Finding a puddle of water around your indoor air handler or furnace is alarming, but it's one of the more common AC problems we see across the Charlotte region — especially during our humid North Carolina summers. If you're wondering "why is my AC leaking water?", here are the usual culprits.
1. A clogged condensate drain line. As your AC cools your home, it pulls humidity out of the air, and that moisture drains away through a condensate line. Over time that line can clog with algae, dust, and gunk, causing water to back up and overflow. This is the number-one cause of AC leaks.
2. A full or damaged drain pan. The pan beneath your indoor unit catches condensation. If it's rusted, cracked, or overflowing because of a clogged line, water ends up on your floor.
3. A dirty filter or frozen coil. A clogged air filter restricts airflow and can cause the evaporator coil to freeze. When that ice melts, it can overwhelm the drain pan and leak. If you see ice, turn the system off and let it thaw completely.
4. Low refrigerant. Low refrigerant can also cause the coil to freeze and then leak as it thaws — and low refrigerant usually means a leak that needs a licensed technician to find and repair.
You can check your filter and, if you're handy, clear a visible clog — but a persistent leak, ice, or standing water can lead to water damage and mold if left alone. Reinhardt Heating and Air can find the source fast and get your system draining properly again, 7am to midnight across Gaston, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, and Catawba counties.