Water damage is never fun to deal with. It can take weeks or even months to notice, but by the time you do, it’s usually too late.
To make matters even worse, your home’s air conditioning unit also has the potential to cause water damage to your home, if not properly maintained.
Under normal circumstances, your AC should never leak water into your home, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t happen (Believe us, we’ve seen it all).
By neglecting to take proper care of your air conditioner, you’re leaving your home vulnerable.
Continue reading to discover some of the most common causes of the leakage, how to prevent AC water damage to your home, and whether or not your insurance will cover the repairs.
Possible Causes
We’ve had situations ranging from someone coming home and finding a small puddle around the AC, to ones where they came home to a collapsed ceiling due to a broken-down air conditioner.
The truth is that if you don’t keep up with services that your AC system’s needs to continue functioning properly, you open up your home to all the risks associated with air conditioner water damages.
Below Are 7 Most Common Causes of Water Damage From Air Conditioner:
- Clogged or disconnected drain
- Dirty condensate pump
- Clogged air filter
- Dirty evaporator coil
- Cracked drain pan
- Low refrigerant
- Condensation buildup within ductwork
Well, here’s the story behind that. The homeowner was not regularly cleaning his system’s air filter.
Over the years, this build-up got so bad that it caused the cold, moist air coming from the air conditioner to literally freeze up, since it was not being allowed to vent properly.
When the homeowner would shut off his air conditioner, there would be nothing left to keep the built up ice cold, so it would melt.
His home’s AC was mounted in the attic, so all of that newly-melted water would eat away at the attic ceiling, which eventually led to the whole thing caving in.
If the homeowner had just taken the time to inspect his AC every now and again, he would have noticed a clogged filter and hopefully replaced it, effectively nipping the problem in the bud with just a few bucks.
Instead, he and his family had to spend thousands on a new ceiling and a new air conditioner, on top of the cost of replacing all of their damaged belongings.
How Do I Repair AC Water Damage?
Depending on the severity of the damage and what the root cause is, repair tactics will vary.
If you are only dealing with condensation or a small leakage of water, you might have caught the issue early enough to only need to replace some drywall, or, if you’re really lucky, allow the area dry out.
If, however, there is significant water damage, that can lead to things like warmed floorboards and sagging ceilings, so we suggest calling in the professionals to do some hardcore water restoration work.
If you are dealing with mold, you’ll need to have a professional advise you on whether the mold is just on the surface, or if it requires replacing large sections of flooring or drywall.
PureDry Restoration is the Local Water Damage Restoration Company
The reason that we remain the perfect choice for all of your flood restoration needs is our pure and safe techniques, using current tools and technologies.
After your initial consultation, we have a better idea of your exact restoration needs.
Whether you have severe storm damage, had a pipe leak or burst, or even cleanup service options, we will determine the best restoration route for your job.
Next we take action to completely remove all of the water away from the site.
Once the walls, floors, ceilings, and other areas are free of standing water, we can begin the restoration process.
Not all cases are the same; it can range from minor repairs to all-encompassing remodeling.
Light flooding typically just requires assistance in drying the area out, as well as basic cleanup services.
These cases require very little time, and are easy to bring back up to their full potential.
However, once the standing water has penetrated at least a foot past the walls, chances are there will be extensive repairs needed.
And if a hard surface, such as stone, hardwood, or even brick, becomes saturated, you need a true professional on your side.
If repairable, the area will need to be thoroughly sanitized so that the mold doesn’t return.
We at PureDry® Restoration use state of the art equipment and techniques to achieve top notch results for our customers.
Because this task is so dangerous, we recommend leaving this to the professionals as well.
Does Homeowner Insurance Cover Water Damage From Air Conditioners?
As a homeowner, your homeowner’s insurance may or may not cover the water damage from your air conditioner.
Whether or not you’re covered all depends on the reason for the water damage.
If your air conditioner’s water damage was deemed accidental, then your insurance policy will likely cover the costs directly related to it.
If you have mold damage in addition to water damage, however, you might not be so lucky.
Mold damage is generally not covered by insurance because it stems from neglect on the homeowner’s part.
In the case of mold, you will need to work closely with your local PureDry™ Restoration services and we will work with your insurance agent to determine what is and isn’t covered.
When you have water damage, and the subsequent mold that will grow, it’s comforting to find a family-owned company like PureDry® Restoration.
Preventing Water Damage From Air Conditioners
Once your air conditioner is at the point where it is leaking water, it’s only a matter of hours before it can cause permanent damage.
You might leave your air conditioner on before leaving for work in the morning during the summer months, expecting to come home to a cool paradise after a long day’s work.
Instead, you might come back to a home that needs extensive repairs due to AC water damages that happened while you were away, all because you didn’t maintain it.
Why not take precautions now to prevent things like that from happening, while saving hundreds of dollars in potential repairs in the process.
Things to be Aware of:
Check the condensation line
Look for moisture in the condensation line, and while the AC is running, make sure to check that the line is flowing properly.
You should see the AC unit dripping water only via the condensation line.
Clean the condensation line regularly
Every 3 to 6 months, clean your condensation line. There are several techniques you can use, including a piece of string tied to a cotton rag.
Whatever you end up doing, make sure to clean the line often, to prevent any blockages and to remove debris.
Change your AC filter often
Change the filter every three months or even more frequently than that, depending on your use and area.
This will prevent it from clogging and causing ice to build up within the AC system.
Check AC refrigerant levels regularly
Refrigerant is what keeps the air coming from the air conditioner cool. If refrigerant is low, the AC won’t function properly and will begin to leak water into your home.
Install a drain pan overflow or a secondary drain line
Having a secondary drain line or drain pan overflow indicator will help you avoid related water damages.
Talk to your HVAC professional about these options.
Invest in regular inspections and preventative maintenance
This one is a no-brainer.
If you aren’t savvy when it comes to AC maintenance, leave it to the professionals.
Have your air conditioner inspected at least once a year, if not bi-annually, to ensure that these small issues don’t become devastating ones.
Who Should I Call to Repair Water Damage Caused By My Air Conditioner?
A locally-owned water damage restoration company is always your best choice. And if you ever need someone to help with water damage cleanup in, Everett, Bellevue, Kent, Kirkland, Redmond, Edmond, Cottage Lakes, Arlington, Snohomish, Woodinville, or anywhere in the greater Seattle area, we’re just a phone call away.
