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AC Leaking Water Inside
in Boca Raton, FL
Your AC removes a large amount of water from the air every day — in Boca Raton, a single unit can pull out several gallons on a humid summer afternoon. All that water drains through a small pipe, and when that pipe clogs, the water has nowhere to go but out onto your floor or ceiling. Mold can start growing in wet drywall here within 24 to 48 hours because of the heat.
Quick Answer
Water leaking from an indoor AC unit in Boca Raton almost always means the condensate drain line is clogged. The system pulls moisture out of humid indoor air, and that water has to go somewhere. Algae grows fast in warm drain lines here and blocks them within months if they are not maintained. Call (561) 609-0418 before the water damages drywall or grows mold — both happen quickly in South Florida's heat.
Telltale Signs
Warning Signs to Watch For
- Water dripping from the air handler unit or the cabinet around it
- Water stains on the ceiling below a second-floor air handler
- Standing water in the drain pan under the air handler
- A musty smell coming from the vents
- The AC stopped working suddenly with no other warning
Root Causes
What Causes AC Leaking Water Inside?
Clogged Condensate Drain Line
Condensate drain lines are the small pipes that carry water from your air handler to the outside or to a floor drain. In Boca Raton's warm, humid air, algae and mold grow inside these lines fast — often clogging them completely within one cooling season if they are not flushed. When the line clogs, the drain pan fills and water spills over.
The Fix
Drain Line Flush and Treatment
A technician uses a wet-vac to pull the clog out from the outside end of the line, then flushes it with a cleaning solution. Adding a drain line treatment tablet every few months keeps algae from building back up.
Frozen Evaporator Coil Thawing
A coil can freeze solid if airflow is restricted or refrigerant is low. When the system shuts off or warms up, all that ice melts at once — faster than the drain pan can handle. In West Boca Raton homes with older return air grilles that get blocked by furniture, restricted airflow is a very common cause of coil freezing.
The Fix
Coil Inspection and Airflow Correction
A technician identifies why the coil froze, clears the restriction or fixes the refrigerant issue, and checks that the drain line can handle normal condensate flow. Fixing only the flooding without finding the freeze cause means it will happen again.
Cracked or Disconnected Drain Pan
The drain pan sits directly under the evaporator coil and catches condensate before it enters the drain line. In units that are 15 years old or more — which is common in Boca Raton neighborhoods like Sandalfoot Cove — plastic drain pans crack from age and heat cycling. A cracked pan leaks water straight down regardless of whether the drain line is clear.
The Fix
Drain Pan Replacement
A technician removes the old pan and installs a new one. A secondary pan placed under the air handler adds a backup layer of protection for units mounted in attics or over finished ceilings.
Self-Diagnosis
Which Cause Applies to You?
Check the signs you're observing to narrow down the likely root cause before your inspection.
| What You're Seeing | Clogged Condensate Drain Line | Frozen Evaporator Coil Thawing | Cracked or Disconnected Drain Pan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drain line at the outside exit point is dry with no water dripping | |||
| Ice visible on the coil or copper lines before the leak started | |||
| Visible crack or rust stain on the bottom of the air handler cabinet | |||
| Float switch tripped and shut the system off | |||
| Water leaks even when the system runs normally with no freezing |
Free Inspection
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