system to the rest of the house. Mold development within the home can be extremely terrible. If left uncontrolled, mold can trigger major structural damage to a house as can be a health hazard.
Call a Professional Water Damage Restoration Service Company
If you have water damage in San Diego or the surrounding area, the highly-trained specialists at Gold Coast Flood Restorations are here to help. Water damage should be treated quickly to prevent the growth of mold. Timely action can prevent the high costs associated with mold remediation.