{"id":1681,"date":"2021-06-21T11:00:01","date_gmt":"2021-06-21T15:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.redrockmechanical.net\/blog\/?p=1681"},"modified":"2026-06-23T10:01:10","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T14:01:10","slug":"why-water-leaking-from-air-conditioner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.redrockmechanical.net\/blog\/why-water-leaking-from-air-conditioner\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Is Water Leaking From My Air Conditioner?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"Water<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

You know if you see water leaking from pipes or the water heater in your home that there\u2019s trouble. But when you notice water leaking from the cabinet of your air conditioner, you might feel confused. Your air conditioning system isn\u2019t hooked up to the water line in your house, so where is this water coming from? And is leaking water a reason to call for technicians to repair the AC?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The answer to the last question is usually <\/span>yes<\/span><\/i>. We\u2019ll answer the first question as well as get into why water may be leaking from the AC below. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Source of Water in an Air Conditioner<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Why is there water in your AC? You may already have some idea because, if you\u2019ve listened to your air conditioning system run during the summer, you\u2019ll occasionally hear the drip of water coming from it. Water isn\u2019t used to cool down the air in a refrigerant-based AC (there are systems called <\/span>evaporative coolers<\/span><\/i> that use water, and we install and service these), but it is a byproduct of the cooling process.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s how it works. When cold refrigerant moves through the indoor coil of the air conditioner, it evaporates as it comes into contact with the warmer air pushed through the AC. This evaporation absorbs heat and cools down the air. But it also causes the moisture in the air (humidity) to condense along the coil as water droplets. This is the same effect you see on the outside of a glass of cold liquid on a warm day: condensate moisture. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When this moisture drips off the coil, it falls down into a shallow plastic pan (the condensate pan) located right below the coil. From there, a pump pulls the water down the condensate drain, through a line, and then outside of the house where the water drips harmlessly to the ground.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Water Leaks May Start<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now that you understand the source of water in the AC and how it\u2019s removed, you\u2019ll be able to see how this condensate drainage system can go wrong and lead to leaks:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n