[frisce]

My home air conditioning unit is leaking water - The overflow drip pan is fine, but it just has a steady stream of water coming from the PVC pipe outside. The drip pan is not clogged it is just pouring water. It was freezing a few weeks ago and we had someone come out and recharge the unit. He now says it needs to be cleaned out, another $125. I was just wondering if this seemed correct or if I was been taken for a ride??

[labman]

It must be with the recharge, the unit is working much more effectively and condensing more water out of the air.

Moisture, dirt, bacteria, etc. the coil in an AC gets pretty bad. $125 may be a little stiff, but clean all that crud off the coil, and the unit will run better using less electricity.

[frisce]

Will this stop the leaking water?

[labman]

When warm, moist air hits anything cooler, water condenses out. The indoor AC coils are provided drains usually going to the outside. There is no water in conventional AC systems to leak out. Unless water, including rain, is leaking into the air conditioner, the water coming out the drain is the condensate that must go somewhere. It is not leaking, but draining. If you are getting as much as it sounds like, perhaps you need to look at sources of moisture in your house. Air infiltration, leaky pipes, foundation, excessive showers, etc. can all produce moisture, increasing the load on the air conditioner and your wallet.