Symptom
AC leaking water?
An air conditioner leaking water indoors is usually a blocked condensate drain, an overflowing or cracked drain pan, or a frozen coil melting. In a humid climate the system removes a lot of water, so drains clog more often. Turn the system off, contain the water, and have the drain cleared before it causes damage.
Soon. Water damage gets worse by the hour, especially from an attic unit. Turn the system off and call if water is coming through a ceiling.
What usually causes this.
These are the common possibilities, not a diagnosis. A page cannot tell which one it is — that takes a technician testing the system.
- Indoor coil
- Drain
- Blocked condensate drain line
- Algae, sludge and debris build up in the drain line. Water backs up into the pan and over the edge. It's the most common cause by far in humid coastal climates.
- Overflowing or damaged drain pan
- Pans rust or crack with age, particularly the secondary pan under attic units.
- Frozen coil melting
- When a frozen coil thaws, it releases more water than the drain may be able to handle at once.
- Failed condensate pump
- Some systems pump the water out rather than draining by gravity. When the pump fails, water backs up.
- Disconnected or poorly sloped drain
- A drain line that has come apart or doesn't slope properly lets water collect or escape.
What you can safely check.
- Turn the system off at the thermostat to stop producing more water.
- Contain the water with towels or a bucket, and move belongings out of the way.
- Look at the drain pan under the indoor unit. If there's a float switch, it may have already shut the system off.
- Check whether the filter is dirty or you can see ice on the coil — that points to a freezing problem rather than a drain problem.
Leave these alone
- Removing access panels on the air handler to get at the coil or drain connections.
- Bypassing a float switch so the system runs again.
- Working in an attic around a wet ceiling — wet drywall can give way.
Call rather than book online if:
- Water is coming through a ceiling or into light fixtures
- The leak is near electrical outlets, wiring or the unit's electrical parts
What we check when we get there.
In order, and every time — the point of a diagnostic is to find out which cause it is before anything is replaced.
- 01The technician clears the drain line and checks that it drains freely, then inspects the pan, float switch and any condensate pump.
- 02If a frozen coil caused the overflow, the airflow or refrigerant problem behind the freezing gets diagnosed too — otherwise it simply happens again.
What it is likely to cost.
Clearing a blocked drain is one of the smaller repairs on the price list. A replacement pan or pump, or a frozen-coil repair, costs more — you're told before work starts.
- Diagnostic / service call
- $89
- Condensate drain clearing
- From $149
Prices are starting points for standard work in the Savannah area. Final price depends on the system and site, and is confirmed before work begins. Permits and code-required upgrades may be additional.
Questions people ask about this.
- Is it normal for my AC to produce water?
- Yes — pulling moisture out of the air is part of how it cools, and in coastal Georgia and the Lowcountry that can be many gallons a day. The water should leave through the drain line, usually outside or into a plumbing drain. It shouldn't collect inside.
- How do I stop the drain from clogging again?
- Regular maintenance includes checking and clearing the drain. Between visits, keeping the filter clean helps. Some systems benefit from drain treatment — a technician can tell you whether yours would.
- Water is dripping outside near the outdoor unit. Is that a leak?
- Water coming out of the drain line's outside end is normal. Water pooling around the base of the outdoor unit in cooling mode is less common and worth mentioning when you book.
Work out the decision:Seasonal Checklist
Further reading:What an AC tune-up should actually include
The service that fixes it.
Air Conditioning Repair is the work behind this symptom. Its page covers what is involved, how it is quoted and what we stand behind.
Symptoms that sit next to it.
Systems rarely fail in one way only. If one of these is also true, say so when you book — it narrows the diagnosis before anyone arrives.
Air conditioner not cooling, not starting, freezing up, leaking or making noise.
- AC running but not coolingAn air conditioner can run without cooling properly when airflow is restricted, the indoor coil has frozen, a component has failed, or the refrigerant charge is low because of a leak.
- AC won't turn onWhen an air conditioner won't turn on at all, the cause is usually power, the thermostat, a safety switch that has shut the system off (often a full condensate drain), or a failed electrical component such as a capacitor or contactor.
- AC frozen / iced upIce on an air conditioner's copper lines or indoor coil almost always means the coil is getting too cold — usually because airflow across it is restricted, or because the refrigerant charge is low from a leak.
- Outdoor unit not runningIf the indoor fan is blowing but the outdoor unit isn't running, the house gets moving air without cooling.
- AC making a noiseA new noise from an air conditioner usually points to a specific part.
Not sure which it is?Describe it to the assistant
Everything else we are called about.
The whole index, in three groups.
HUMIDITY, AIRFLOW & ENERGY BILLS
House feels humid or dampSome rooms too hot or coldPower bill suddenly higher
Get it looked at.
We cover Savannah, the Coastal Empire and the South Carolina Lowcountry. Tell us what the system is doing — you do not need to know the cause. The diagnostic price is given to you before the visit, and the repair price before any work starts.
No heat, or no cooling at all?Call rather than send a request — (912) 858-3737 is answered around the clock.