Klima uređaj curi voda na pod? 5 Uzroci kapanja Split AC

Ne uopće normalno. Ako vidite da voda curi iz uređaja za obradu zraka i teče niz zid na pod, nešto nije u redu s unutarnjom AC jedinicom. Provjerit ćemo svih 5 krivaca koji uzrokuju curenje vode iz klima uređaja odozdo i objasnite kako popraviti uređaj za obradu zraka koji kaplje.

Prije svega, važno je napomenuti da vodoravna zidna AC jedinica iz koje curi voda nije dobar znak. Ako vidite kapljice vode ili čak vodu koja teče niz zid iz mini split unutarnje jedinice, trebali biste odmah isključiti klima uređaj.

Zatim morate provjeriti sve ove uobičajene razloge zašto voda izlazi iz posude za kapanje ispod uređaja za obradu zraka (pokazat ćemo vam kako jedan po jedan i kako popraviti uređaj za obradu zraka koji curi u nastavku):

1. Začepljen kondenzacijski vod regulatora zraka (potpuno ili djelomično). Ovo je uzrok br. 1 za curenje vode iz klima uređaja.
2. Rupa u odvodnoj posudi. Ako je drenažna posuda ispod uređaja za obradu zraka oštećena, voda bi mogla istjecati iz unutarnje klima jedinice, a ispod uređaja za obradu zraka vidjet ćete mrlju od vode.
3. Neispravna pumpa za kondenzaciju. Neki unutarnji mini split uređaji imaju pumpu koja pomaže pri odvodnji drenažne posude za obradu zraka. Ako pumpa ne radi ispravno, voda će početi curiti iz uređaja za obradu zraka prema podu.
4. Prljavi filtri zraka uzrokuju smrzavanje zavojnica klima uređaja u zatvorenom prostoru. Ako je protok zraka ograničen zbog prljavih filtara koji dopuštaju sve manje CFM-a, zavojnice isparivača unutar uređaja za rukovanje zrakom mogu se smrznuti. Kada se taj led topi, kondenzacijski vod, odvodna posuda ili kondenzacijska pumpa mogu biti zatrpani i voda će se preliti preko odvodne posude. Primijetit ćemo to jer klima uređaj ispušta vodu na pod.
5. Niske razine rashladnog sredstva. Slično prljavim filtrima zraka, niske razine freona mogu uzrokovati smrzavanje zavojnica klima uređaja u zatvorenom prostoru. Kada se otope, količina ispuštene vode bit će prevelika za rukovanje, a klima uređaj će početi ispuštati vodu odozdo.

Ako vidite mrlje od vode na zidu ispod uređaja za obradu zraka, vaša unutarnja klima jedinica pati od jednog (ili više) od ovih krivaca. Curenje se u osnovi događa zbog dva glavna razloga:

1. Neadekvatna drenaža (uzroci #1, #2 i #3 u nastavku). To će uzrokovati kapanje vode iz podijeljene AC unutarnje jedinice.
2. Previše vode zbog odmrzavanja zavojnica AC isparivača (uzroci #4 i #5 u nastavku).

Kako bismo svima pomogli, proći ćemo kroz ove krivce jednog po jednog , ističući zašto uređaj za obradu zraka propušta vodu i kako možete sami popraviti vodu iz zidne klime koja curi u zatvorenom prostoru (uradi sam).

Ako sumnjate da imate probleme #3 i #5, vjerojatno ćete morati nazvati svog HVAC momka. Na kraju, dajemo neke prijedloge o HVAC momcima u vašem području, ako vam treba.

Započnimo s najčešćim razlogom zbog kojeg uređaji za obradu zraka cure vodu na podu ispod unutarnje jedinice klima uređaja:

#1 Začepljen ili djelomično blokiran kondenzacijski vod razvodnika zraka

Kad HVAC dečki čuju 'mini split AC kaplje voda unutra' , prvo na što pomisle je začepljen kondenzacijski vod. To je zato što u više od 60% slučajeva , razlog zašto iz uređaja za obradu zraka u zatvorenom prostoru curi voda je blok u toj liniji.

Sve mini-split AC jedinice rade i kao odvlaživač zraka (uz hlađenje). When the warm indoor air is passed over the cold evaporator coils inside the air handler, two things happen:

1. Air is cooled.
2. Moisture in the air is condensed on the coils , thereby reducing indoor relative humidity levels.

This water will drip from the evaporator coils to a drip pan, located at the bottom of a mini split air handler. From there, the accumulated water is drained outside via the condensation line (with or without the assistance of a condensate pump, more about that under #3 culprit).

Now, if you see a lot of water in the drip pan under the air handler, you probably have a clog inside the condensation line . Over time, dirt, dust, and even mold will block the condensation line. If this line can’t remove the condensate adequately, the water from the air handler drip pan will start to leak out of the fan onto the wall below the air handler and finally reach the floor.

Solution: If your split AC indoor unit is dripping water due to a clogged condensation line, you have to unclog that line. This might sound simple but it can be quite a hassle to unclog a condensation line.

