What to Do if You Have a Leaking Air Conditioner

When the weather is particularly harsh, reaching high temperatures, your window air conditioning unit will undoubtedly have some condensation. This should be noticed on the outside of the unit. Some water droplets may be visible, with a slow drip sometimes occurring. If there's water dripping from underneath the unit into your windowsill, or the vents are spraying water out, there's a problem. Your ac should never leak inside the house.

I recently experienced this problem firsthand. The temperatures have been in the 90s for the last couple of weeks, and my window ac unit has been struggling. It started with a light drip onto my windowsill. Then, it started to drip a little water from the vents. Anytime the air conditioner got turned on, water would spray out from the vent system. An adjustment and a good clean seemed to do the trick, but there are still struggles on the hottest days.

When just the bottom of your air conditioner is dripping water, there may be a problem with the way the unit is installed. You need to be sure it's properly fitted into your window. It should be sitting as straight as possible, without tipping forward or leaning too far back. Make a slight adjustment and see if the drip stops. You should make sure your unit is turned off before doing so. Wipe away the water as well, and check your wall and floor underneath to see if any water has spilled there. Leaving water can cause damage to the area and allow mold to grow. The area should be fully dried and cleaned before you turn your air conditioner back on.

It's also wise to take note if the dripping water occurs on hot days or after it's been raining. If you notice a drip while there's rain, then you may need to add a seal around your unit. Water from the outside could simply be getting in. Most ac units come with extendable panels that allow you to fit the conditioner into your window. Not all will fit in correctly, however, requiring you to make some enhancements. There should be no visible holes to the outside. Some colored duct tape to match your unit placed over these spots may suffice.

Your unit may spray water if there's a leak and it's left running. You should turn your air conditioner off and perform some maintenance to see if it helps stop the problem. Your filter should be checked first. Pet hair and dander, dust, and debris can get trapped inside the filter and cause a blockage so air does not flow freely. If the filter is free and clear, you may need to clean inside the unit as well. The evaporator behind the filter might be dirty, also causing a restriction. The coils near the back could be filthy as well. Do your best to get in there and get everything clean so air and water are able to flow through their intended locations.

Just as you would with a dripping bottom, you need to make sure the area around the conditioner is clear of water. Wipe down the unit, the wall, and the floor underneath and make sure there's no water damage or growing mold. You could have a serious problem on your hands if any of this is left to continue.