Dr. Burrito Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 Hi, We have two of our air conditioners are suddenly leaking water profusely inside the house. Is this due to some kind of icing inside? If so, what causes it and what should we do. It's leaking all over our hardwood floors which hardly seems like a good idea. Thanks for any advice and tips in advance. Dr. Burrito Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marksamui Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 Maybe a dumb question but when did you last have them serviced? If you have not had them cleaned regular, say every 3 months, then its only a matter of time before they start to leak. They just build up with a mixture of dust, dirt and water and clog up the drainage pipe. You will need to get a man out to do a service and he will probably want to do a chemical flush on them (at least that is what I would recommend) and that should sort them back out. After that have them serviced every 3 months and flushed every 9/12 months and you will be alright. If of course you have all that done anyway, then I ain't got a clue, sorry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Burrito Posted June 18, 2009 Author Share Posted June 18, 2009 Hi Mark, Thanks for the suggestion. I thought the wife was pretty regular about that sort of thing, as it is her domain, her domicile for that matter too, but I'll check. Thanks, Dr. Buritto Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lopburi3 Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 In the meantime find the drain hose outside and see if water is coming out - probably very little - you can often clean it with a good puff or two - or if you have something to blow air into the pipe even better - if flow starts it will probably work OK until you have have time to have the inside water tray cleaned out. It could be icing, as you mention, but you should see the white ice in that case if you remove the filter. In that case they will have to recharge the compressor (and check for leaks). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InterestedObserver Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 If the air conditioners are actually 'icing up', it could indicate that they are low on freon (gas) or have a dirty air filter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trogers Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 Cleaning the cooling coils with just a jet of water will not solve the problem in the longer term, esp. if there is a smoker in the house. Best is to call in the ac guy to do a chemical cleaning of the coils. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frenchFARANGbkk Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 Hello, Do you know what kind of chemical product they use to clean aircon pipe where the water is leaving ? Isn't it possible to clean it easily by using a liquid though the place there air is blowed ? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trogers Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 Hello,Do you know what kind of chemical product they use to clean aircon pipe where the water is leaving ? Isn't it possible to clean it easily by using a liquid though the place there air is blowed ? Thanks. There are some cleaning foam in spray can selling at Tesco Lotus. But you will need a pressure water spray and a means to prevent water splashing all over the room during cleaning. I rather pay the air-con tech to dismantle the cooling coils and cleaning them at the balcony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pooklook Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 In case you decide to maintain it yourself here are some tips that might help TURN OFF THE POWER TO THE UNIT INSIDE AND OUT! If you follow the pipe out of the inside unit it is usually stopped up at the first bend. Many times you can get to it with a coat hanger and then once you get it flowing flush it out real good with a water hose. If it’s too far down for that you'll need a small tank of compressed air and hold the nozzle flush against the inside pipe and turn on the air. The blast of air should unstop it. Then flush thoroughly with water until the water flows strong and clear outside. Check car or bicycle repair shops for the compressed air. Clean the coils inside and out and wash or change the filter on the inside depending on the type. Be careful not to damage the fins that surround the coils as you are cleaning them. There are many types of household cleaning agents that can be sprayed on the coils and left for a few minutes that will soften the dirt and allow it to be easily removed. Check the coils once a month if the AC is used regularly. Hope this helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stgrhe Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 It is common on certain brands of air conditioners to have a rubber bushing to the drainage pipe. I have experienced that these bushings crack and that usually results in huge water leakage in the way you describe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pooklook Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 (edited) It is common on certain brands of air conditioners to have a rubber bushing to the drainage pipe. I have experienced that these bushings crack and that usually results in huge water leakage in the way you describe. What usually happens is the filters don’t get changed they get dirty. The air gets forced around the edges and the coil gets dirty. The dirt from the coil clogs up the drain and it begins to leak. The pressure rises in the compressor because no air is flowing over the inside coils and the limit switch on top of the compressor goes if you are lucky, if not the compressor goes. The rubber bushing can crack and leak but it’s usually an easier repair. Just keep the inside and outside coils clean. I clean mine often and just spray them with household cleaner and rinse. If you notice your AC not cooling dirty coils is usually the problem. If you keep them clean you’ll have years of trouble free use. An older unit or an improperly installed unit may develop a refrigerant leak. You can check for this by holding your hand over the fan on the outside unit. If the air coming out it cool then you are probably low on refrigerant. This can also cause the inside coils to totally freeze up. If this happens turn off the unit and let them thaw. Clean the coils and start it again. If the air is still cool on the outside unit and you hear the compressor running you are low on refrigerant. Edited July 31, 2009 by Pooklook Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now