By Barry Stone
Dear Barry,
Whenever my air conditioner is running, I can hear a dripping sound when I sit in the living room. I've checked for leaks everywhere, including under the house, but can't find any moisture. What could be causing this problem? - Barbara
Dear Barbara,
The dripping you hear is probably faulty condensate drainage in your air conditioner. Fortunately, this is not a major defect and can usually be remedied simply and at moderate expense.
The inside of your air conditioner is essentially a refrigerator. Airborne water vapor condenses on the cold surfaces within the system, just as water droplets form on the outside of a cold glass. This moisture then drips into a pan where it is conveyed out of the building by way of a condensate drainpipe. If there is any restriction in this pipe, the water will drip into an overflow pan at the base of the air conditioner. That is the most likely source of the dripping sound that you hear. A secondary drainpipe is probably needed to ensure drainage to the exterior. These conditions should be evaluated and corrected by a licensed HVAC contractor.
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