Your air conditioner pulls a surprising amount of water out of the air on a humid Memphis day. That water drains through the condensate line. When the line clogs, the water has to go somewhere, and too often it ends up in a ceiling, a closet floor, or the unit below.
What to do right now
- Turn the system off at the thermostat to stop making more water.
- Contain the water with towels or a pan, and protect anything underneath.
- Check the overflow pan under the air handler, if you can reach it safely.
- Call for service. A float switch may have shut the system off for good reason.
Common causes
- A clogged drain line: algae and sludge build up over the summer.
- A failed or missing float switch that should have shut the system off.
- A cracked or rusted drain pan.
- A frozen coil thawing out: often caused by a dirty filter, low airflow, or low refrigerant.
- A disconnected or poorly sloped drain line.
How to prevent it
Flushing and treating the drain line during a spring tune-up prevents most of these leaks. A working float switch makes sure a clog turns into an "AC off" call instead of a ceiling repair. In apartments, a leak in one unit can damage the unit below, which is why drain treatment belongs in every multifamily PM program.
Need help now? See AC repair in Memphis or call (901) 000-0000.