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Message
Ac evaporator coil leaking water
Posted on 7/27/21 at 5:05 pm
Posted on 7/27/21 at 5:05 pm
Hey all, for the past couple of weeks my indoor air handler has been leaking water (condensation) from the evaporator coil. There's no water in the drain pan so I know it's not clogged. Anything I can do before calling an AC tech?
Posted on 7/27/21 at 5:11 pm to Chasin The Tiger
Is your air filter clean and unclogged?
Posted on 7/27/21 at 5:13 pm to wickowick
Yes I thought that might be it and I changed it a few weeks ago. Still leaks.
Posted on 7/27/21 at 6:31 pm to Chasin The Tiger
Could provide a better description of what’s happening or what your observing? Water drips from the evaporator coil into the primary drain pan, exits the house, and that occurs within the air handler. If the primary is clogged the condensate water it drips into the secondary drain drain under the air handler, and you are saying this is dry?
So my question is where are you seeing water leaking - are you seeing moisture at the supply vents/grills, somewhere else?
So my question is where are you seeing water leaking - are you seeing moisture at the supply vents/grills, somewhere else?
This post was edited on 7/27/21 at 8:32 pm
Posted on 7/27/21 at 8:33 pm to Chasin The Tiger
Sounds like everything is running properly. That’s why there is a drain line
Posted on 7/27/21 at 8:53 pm to Chasin The Tiger
What? Evaporator coils produce condensate. That is the reason you have a primary drain line and a secondary drain pan with a float switch. Float switch is the safety and should cut power to the condenser or entire system.
Posted on 7/27/21 at 9:32 pm to tiger2180
I think that's the problem. I don't have a secondary drain pan directly underneath the coil and that's where water is dripping. I need to install a secondary drain pan and outlet I believe.
Posted on 7/27/21 at 11:23 pm to Chasin The Tiger
quote:
I think that's the problem. I don't have a secondary drain pan directly underneath the coil and that's where water is dripping. I need to install a secondary drain pan and outlet I believe.
So it does sound as though your HVAC is operating properly, but you just don’t have a secondary (emergency) drain pan under your air handler to catch condensate water and shut the system down should the primary drain line become clogged. You should have a HVAC tech install one with a float switch that shuts the system down should your primary drain become plugged to prevent flooding. .
You do realize that water vapor in the air moving across evaporator coil when cooled below dew point condenses into water on the coil, drips into the primary pan, and is drained from the house.
Is your air handler/evaporator coil in the attic or in a closet?
Posted on 7/27/21 at 11:33 pm to CrawDude
It's in a closet. Vertical air handler. I'm going to pull the cover off again tomorrow and take a closer look at the drain pan to see if I can figure it out.
Posted on 7/28/21 at 12:23 am to Chasin The Tiger
quote:
It's in a closet. Vertical air handler. I'm going to pull the cover off again tomorrow and take a closer look at the drain pan to see if I can figure it out.
I see - vertical install in a closet on floor level would not necessary require a secondary drain pan (it does by code if a horizontal install in attic), but it should still have a emergency float switch plumbed into the condensate drain line to shut the system down if the drain line becomes plugged to prevent your floor from being flooded. You may have a float switch and not realize it or know what you are looking for.
If you can get the manufacturer and model number of the air handler and find the installation manual on-line it should have instructions on how the condensate drain line should be properly plumbed according to the manufacturers guidelines.
Out of curiosity, did something occur with your HVAC to have you pull the cover off and look at evaporator coil?
This post was edited on 7/28/21 at 8:58 am
Posted on 7/28/21 at 9:59 am to CrawDude
Yes it started leaking on the floor underneath the air handler...where the return air filters are located.
Posted on 7/28/21 at 11:44 am to Chasin The Tiger
quote:
Yes it started leaking on the floor underneath the air handler...where the return air filters are located.
Don’t know how old your unit is, but a couple things to look for
1. A crack in the primary drain pan allowing water to drip to the floor - not that uncommon in a older unit.
2. restricted condensate drainage, but still some drainage, in the drain line causing water to back up and overflow the primary drain pan.
3. Increase in blower fan speed causing water condensate to blow off the evap coil and on to the floor (that would seem unlikely to me).
4. may some other others things that don’t come to mind at the moment.
I’d focus on #2, then #1. Can you add some vinegar or Clorox to the condensate drain line to see if that might help clear any organic growth restricting rate of drainage to see if that fixes the problem? There should be a vent tube you can pour the vinegar/chlorox into. It would seem to though your unit might not have a safety float switch to cut the HVAC off if water is backing up, or the float switch is no longer working.
This post was edited on 7/28/21 at 11:46 am
Posted on 7/28/21 at 1:33 pm to Chasin The Tiger
after reading through the posts here you need anew coil installed to fix it.
your drain pan has rusted through and replacing it is your only real option at this point.
when they replace the coil they might be able to slide in a replacement for your existing coil box but more then likely the whole coil box will be replaced
your drain pan has rusted through and replacing it is your only real option at this point.
when they replace the coil they might be able to slide in a replacement for your existing coil box but more then likely the whole coil box will be replaced
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