[New Post] Your AC May Be Leaking Water Due To A Cracked Condensate Pan published on scottsdaleair

One of the most annoying and stressful things to discover is finding a leak in any major appliance. The reason it is annoying is two-fold:

a)   It is often hard to find where the leak is coming from

b)   It often results in a service call to a contractor to find and attempt to fix the leak

However, did you know that frequently when you notice that your AC is leaking water, the cause is actually due to a condensate pan that is cracked and can be easily replaced by a professional HVAC contractor?

Raise your hand if your next question is “What is a condensate pan”? Fortunately we have some answers that will teach you a little about this important safety device and how simple it can be for a professional HVAC repair expert to replace.

Commonly Asked Questions About Condensate Pans

Question #1 – What is the Condensate Pan and where is it located?

The condensate pan is located on the air conditioning unit below the evaporative coil. Its job is to catch the condensation that drips off the outside of this coil as warm, moist air passes over the coil. Air conditioners work by cooling the warm air from inside your home by circulating the air over coils that are filled with refrigerant. This in turn causes the air to cool, and moisture to condense on the outside of the coils. This is also how your typical air conditioner dehumidifies a home.

Question #2 – What causes a Condensate Pan to break or crack?

The condensate pan is simply a place to collect this moisture. It often has a hose or attachment that circulates collected water to a drainage system. However, from time to time this pan can crack either due to extreme cold temperatures or wear and tear. When properly installed a condensate pan can last for years, but you can’t control the outer elements. This is why sometimes the pan will crack especially if you have a sudden freeze during the year. If there is any standing water inside and the water freezes, it can cause the pan to crack.

When this occurs, the normal flow of condensation leaks out of the cracked pan leading to commonly diagnosed and easily fixed leak.

Question #3 – What Can You Do to Fix this Issue?

If you discover any leak near an electrically charged major appliance, waiting or repair it yourself is not a good idea. The best thing you can do is follow a three step process:

• First – shut off the power to that outside unit


• Call a dependable HVAC contractor immediately


• Have them inspect the system for any further damage or have them repair the cracked pan

Under no circumstances should you attempt to fix this yourself. Always defer to safety and have a professional take the actions of getting this fixed. When you contact a HVAC professional to fix your AC system that is leaking water, it tends to result in a positive outcome for everybody.

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