Water Damage Due To Air Conditioner: What You Need To Know

Water damage does not only result from devastating floods or torrents of rain. It may occur slowly and quietly over a longer period and entirely without your knowledge. That is until you notice a mysterious discoloration on your walls, floor, or ceiling.

You may not even realize that you can sustain water damage from an AC unit. Even if the water damage to your home occurs slowly, the repair and restoration need to happen quickly. Without immediate steps to remedy the leak and remove the damaged materials from your home, you run the risk of mold growth and subsequent health problems.

Causes of AC Water Damage

Your home’s heating and air conditioning system is an elaborate conglomeration of parts that performs an essential function—and it needs water to do this. Air conditioners remove water to lower the humidity in your home and use it as part of the cooling system. A lack of maintenance or failure to inspect your AC unit regularly can result in a water leak from your unit.

Some of the conditions that will cause a water leak from your AC unit include:

• Cracked condensation pan—Condensation is a normal part of the functioning of your home’s heating and air conditioning system. Every AC unit has a condensation pan or drain pan that catches this condensation moisture.
• Clogged condensation line—Without regular cleaning, your AC unit’s condensation line can clog and lead to an overflowing condensation pan.
• Damaged evaporator coil—If there is damage to your evaporator coil, you may notice warm air coming from your vents when it should be cool. A damaged evaporator coil can also lead to a refrigerant leak in your home.
• Condensate pump is failing—If you don’t have a floor drain near your AC unit, the unit uses a condensate pump to evacuate the water elsewhere. If it fails, the water overflows into your home.
• Filter is dirty—A dirty air filter can lead to condensation buildup in your ductwork.
• Condensation buildup in the ductwork—More condensation in your ductworks comes with a greater difference between outdoor and indoor air temperatures. Make sure to properly seal and insulate your air ducts to mitigate condensation.

What to Do when You Find Water Damage from AC Unit

If you realize your AC unit is leaking, don’t panic. Instead, take a deep breath and start taking the following steps:

Shut Off the Air Conditioner

Turn off your AC system to prevent further leaking and additional water damage. Don’t just turn off your AC at the thermostat; turn it off at the breaker to ensure that no electricity comes into contact with water. You will need to do this before any repair work.

Remove Water and Air Out the Room

Clean up standing water. Mold growth begins 24 to 48 hours after a surface gets wet. Use a wet/dry vacuum to tackle both standing water on your floor and water soaking into your carpet or furniture. 

Get air flowing to dry carpets and drywall. Once your vacuum has done its job soaking up what it can, remnants of moisture will remain in your carpet, walls, and concrete floor. Place a dehumidifier, if you have one, into the room with dampness. 

Place box fans around the room and turn ceiling fans on so that the air movement can thoroughly dry out the room. This step could prevent mold growth and salvage your furnishings.

Identify the Leak and Call for Repairs

Once the existing moisture situation is under control, investigate your home’s AC unit to see if you can determine the cause of the leak. 

Initiate or call for repair of your air conditioner. Depending on your level of DIY experience, you may be able to handle minor repairs to your AC unit yourself. If you are unsure what’s causing the leak or don’t feel comfortable attempting to repair your unit, call your HVAC company to check it out.

Assess the Damage and Begin Repairs

Remove the damaged materials from your home. It may be too late to save some parts of your carpet, drywall, or furnishings that show signs of water damage. If this is the case, remove those items from your home to prevent inhalation of toxic mold and the health problems that accompany it. 

Repair damage to your home. After you or your AC company implements a solution for your AC unit leak, you can begin to repair the damage.

The Rapid Response Restoration crew members are your water damage restoration and mold assessment and removal experts in South Florida. Call us right away if you have water damage from your AC unit or suspect mold growth in your home.

Preventing Water Damage

The most important step you can take to prevent water damage to your home is to schedule regular inspections of your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. Also complete regular maintenance, such as:

• Keeping the outside of your unit free of debris
• Changing your air filter regularly
• Cleaning coils and coil fins

Water Damage Restoration

You don’t plan for water damage from your AC unit. No matter when you discover water damage in your home, you can take steps to improve the situation immediately. Call Rapid Response Restoration 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for water damage restoration in Bay Harbor Islands, FL.

Every minute that dampness remains in your home—whether it’s due to water damage from your AC unit, flooding, or storm damage—mold growth occurs and affects the air you breathe. Rapid Response Restoration’s team of professionals uses state-of-the-art technology. We are licensed and insured to provide water removal, mitigation, and damage restoration services. Call us today at (786) 408-6188 and start breathing easier.