If you see a puddle of water around the air handler when your AC is running, you may wonder what's going on. You know your HVAC isn't hooked up to a water source, so you may wonder how water could be leaking on the floor.

Your air conditioner creates water due to condensation, and it's normally removed by gravity or with a condensation pump. Here's a look at where condensation comes from and what to do about a bad condensation pump.

How Condensation Forms On Your AC

The air handler contains a blower and evaporator coils. Refrigerant circulates through the coils to cool down your house. The blower pulls in room air and then blows it over the refrigerant coils. The warmer air hitting the colder coils creates condensation that drips into a collection pan.

How Condensation Is Removed

Some HVAC units have a drain hooked up to the pan that allows water to drain out with gravity alone. However, your HVAC might have a pump in the pan with a float switch that triggers the pump to turn on and empty the water through a drain before the water can overflow. If the pump doesn't empty the pan, water will build up in the pan until it flows over the sides and gets the floor wet.

Repairs That Might Be Needed For A Bad Pump

The AC repair technician has to verify that the problem is with the pump first. The problem might also be a leaky pan or a blocked drain that causes water to back up or leak out.

Once the pump is identified as the source of the malfunction, the AC repair technician will narrow down the cause. The float switch might be stuck, in which case it might be repaired or replaced. The pump might also be clogged with algae or other debris. It might be possible to clean the pump to get it working again.

If the pump has damage or is burned out, the repair technician will replace it. They choose the new pump with the power requirements and water removal rate that's needed for your brand of equipment.

Replacing a bad condensation pump is a necessary AC repair because water will leak on the floor or get in your HVAC if the water can't drain out by gravity. That could lead to water damage to your flooring and damage to your HVAC that's costly to repair. However, your HVAC might have a safety switch in the drain pan, and if it does, the switch will turn off your HVAC until you empty the pan. Since your HVAC won't run properly under those conditions, prompt repairs are needed.

To learn more, contact a local AC repair service.