Water dripping from the ceiling or pooling under the air handler is one of the few AC problems where speed matters — water damages drywall and flooring fast, and it becomes a safety issue if it reaches electrical equipment.
Here's what's usually behind it and what to do right now.
The Usual Cause: A Clogged Condensate Drain
Your AC pulls gallons of moisture from the air every day, and all of it exits through a narrow condensate drain line. In Florida's heat and humidity, algae grows fast inside that line and clogs it.
Once the line backs up, water overflows the drain pan — and gravity does the rest. It's the most common indoor AC leak we see, and one of the most preventable with regular maintenance.
Other Causes
- A rusted or cracked drain pan, common on older systems where the pan has sat wet for years.
- A frozen coil thawing and overwhelming the drain.
- A disconnected or sagging line that no longer slopes downhill.
What to Do Right Now
- Turn the system OFF at the thermostat — running it keeps producing water.
- Contain the water with towels and move valuables out of the drip path.
- Don't touch wet equipment — if the air handler or anything electrical is wet, stay clear and call us.
- If the float switch tripped and shut the system off, that's it doing its job — the drain still needs clearing.
How We Fix It
We clear the drain line, clean the pan, check the line's slope, and test the float switch. If the pan is rusted through, we replace it.
We'll tell you honestly whether it's a one-off or a sign the system is aging out — diagnosis and price in writing before we start.
Common questions
Can I pour bleach in the drain line to clear it?
Bleach slows algae growth as prevention, but it won't dissolve an established clog — and spills can damage the coil or pan. Clearing a fully blocked line is a service visit.
My AC shut off at the same time the leak started. Why?
That's the float switch doing its job: it shut the system down before the overflow got worse. Once the drain is cleared, it resets and the system restarts.
How much damage can a clogged drain line really do?
More than most expect. A steady overflow can soak drywall, buckle flooring, and feed mold within days. If the system is older and the pan is rusty, don't wait on a leak.
Does maintenance actually prevent drain clogs?
Yes. Drain clearing and pan treatment are part of every maintenance visit — the most effective prevention for the most common AC leak.
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(561) 786-1337