Have you ever noticed some collected water under your air conditioning unit? Don’t get suspicious of a leak yet, because it is actually normal for water to be formed throughout the cooling process, as the residue left from water used to cool down the air. However, it is indeed not normal when it seems like there is too many amounts of composed water. So, how much water does an AC unit produce exactly? Discover the answer below.
The Amount and Causes of Water Dripping from Your AC Unit
As a part of its operation process, an air conditioner unit usually generates some water that should drip outside from the drain line. The amount of drained water depends on a couple of factors, mainly the moisture level in the air and the running time of the unit, so it’s quite hard to pinpoint the accurate answer to the question of how much water does an AC unit produce. However, it’s safe to say that in general, about 5 to 20 gallons of water are produced daily.
The process of drained water starter by AC system that draws warm air through evaporator coils that contains refrigerant, resulting in cooler and drier air which is blown out of the ventilators as well as condensed water on the evaporator coils. The water then transfers into the drip pan and drains through a drain line outside.
Note that the water should always drain outside instead of inside. While it’s normal to notice water on the drip pan, it shouldn’t sit there but instead fall and empty via the drain pipe. In case you notice some water fill or drip out of the pan, here are a few possible causes behind this issue:
- Clogged drain pipe
This is the most common culprit behind water pooling on the drip pan. Evaporator coils may collect not only water, but also dirt and debris throughout the process of condensation. They can accumulate over time and cause the drain pipe to be clogged, which in turn causes the drip pan to be overflowing. In some types of HVAC, this may result in automatic turn off.
- Low refrigerant levels
Low levels of refrigerant, which might be caused by the lack of check-up routinely or regular maintenance, will increase the chance of freezing evaporator coil. Frozen coils can lead to water filling up the drip pan that can be challenging to clean up.
- Incorrect installation
Improper installation can cause any part of the AC to have problems, including a filled-up drain pan. This is why it is highly recommended to have your unit to be installed or handled by a properly licensed or trained technician to avoid mechanical issues.
The amount of collected or drained water typically increases during the summer. You may ask or consult to a local professional HVAC technician if you wonder how much water does an AC unit produce and if yours form the normal amount according to the circumstances such as the humidity level of your area.