Under no circumstances should you ever see water around the indoor unit. This is a sign that something is either dripping, leaking, or not draining. But sometimes this can be a very minor problem.

In the cooling mode, the indoor evaporator coil and the suction line (the large refrigerant line inside of black insulation) sweats. That is part of the purpose of the black insulation, to keep the condensation from dripping. Sometimes if the insulation is missing or if it has open seams, it can cause dripping and obviously this is an easy fix.

The evaporator produces a lot of water during the summer, which runs down the coil into a pan, then down a drain. The drain goes either into the ground outside the house or into a condensate pump. Then in turn, the pump takes the water either outside the house or into a plumbing drain. If the coil is dirty, the water, instead of running down the coil, will hit the dirt, then drip onto the floor. This is one reason why the coil should be cleaned annually.

Now if the coil is dirty, the water will mix with the dirt and the dirt will end up in the pan and it will then end up in the drain, the drain trap, and anywhere else it can cause a problem. It doesn’t take much dirt to clog a drain. And if the unit is in an attic or a finished basement this can cause terrible damage. This is another reason why it is important to always have a good, clean air filter and have annual inspections.

Sometimes the indoor coil can actually ice-up. And when the ice melts, it drips onto the floor. Like water, you should never see ice during the cooling season.

Indoor water problems don’t occur only during the summer. Many of today’s high efficiency furnaces produce condensate as well. They also have to drain the water. There are many parts in the furnace that can leak, drip, or crack, causing a water leak. Along with the furnace comes the central humidifier, which can cause leaks.

So keep your eyes open. If you see water, try to trace where it is coming from. Sometimes it is a simple fix. Sometimes not.

Below is a list of possible causes and things to check.

• Suction line missing insulation

• Condensate pump unplugged

• Drain line moved, not pitched downward

• Floor drain clogged with dirt

• Leaking boiler drain

• Blocked pan, trap, or drain

• Faulty condensate pump

• Blocked pump tubing

• Indoor coil frozen due to malfunction, causing melting ice to drip

• Dirty or faulty evaporator coil

• Cracked condensate pan

• Broken fittings or pipe, unglued joints

• Kinked tubing

• Humidifier over-filling or leaking

The first few causes are common problems; check for these conditions first. Remember - these are just rough guidelines and not all possible situations are covered.

Reprinted with permission from Hannabery HVAC from the company’s Web page “Commonly Reported HVAC Problems.” For more information, visit www.hannabery.com.

Publication date: 06/09/2008