Air Conditioning - Split system dripping water on inside unit

Hi there, We've got some hot weather here so I have my air conditioner on when needed. I noticed that water was dripping from the inside unit while the cooling was on. This has never happened before to my knowledge and I didn't think it right so I got an air conditioning mechanic out to check it.

He had a look and said that it was ok. I still didn't think it was and told him that but he could do nothing. It still doesn't seem right to me because water should not be dripping on the inside. It could ruin carpets, be dangerous if the unit was over electrical equipment etc.

I've had this system for 6 years, it's a Chunlan brand and I clean the filters pretty regularly. The water drips from the outside hose fine and this isn't blocked. I also have the temperature at around 25 degrees celcius.

I don't mind getting someone to fix it and I obviously won't be going with the same person again. Any ideas anyone?

Is this a ducless, mini-split system? or are we talking about an overhead (attic) mounted ducted system?

You're correct, while it is normal for a.c. systems to generate condensate, it is not normal for it to drip indoors.

The water (condensate), which appears first on the surface of the evaporator coil, is expected to drip downwards onto a condensate pan which has a drain connecting to the outdoors.

If the drain hole becomes plugged (dirt accumulation), the pan overflows, and that is the water you report dripping.

If there is a condensate pump somewhere there, it is possible that is has failed and no longer is pumping the accumulated condensate away from the unit.

It's a ductless mini-split system. I don't know enough about it to know if it's got a condensate pump. So on mini-split systems, how does the water generally get outside? Thanks.

Could be either, go outside or to the nearest drain somewhere in the house.

Maybe the condensate pump went bad, or became disconnected, or a clamp got loose.

Simple stuff, should not cost you an arm and a leg to get it fixed.

I've called another air conditioner mechanic who agreed that the water dripping is not a good thing. I must have really got a cowboy last time!

I'll try to remember to post what happens after he comes out this afternoon.

Thanks for your help. :)

I've called another air I'll try to remember to post what happens after he comes out this afternoon.
That'll be nice :)

Thanks for your help. :)
You bet!

Hopefully everything's fixed now. The repairman came out and he had a look at the outside hose and sucked on it and dislodged something that had been partially blocking it that I never got the first time and that the previous air conditioning bloke didn't even try to do.

He also poured water into the drip pan tray bit at the bottom of the inside unit and nothing leaked out. It all ran out the drain hose outside.

So it was really minor and hopefully the problem is solved.

He also got some extra work out of it because my sister's about to buy a new air conditioner and will probably get it from him.

The guy that came out this time is a one man show and I think that's the type of person I'll stick with for this type of stuff from now on. :thumbup:

Despite everything seemingly working normally when the repairman was out, I used it on a really hot day and it started dripping again. :wall: I've spoken to the repairman and I'll need to test again on another hot day but I don't thing the problem's fixed.

On a previous posting you reported that the repairman looked at the outside hose, sucking on it and dislodging something. But there was no mentioning on an evaporator coil clean-up (the indoor coil)...maybe the coil is so dirty that dirt keeps on draining down the coil with the condensate. Maybe additional cleaning/unclogging work in needed from the inside-out (at the unit itself), where the drain line is connected at the indoor unit, and at the unit's drain pan and drain hole themselves.

I'm not sure about this Chunlan units (could not find technical literature on them), but perhaps a trap is needed (a P-trap) on the drain line coming off the unit and lack of it is causing a vac that does not allow the condensate to drain while the unit is running (and on hot days may run without stopping), overflowing the pan and leaking as you say.

And how about the pitch of the drain line? has that changed? is it sloped enough to help the condensate drain by gravity?

Does this unit keep the indoor blower ON at all times? If so, try switching it to the AUTO mode. That may help.

The Tech is right when he says that this needs to be tested on a hot day. Sometimes with these nuisance problems one has to be there, watching it happen.

Dont know if I missed it or not?? But at anytime did a tech put gauges on the unit??? After 6 years can be low on freon and freeze the coil some. That will let the blower blow water off it. Into the unit .Then drip down

I have an ac window unit that is leaking inside the house and not out. how do I find the hose that may be clogged?

Dont know if I missed it or not?? But at anytime did a tech put gauges on the unit??? After 6 years can be low on freon and freeze the coil some. That will let the blower blow water off it. Into the unit .Then drip down

No, I'm pretty sure they didn't do this. It's winter here at present so I'll look into it again once it warms up a bit. It's very frustrating that it's still a problem! I did contact the last guy who came out a few times to come and rectify the problem and he hasn't come back so it looks like I'll be looking for a new person. :rolleyes:

I would second Ed's opinion of a "possible" slow leak.
Even more plausible if this dripping indoors did not happen from the very beginning (when the unit was new about 6 years ago as you report) but is a recent ocurrence. So here's the question: when did you notice this dripping happening? (since when that is)

Winter over there? Where in the world are you? :)

Maybe the drain is too small as well. It drains allright, but there's more condensate being produced than the drain line could handle, so a back-up happens at the unit which causes the drip (just a thought, playing devils advocate here)

I would second Ed's opinion of a "possible" slow leak.
Even more plausible if this dripping indoors did not happen from the very beginning (when the unit was new about 6 years ago as you report) but is a recent ocurrence. So here's the question: when did you notice this dripping happening? (since when that is)

Dripping started happening during our summer (January)

Winter over there? Where in the world are you? :)

I'm in Australia