Fix a Dripping Air Conditioner Once and for All
Living without air conditioning in the summer is terrible, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t suffer. Necessary devices require maintenance and care , but even with proper care, there is one unpleasant thing that seems inevitable: they are wet . And they drip. And sometimes, when they don’t work properly, they drip into your home.
Why does condensation form in air conditioners?
For the same reasons airplane cabins fog up in hot places, your air conditioner will inevitably get wet. Warm air meets cold air, and warm air holds more moisture than its colder counterpart, so the moisture has to go somewhere. As a rule, it enters the coils of the machine itself, which is why air conditioners are supplied with drainage systems. When these pipes get clogged, you’ll probably see water dripping onto the floor, down the wall, or onto the window sill because, again, that moisture has to go somewhere.
There are obvious downsides to this phenomenon: First, you don’t need a damp house, especially when you’re already dealing with other summer horrors like extreme heat. Secondly, standing water can lead to mold and dripping water can really ruin your walls.
How to eliminate water dripping from an air conditioner
According to the good folks at Absolute Aircon , here’s what you need to do if you want to stop this dripping:
- Make sure the air conditioner is installed correctly . It’s “have you tried unplugging it and plugging it back in?” conditioner, but sometimes the basics work. The front of the window unit should be slightly higher than the back of the unit, which will help water drain out instead of in. Unfortunately, this means that your car will fly out into the street, possibly hitting people if you climb high enough. Please consider installing a drip tray or other drip collection device and empty it regularly. Don’t be an asshole.
- Clear your filters . Filters get dirty over time, blocking some key parts of the machine, restricting airflow and causing condensation – they need to be cleaned.
- Unlock the drainage equipment . As already mentioned, these pipes can be closed, and this causes the water inside to go out in other ways. Read the instructions for your device, disconnect the hose, if possible, and clean it thoroughly.
- Be aware of icing . If the temperature drops slightly, the cooling coils may freeze and then thaw when warmed up again. This means more water inside the device, which ultimately means more water outside the device. If you can find the cooling coil and identify the ice, you’ll be in a better position, but you’ll need to call in a professional to handle the situation.
- Call a professional . You should have your device serviced by a professional once a year to determine any minor repairs needed before it turns into a major overhaul.
And here is our guide to all the other ways to fix a faulty air conditioner .