A little condensation may not be concerning, but if you notice water dripping from your AC Vent it’s worth a second look. While there are many reasons for your AC vent to leak, it’s best to address issues early rather than waiting for a serious (and more expensive) issue to develop. Check out these potential issues before you have to replace your entire HVAC unit.
5 Most Common Reasons for AC Vent Leaks
1) Dirty Air Filter: A dirty air filter can cause allergens in your home to build up, which may indirectly lead to dripping water from your AC vent. A dirty air filter can cause your AC to “freeze up.” This usually happens after the AC is off a long time and there is colder air that freezes in and around the vent. The frost melts causing condensation to escape through the AC vent. If your filter clogs, the water won’t flow through the vent properly. When you change the old filter the leak should resolve on its own.
2) Frozen Evaporator Coils: Evaporator coils are designed to allow chemicals such as freon to turn from a liquid to gas. When the evaporator coils freeze, from the AC running too long, the ice will then melt when the AC unit is off and begins to dethaw. Your AC vent may leak as a result of this condensation building up. Check to see if this is the problem by removing your air filter and inspecting your evaporator coils.
3) Condensation Drain Line Clog: If your condensation drain line has a clog your AC vent will leak. This occurs most often when your AC unit is in your attic. The humidity can cause water to overflow and drip from the vent. Check your HVAC condenser unit drip pan outside your home. An overflowing drip pan usually means there is a clog in the drain line. You need to locate and remove the clog.
4) Improperly Insulated Ductwork: If your home is older you likely have improperly insulated air ducts that run through your attic. Older ductwork often has condensation build-up that leaks into your AC vents. This often requires special air duct insulation around all the old improperly insulated ducts or duct modifications. A professional should handle this work to inspect and ensure an efficient job is completed accurately the first time.
5) Toxic Refrigerant Leak: The most potentially dangerous issue that could cause your AC vents to leak is a refrigerant leak. You will have less water leaking from the AC vent, but the room will be much more difficult to cool and there will be high humidity in the room. You will notice the humidity in the air before the AC vent leak, which is caused by water being pulled into the system for too long, which remains in the coils and freezes. This causes condensation, which will melt and drip. What makes this leak dangerous is the side effects of refrigerant exposure. This leak is definitely one to have a professional handle.
Reynolds Air & Heat‘s biannual complete AC and heating tune-ups will keep your HVAC system working at peak performance all year round preventing AC vent leaks. You can also rely on our regular system care to help prevent any unexpected breakdowns or repairs.
Reynolds Air and Heat is located in Melbourne, FL. We service all of Brevard County with both HVAC repair and replacement options. Give us a call to schedule an appointment to schedule your appointment and don’t forget to ask about our military and senior discounts.