Air Conditioner is leaking...

[Stacie]

When my air conditioner (Central Heat/Air) is running, water drips out of what looks like a pipe at the very bottom of the unit. The carpet in front of the unit is soaking wet, and the door casing around the bathroom is already ruined from the water. The unit is a Nordyne/Intertherm M1 series.
Any suggestions? Advice?

[Pendragon]

That pipe is probably the condensate pipe, and was suppose to have a length of tubing attached to run it outside.

How long have you been there? Did you buy it new?

If so, this is a dealer/factory error and I would try to get them to cover the damages for the missing parts.

[Stacie]

No, I did not buy the home new. I bought it as a foreclosure in May 2002.
I have had the air on a couple of times in the last few weeks, and it seemed to be working fine. One night last week, I walked into the guest bathroom, and the carpet in front of the bathroom was wet. I assumed it was because my children had just gotten out of the bathtub, and had tracked water out of the bathroom.
Then, night before last I walked into the bathroom, and the carpet was soaked. This time I knew it wasn't the kids, and when I pulled the cover off the unit, I saw water dripping from that pipe. I turned the air off and put down a towel to soak up as much water as possible. An hour or so later, I turned the air back on, and kept an eye on it to see if it started dripping water again. I checked it several hours later, and it seemed like the only water on the towel was from what was left in the carpet. Well, I got up yesterday morning, and the towel and the carpet are soaked again. I am going to have to get the wet/dry vac out before it ruins the carpet, and the floor underneath. The door casing around the bathroom is already ruined from absorbing the water.
If anyone has previous experience with this type of problem, I would appreciate any advice you can offer.
Thanks
Stacie

[David Oxhandler]

Air units don't just cool they also dehumidify - they pull the moisture out of the inside air - The moisture is ejected from the unit by way of a drain line that should run to the outside or underside of the home. A properly installed drain line has an overflow outlet.

Your problem sounds like the drain line is blocked and the overflow outlet is protecting the machine from being flooded. Or when your home was installed the A/C drain may have been overlooked. This would not be unusual as most install crews are not licensed to work on the A/C. Who installed the outside portion of the air unit ?

This is a very easy problem to fix. If it is a blocked drain line it is just a matter of cleaning out the line. If the drain is not run out of the home it is just a matter of running inexpensive PVC to permit the unit to drain. Once it is draining a small amount of bleach thru it a few times a year will usually keep it clear.

Don't continue to let the water drip into your home. Regardless of why you have water running inside the home or who should be held responsible you must get this corrected IMMEDIATELY. Call in an air-conditioning repair service. If you continue to just let the problem go the water will continue cause serious and expensive damage in your home. Get someone on it today.

[Kathy Davidson]

My daughter's A/C in her mobile home is leaking water into the air ducks that run under the floor. These air ducts are full of water and mold. Why is the water going into the duct work instead of the drain pipe? Help!!!!

[Mark Bower]

Hi,

Most likely the pan beneath the a-coil inside the furnace has rusted through. So when the a/c runs, the condensation it creates goes through the pan into the ductwork below, instead of drained to outside the home.

Mark
You gotta see my repair manual!

[Charron]

I purchased my house used, and I have noticed that their is a condensation leak that has been a problem. It has actualy raised my kitchen floor (bubbled) I know that I will have to replace the floor soon, but I do not want to replace as long as there is the proble. The pipping is clean out alot, and the water is draining, A/C working fine, but the unit is a trianglular shape, and the water is dripping from underneath. I have cleaned the medal vents, and the out take flow pipping, but the condensation still keeps coming. I found, that the plate in front of the triangle is slightly bent, and I was wondering if the dripping could be comming from that when the water drips into the tray at the botton of the unit. I found that the seal is broken, and I am going to buy some special glue to seal it, but if that does not work, I am at a loss to what could be wrong. Any possible suggestions if the sealent is not it?
-Charron

[David Oxhandler]

Stop experimenting and call a competent air contractor. Water running in your home , even at a drip is very destructive and unhealthy. Your letting your home deteriorate and spending too much to run the AC. It can cost a lot more in the long run if you wait.

[Shawn Grace]

My A/C is leaking around the drip pan. Its looks to small. The water is going around the edge of the pan on the outside of the A-coils. The drip pan dimensions are 18in x 19in. If I could get a 19in x 20in pan that fits the same coils I believe this would fix my problem. Where could I get a new pan?
Coil Unit #C308A-47-UB
Seriel #C309711-52802
Model #E2EB012HA

Thank you
Shawn

[David Oxhandler]

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