The most common calls we receive during the Tucson monsoons include the following phrases:

“There is water dripping out of my AC vent.”
“We have water coming from our mechanical closet that soaked our carpet”

Uncommon… No. Preventable…Yes.

What can cause water to leak from your HVAC system?

1. Clogged Drain: A clogged condensate drain/pan causes the drain pan to overflow. During the warmer months of the year when the air conditioning unit is working hard, there is a lot of moisture being pulled out of the air in the home and as this water drips down the evaporator coil into the drain pan, algae and other debris form. These debris slowly run through the drain line. Eventually, if not maintained, this clogs the line, forcing the water to overflow the pan.
2. Busted Pump: Leaking water could be a sign that you have a broken condensate pump. If the pump is broken it may not be properly pumping the condensation from the drain pan, causing an overflow condition.
3. Improper Air Flow: It is possible that the air flow over the indoor evaporator coil is restricted due to either a dirty coil or a dirty air filter. In either case, this will cause the evaporator coil to ice up and leak water over the edge of the condensate drain pan.

Proper Maintenance: Have your system maintenance performed annually to ensure everything is clean and running efficiently.

Check your Filters: Monsoons bring a lot of wind which causes a lot of dust to blow around in Tucson. This dust can get into your air filters and block air flow. Make sure you check your filters monthly and clean or replace them as needed.

Clear the Area Around Your Unit: Strong winds also blow debris into your unit. Make sure you clear away the area around your unit and trim any nearby trees or bushes before monsoons start.

Install Surge Protection: Monsoons bring lightening which can cause power interruptions, brownouts, or system-damaging power surges. Installing surge protection can save your system and help you avoid costly repairs.

Install a Condensate Overflow Shut Off Device: Monsoon winds can blow debris into your system which can clog your condensate line. The excess moisture from monsoons can then lead to water leaking into your home. You can avoid this by installing a condensate overflow shut off device.

Condensate Safety Switch

Proper maintenance of your HVAC system can help prevent water leaks. However, the desert climate including dust and critters can cause drain clogs between maintenance visits. A condensate drain safety shut-off device, prevents damage to HVAC systems, walls, and flooring by preventing condensate overflow. When a drain obstruction or overflow condition is detected, this device locks out system operation to prevent additional condensation from forming.

Hamstra Helping Hands and Parent Aid

Hamstra Helping Hands is the proud sponsor of the Parent Aid We Care Gala and Auction. The We Care Event is their largest fundraiser of the year drawing hundreds of guests and dozens of sponsors annually. Proceeds from the event help fund many of the services Parent Aid provides like in-home parent support and community-based parent education. We Care never disappoints as being one of the premier silent and live auctions in town with hundreds of items for bid. To learn more visit https://parentaid.org/we-care/we-care-2021/