What Causes Excessive Condensation From Air Conditioning?

If you notice condesnation flowing or dripping from your air conditioning unit, you may need help from an experienced HVAC professional. So, what causes excessive condensation from your AC system? Let’s take a look at a few causes below.

Causes Of Excessive Condensation From AC

One of the following five items is most likely responsible for producing water leakage on the side of your cooling system or excess condensation coming from your vents.

Dirty Air Filters

Clogged air filters can limit the airflow throughout your AC unit, which includes the evaporator coil. Insufficient airflow can cause the evaporator coil to ultimately freeze, turning normal condensation into ice.

Once this ice melts, it will then drip into the condensate pan and overflow. Do not forget to inspect the air filter once every other month between tune-ups, cleaning or changing it when necessary.

Drain Pan Issues

The drain or condensation pan will collect water from the evaporator coil prior to sending it to an external pan. If the pan happens to warp or even crack, it can result in water leakage.

Fortunately, the issues only call for simple repairs that local AC professionals can easily accommodate.

Low Refrigerant Levels

Low refrigerant levels overall from either a hidden leak or failure to top off refrigerant can result in cooling system problems. Besides inefficient cooling, low levels can lead to some frozen evaporator coil issues. Excess condensation can lead to a water leak whenever the ice melts.

Clogged Condensate Drain Line

The majority of condensation problems stem from improper drainage. Failure to keep up with routine maintenance needs can lead to these drain line issues. For instance, the condensate drain line can clog because of mold, dirt, bacteria, or debris buildup.

This blocking will cause water to back up elsewhere in the system. Furthermore, the condensate pan can overflow and cause water to leak into the home.

Broken Condensate Pump

If your home AC system is located in the basement, it will likely feature a condensate pump that is responsible for removing water to a ground-level drain. Water can leak into your basement when the pump develops issues or ultimately breaks down.

Excess water can cause significant damage to the basement, especially if you don’t visit this area of the home regularly.

Problems Excess Condensation Can Cause For AC System

It always helps to understand the impact excess condensation can have on your AC system. These issues undoubtedly require immediate attention from an HVAC professional. When left unaddressed, excess condensation can impact your home in the following ways.

Water Damage

When condensation occurs indoors instead of draining outdoors, it can cause significant property damage.

More AC Repairs

Excess condensation can result in corrosion and premature AC unit degradation. The excess water can also overwhelm the drainage system, causing the entire unit to shut down.

Increased Humidity

An increase in condensation leads to higher moisture levels in the air, which creates a conducive environment for both mildew and mold to thrive.

How To Fix Excess Condensation In The AC System

If you happen to notice excess condensation coming from your AC unit, try to see if you can pinpoint the issue by inspecting the area thoroughly. Clogged filters can be easy to spot, but anything further than that calls for professional intervention.