Learn why water may appear around a furnace, air handler or indoor AC coil, including clogged drains, frozen coils, condensate pumps and drain-pan problems.
Central air conditioning removes moisture from indoor air. That moisture condenses on the evaporator coil and must travel through the drain pan and condensate piping.
Water around indoor equipment usually means the condensate is not reaching its intended drain path, or an abnormal amount of water is being produced by a frozen and thawing coil.
Because HVAC equipment contains electrical components, standing water should not be ignored.
Sludge, debris or biological growth can restrict the drain line.
Systems that pump condensate may overflow if the pump fails or loses power.
A large amount of meltwater can exceed the normal drain path or expose an existing restriction.
Older or damaged pans can leak even when the drain line is clear.
Drain configuration can affect how reliably condensate leaves the equipment.
A loose fitting or damaged drain tube can release water near the equipment.
Several different HVAC faults can produce the same homeowner symptom. Proper diagnosis may require electrical readings, refrigerant measurements, airflow testing, static-pressure measurements, combustion testing or control-sequence checks.
Do not bypass safeties, open sealed refrigerant circuits, work on gas piping or perform live electrical troubleshooting unless you are qualified to do so.
Ice can create water problems when it melts.
Drainage and freeze-up symptoms often occur together.
Low airflow can contribute to coil icing.
See how humidity removal creates condensate.
When requesting service, include the equipment type, approximate age, when the problem started, whether the system still operates and any unusual noise, water, odor or thermostat behavior you have noticed.
Understand normal system operation before narrowing a symptom.
Identify the components commonly mentioned during diagnosis and repair.