AC leaking water inside the room: why and what to do
Short answer
Water dripping from an indoor AC unit is almost always a drain problem. The pipe that carries condensed water outside is blocked by dust or algae, or it doesn't slope downward. A dirty filter or low gas can also freeze the coil, which then drips as it melts.
Check these first
Switch the AC off
Turn it off and wipe up the water so it doesn't reach the wall socket or wiring.
Clean the filters
Dirty filters make the coil ice up. Rinse and dry them.
Check the drain pipe outside
Find the thin pipe coming out of the wall. Water should drip from it when the AC runs. If it is dry, the pipe is likely blocked.
Call a technician if
- Water keeps dripping after the filters are clean
- You see ice on the indoor coil or pipes
- The indoor unit was recently installed or moved
- Water is near switches, sockets or wiring
Call for AC repair in Kathmandu
981-383-6219- Open 7 days, Saturday included, 9 AM – 6 PM
- Talk to us in Nepali or English
What causes it
An AC removes moisture from the air, and that water collects in a tray inside the indoor unit and flows out through a drain pipe. When dust and algae block the pipe, the tray overflows into the room.
On new installations, the drain pipe sometimes runs uphill or sags, so water can't flow out. A technician can clear or re-route the pipe and check that the unit is level.
Questions
Is a leaking AC dangerous?
The water itself isn't, but it can reach sockets and wiring and damage walls. Switch it off until it is checked.