My home AC is leaking water from a overflow pipe...why?

Question

I have 2 Carrier units in my Texas attic...one is dropping water from the roof pipe...the other is not. I have regular maintainence and replaced freon last year. What are the most likely causes?

Answer 1

that's what it is for. The AC removes moisture from the air and it turns in to a liquid and runs out of the overflow pipe.

Answer 2

Ac Water Pipe

Answer 3

The unit that is dripping from the overflow pipe has a plugged "primary drain."

This is very common because the pipe diameter is small and the flowrate is so low, that you can get mold buildup in the drain pipe.
I live on the texas gulf coast and have this same problem

You can check the line out of the AC unit to insure it's open. If the main drain is plugged, you will have to roto-rooter the main drain line from the attic out of the house.

Answer 4

We have State Farm and they definitely covered the damage to our sheetrock and floor when our AC drain got blocked and the water overflowed and caved in the ceiling. However, they don't cover stuff that has been going on a long time. Only if it just happened. Also, they don't cover the cost of fixing the A/C which should not be too much hopefully, since the drain probably just needs to be blown out. Also, consider your deductible. But sometimes you can find somebody to waive part of the deductible or better yet do the repairs yourself and keep the money for materials and to fix the A/C.

Answer 5

Follow the pipe back. You will find either that it is attached to the condenser coil or to a metal pan under the coil and other parts of the air conditioner. If the coil, then it is normal and both should be dripping. If it is the pan there will be water in the pan and water dripping from somewhere on the unit where it should not and the regular (coil) drain is clogged.

Answer 6

I'm pretty sure that what you are referring to is the condensate line. The "leak" is actually an indication that the a/c unit is removing condensation - in other words, it's doing what it's supposed to do. Check the non-leaking line, remove it and run a strong stream of water through it to make sure that it isn't clogged. These lines have a tendency to clog with green scum, dirt, etc. Reinstall the line after you've cleaned it. When working properly, condensate (water) should come out of both lines.

Answer 7

You will always have water (condensation) from a properly working AC unit. Normally, there is a drain line that exits the building from the drip pan. These can sometimes get clogged with bacteria that grows in the line.

Answer 8

Your primary drain is clogged, that's why it's coming out of the back up. Go in the attic and check, it may simply be clogged where it exits the unit. If not try compressed air , use a rag to help hold the pressure and blow it out. Would be a good time to check your filters and coils (if accessable) too.

Answer 9

i doubt the answers listed here are correct. if it was normally he would not have noticed the problem all of the sudden because it would have been occuring all along. the fact is the overflow pipe is just that for overflow. why is it overfowing you ask...thats the question the ac repair guys need to answer. its clearly not going out of the pipes through the home as it was designed to do.

Answer 10

The water you see draining is normal. Check to see if the other unit is working properly. You may have a plugged discharge tube. Take a small wire or a small flexible drain snake and see if you can get it to drain. I'm sorry but you didn't specify if both units are a/c. One may be heat only. You mentioned you have two units this to me is rare.