Here are the step-by-step instructions on how you do that (Carrier has a useful article on how their HVAC technicians unclog lines here):

1. Turn the air conditioner off.
2. Locate the condensation drain pipe. It’s usually located at the bottom of the air handler (leading from the drain pan to outdoors with the pipe going through the wall). You will see a small hole in the drain pan (about 1/2 inches in diameter). This is the drain pipe opening.
3. If you find water standing in the drain pan, you will have to remove it. You can do that with a rag or use a wet vac to suck it all out.
4. Clean the drain pipe opening , if there are any visible clogs there.
5. Clean all the drain pipe by using a dry vacuum or wet vacuum. If there was a clog in your pipes, you will see that clog being sucked out by the vacuum. If you don’t have these vacuums, you can also use a garden hose to remove the blockage.
6. Check if the clogging was removed. Just take a small amount of water and pour it down the drain pipe. If you see that water coming out in the outdoor pipe end, the clog has been successfully removed.
7. Optional: To make sure the clogging will not happen again, use a PVC piping cleaner and flush it down the pipe. If you don’t have PVC cleaner on hand, you can also use vinegar to clean the mini split AC drain pipe.

If there was a clog in the pipe (you sucked out black goo out of the pipe), it was causing the air handler to leak water inside. With the clog removed, you have successfully fixed the drip from the air handler. You can start the air conditioner again.

#2 Water Is Leaking Through A Hole In A Drain Pan

As we have mentioned under #1 cause, the drain pan accumulates the water before it can be safely piped outdoors. In some cases, we see a crack in this drain pan through which water drips from the air handler down the wall and on the floor.

There are several things that can create a hole in the drain pan, including physically piercing it with something, rusting, and so on. In most cases, older indoor AC air handlers can have a hole in the pan.

Solution: You have to fix that cracked drain pan in order to prevent water from leaking out of the air handler. Some basic measures include just tapping the hole where the water leaks out down with water-proof tape, using epoxy resin, or replacing the whole drain pan (useful and quite cheap if you have an older unit).

Once the cracked drain pan has been fixed, you should see that water has stopped leaking from the air handler.

#3 Condensate Pump Is Not Working As It Should

Some mini splits and heat pumps have a condensate pump. This pump expediates the drainage of the drain pan by pumping water outdoors (usually against gravity). You will usually see it installed in mini splits that are located on the lower floors or basements . On upper floors, the gravity will be enough to drain the accumulated water outdoors.

Needless to say, if the condensate pump in your split AC system is bust, the water will start to fill the drain pan until it spills over. We see this water spillage as water slowly dripping from split AC indoor units on low floors or in the basement.

Solution: First you need to check if the condensate pump is actually working or not. There is an insightful article about how to tell if the condensate pump is working properly by Blair’s Air here.

If you find out that the condensate pump is broken, you will likely need to replace it. Replacing a condensate pump in a mini split is not a simple DIY project; you will usually have to call your HVAC guy to check it out and replace it if needed.

When the condensation pump is working again, you shouldn’t see the water leaking from the indoor air handler anymore.

Now, all of these first 3 culprits were caused by inadequate drainage. The next 2 culprits we are going to cover are caused by excessive acute water production inside your air handler:

#3 Dirty Air Filters Causing A Frozen Air Handler Dripping Water Indoors

It is quite interesting to see how many air conditioner problems are caused by dirty air filters. If your air handler started leaking water on the floor, dirty AC filters might be the problem.

Here is how dirty filters can cause an acute rush of accumulation in mini split AC unit:

If the filters are dirty, the cold indoor evaporator coils (inside air handler) will get less airflow. Due to restricted airflow, the warm indoor air is not warming up the cooling coils quickly enough. This can lead to the indoor AC evaporator coil freezing over . You will start noticing that your AC unit started blowing warm air at first.

All that warm air going over the frozen coils will start thawing the ice. Needless to say, that ice will get turned into quite a lot of water; more than the air handler drip pan can handle. As a result, you will start to notice the water running out of the indoor air handler and dripping to the floor.

Solution: First of all, you have to shut off the AC unit and wait for all the ice to melt. During this period, take a rag and soap the water that is being generated in order to avoid that water flowing down the wall under the horizontal air handler and damaging it.

Afterward, look at the air filters. If you notice a lot of dirt on them, it is quite possible that airflow restriction and the consequently frozen AC evaporator coils, and too much water inside the drain pan were all caused by dirty air filters.

Replace the air filters. Most HVAC experts recommend air filters be replaced every 1-3 months anyway. If indeed dirty air filters cause the air handler to spill water under your split AC indoor unit, the problem should go away with the new filters.

However, there is another culprit that can cause the air handler to leak water indoors in much the same way:

#5 Low Refrigerant Levels Causing Air Handler Leaking

Low refrigerant levels can cause similar AC evaporator freezing and the consequent melting of ice, ending in water coming from the air handler. In short, if the refrigerant is leaking, a chain of events can lead up to ice accumulation on the evaporator coils.

When that ice melts, it will overwhelm the drain pipe, and you will see that the access water is leaking down from the wall AC unit.

Solution: As before you would wait for all the ice to melt. During that melting use something to soap up the water and avoid carpet or wall damage.

It is very hard to recharge a mini split freon by yourself. You will need professional help. If you suspect that your mini split has low refrigerant levels (R22, R410A, and so on), you should turn off the AC unit and call your HVAC guy. He or she will measure the freon pressure, and help you out with recharging your AC unit.

All in all, if you see your air handler leaking water all over a carpet on the floor, or on the walls, you are facing two potential problems:inadequate drainage or access water.

Hopefully, you can use the understanding of the causes of the leaking air handler above to fix the leakage yourself.

If you need some help, you can use this form here and get quotes from up to 4 vetted HVAC guys in your area that will help you with a leaking mini split AC indoor unit.

In short, it is not all that hard to find out why your air handler is leaking water and fix it (either DIY or calling HVAC professional).