Your air conditioner is easily one of the most essential appliances in your home. After all, it helps you stay cool while kicking up some welcome white noise. But like all appliances, your air conditioner needs regular maintenance to keep it running in top form. So, you can consider hiring a 24 hour AC repair service to conduct periodic maintenance checks.
One of the telltale signs that your unit might be due for some TLC (or a tear-down) is if you notice water pooling around it.
If you spot any water near where your air conditioner is installed, do not panic. It may not be leaking at all. Your AC might simply be blowing the water out of the coils because there is too much humidity in your home. But, at times, it may also be happening due to a leak.
When this happens, it can cause severe damage to your home. So, if you suspect your unit is leaking, here are five questions to ask your 24-hour AC repair technician.
1. Does Your Unit Have A Condensation Pan?
It’s essential to find out what kind of condensation pan your air conditioner has. If the leak is happening under the unit, it might be due to a cracked pan — which will likely need to be replaced. Your AC technician can help you figure this out by checking for signs of wear and tear around the area in question.
2. Is There A Frost Line Around Your Unit?
A frost line is a thin layer of ice that forms around your AC when it is working to keep your house cool. To determine if you have a frost line, look for shiny material on the unit’s exterior. It should be about an inch thick all around. If there are gaps, though, water could be seeping into your home.
In this case, your air conditioner might not be adequately insulated. It could increase the amount of water damage you’re dealing with.
3. Does Your Unit Have A Check Valve?
Some air conditioners have a check valve as part of their installation. Check valves prevent water from re-entering the lines after the unit has drained it out into the condensation pan. If yours does, your AC repair specialist will be able to tell you.
In addition to keeping your air conditioner from leaking onto your foundation, this simple device can also protect you from mold growth and costly repairs further down the line.
4. Are There Any Signs Of Rust On The Exterior Of Your Unit?
Signs of rust might indicate that water is leaking from an AC condensation drain pipe, which could be due to a hole in the pipe or a clog farther down the system. In this case, it is essential to contact your local AC repair specialist as soon as possible.
5. Is Your Unit Close To A Window?
If your AC is installed near a window, there may not be adequate insulation or weather stripping around the area. It could result in water seeping in without being noticed at first — but it will eventually freeze and cause damage. If this is the cause, you are looking at two potential sources of water damage: the unit itself and the window.
You can avoid major, expensive repairs by calling in a 24 hour AC repair specialist to check your unit immediately if you notice any signs of leakage — no matter how small they are.
