[ladona]

Hi I came home to hear a drip when I walked past my a/c unit where the filter is .I opened it up see about 3 1/2 inches of pooling water in the bottom of the unit as well as wet carpet,I soaked it up thinking it would stop,turned it on again for a few turned it off I then saw a curtain of water drain down again an I'm worried I need a major repair... help please... can I fix?

[hvac1000]

I would start by cleaning the condensate drain line.

[hvacservicetech_07]

I agree with hvac1000, The next thing I would look at is maybe a cracked coil pan?? Are you sure the coil isn't froze up??

[ladona]

I agree with hvac1000, The next thing I would look at is maybe a cracked coil pan??? are you sure the coil isn't froze up???

No the coil isn't cracked and it doesn't freeze,itsa when I turn on the unit it drips water and after a few minutes I turn it off and 20 seconds after it clicks off I see a curtain of water,seems like it is being poured out till empty

[JackT]

Are you sure the drain isn't plugged? If it's worked up until now, it's probably the drain line. Have you tried to pour any water down the drain to make certain it's clear?

[labman]

I have fought a similar problem for years with the A/C units at my church. Once you make sure the condensate drain is clear, check your filters. I think part of the problem at the church was they skimped on the air intake ducts. The problems usually happen in the stickiest part of the summer, July and August. Somebody turns the A/C down to 62 degrees and goes away with the windows open. By that time the filters I put in the summer before when we had a problem are dirty again. I think when the filters get dirty enough, the blower pulls enough of a vacuum to keep the water from running down the drain. I have actually pulled the drain pipe off and looked at the water filling the hole, but not running out. Then when the unit shuts off, the water comes gushing out overflowing the pan and drain.

We made it through last summer OK, but I had put the cheap fiberglass filters in instead of the paper pleated ones. I just put new pleated ones in last week. My plan is to replace them in early July before the problems usually happen.

The problem with locking thermostat covers is that I would either need to be there all the time, of arraign for somebody else I trust to be there. Many of the congregation are well educated nitwits.

[labman]

A PM from JackT
''Have you tried installing deeper traps on your church units? I had some large units that did the same thing when I had to operate them in the dehumidification mode. The deeper trap holds more water and this increases the amount of static pressure needed to suck the water out of the trap.''

Thanks. I can see how that would work. If fact, I may have inadvertently done it with the worst trouble maker. I had replaced the plumber's nightmare of elbows and reducers with inch ID flexible tubing. To make a trap, I let it drape down between the joists and back up ending up with a deeper trap. I am posting this here so it may help others. It also complies with an administration policy I support.