Why is There Water Surrounding My AC?
Let’s talk about condensate drains. Many people who schedule air conditioning repair in Cary, NC don’t know that their air conditioning unit also functions as a dehumidifier. As any technician will tell you, all that water taken from the atmosphere must go somewhere, right?
That’s where your condensate drain comes in. Your air conditioning system has been specifically designed to draw water from the air as it releases the heat outside of your home and cools the air inside. The water that condenses is usually dispersed through a drain and brought outdoors. We say the word usually because if there is a problem with your condensate drain, you’ll start noticing that water in places you’d rather not have it. Is your ceiling or wall dripping with moisture? Does your carpet have stains and mold right around the air conditioner unit but nowhere else?
This looks like a condensate drain problem, so let’s take a look at what could be going wrong.
A Condensa-What?
As we mentioned above, your air conditioner has a condenser coil that draws moisture from the atmosphere while it cools down your house. This moisture gets trapped and must escape through a drain that we call the condensate drain. So, if you’re experiencing a moist wall or carpet spots around your AC unit, this is the likely culprit.
Condensate Drain Problems
This condensate water has to escape your air conditioner one way or the other. A well-maintained condensate drain will smoothly allow the water that condenses around your condenser coil to be deposited outdoors. A plugged condensate drain will make this process difficult. With nowhere to go, your walls or carpet will soak up this excess moisture, discoloring them in the process.
It’s Not the Heat, It’s the Humidity!
Not only that, but your system might have trouble reducing humidity if it doesn’t have an easy way to deposit that moisture. Did you know that most of the discomfort we feel during the hot summer months is due to atmospheric humidity? The moisture in the air makes it harder for the sweat on our skin to evaporate, which causes us to spend more time sweaty, sticky, and uncomfortable. Therefore, in order to make the air more comfortable in your home, your air conditioner dehumidifies while it cools.
What Can I Do?
Are you seeing discolored carpet and walls near your air conditioner? To test if the condensate drain is the problem, you can pass a stiff wire through the unit’s channels. If you’re having trouble passing this wire through, then your condensate drain is definitely plugged.
Don’t assume that you must do this all yourself. Our technicians in the area are well trained and exceptionally good at repairing condensate drains. Why risk doing any of this yourself when there are expert professionals at Raleigh Heating & Air that are willing to do it for you?
Looking to fix the drain on your air conditioner? Schedule your services with Raleigh Heating & Air today!