Why Is My AC Making a Dripping Noise? Discover the Causes and Quick Fixes!

Every homeowner with a HVAC system installed dreads this situation – you’re just sitting calmly in your chair, waiting to see what they’re playing on the TV when you suddenly hear it. A dripping noise. Is it raining? No, although that would definitely be your preferred option. It’s actually your air conditioner that’s making the noise.

Thankfully a dripping noise is not the end of the world – there are many things that could cause it, but generally speaking, repairing it is not that big of a deal, with many causes being simple enough that you can troubleshoot them yourself. Still, it’s an issue that needs addressing as soon as it arises to ensure no further damage is done to your appliance.

So, what could be causing the dripping noise from your air conditioner? And how do you fix it?

Common Air Conditioner Dripping Noise Causes

Among the most common reasons why your AC is making a dripping sound, you can find:

High Humidity Levels

When the humidity levels in your home are high, your air conditioner needs to work significantly harder to remove moisture from the air. However, sometimes it simply cannot keep up with it, resulting in excessive condensation that can then overflow from the drain pan, causing the dripping noise you’re hearing.

Improper Installation

Have you replaced your AC unit before you started hearing the dripping noise? If so, the cause of the dripping sound could be improper installation, which can result in a number of issues, including the dripping sound, but also a safety hazard.

Clogged Condensation Drain

If your condensation drain is clogged, moisture has no way of leaving your air conditioner unit, which can result in dripping noise, as the moisture will make its way into your vents.

Frozen Evaporator Coil

Another reason why your AC might be making a dripping noise is the evaporator coils got frozen and are going through thawing, causing the water to drip into the drain pan, making the dripping noise. Evaporator coils can freeze for a number of reasons, but the most common one is not enough refrigerant.

Aging Components

Finally, your AC might also be making dripping noises because of age – parts of your AC will wear out at some point, and once that happens, your air conditioner might not be as efficient as it used to be in removing moisture.

Troubleshooting the Dripping Noise

The best way to fix the issue will depend on what is causing the noise in the first place:

High Humidity Levels

There’s nothing you can do here that has to do with the air conditioner specifically. The best solution would be to purchase a dehumidifier to lower the humidity levels. Also, make sure that your AC is the right size for your home – one that is too small can have troubles keeping up with moisture. Finally, keep your air filters clean and replace them regularly – a dirty air filter can cause a number of problems, and a dripping noise is only one of them.

Improper Installation

If the cause of the dripping noise is an improperly installed unit, then your only solution is to call a professional – don’t attempt to fix it yourself unless you have experience dealing with AC installation, as you risk not only bringing harm to yourself, but also damaging the unit and all its elements.

Clogged Condensation Drain

This is another thing we would recommend calling a professional for, as to determine whether a clogged condensation drain requires you to reach into parts of your air conditioning unit that are not visible to the eye. If you do decide to do it yourself and notice a clog in the condensation drain, you should grab a wet/dry vacuum, attach it to the drain line’s exit (you can find it outside your home) and run it. The force should take out the material clogging the drain.

Frozen Evaporator Coil

This one you can either do yourself or call a professional for. Keep in mind that there’s a number of reasons why your evaporator coil might have frozen, so determining what caused it (and most likely your pipes too) to freeze should be the first step in troubleshooting this issue.

As mentioned, the most common cause for frozen evaporator coils is a low level of the refrigerant – if that’s the case here too, you need to first get rid of the ice by thawing your unit, and then add more refrigerant. You might, however, still want to call a professional, as low refrigerant levels might indicate that you have a leak somewhere.

Aging Components

Finally, this is another thing that requires professional help unless you have experience dealing with this kind of work. A seasoned technician will purchase the right elements for your AC unit, and replace them carefully, making sure they leave your AC safe and sound. They can also determine whether it’s a matter of simply replacing one element, or if the whole unit needs replacement.

When to Call a Professional

So, when should you call a professional, and when can you try to fix the issue yourself? You probably already know what based on what was mentioned beforehand, but here’s a very short recap:

However, it’s important to realize your abilities, and if you don’t think you’d be comfortable with doing anything in relation to your AC by yourself, then your best option would be to call a professional early on – they’ll be able to determine the cause of the dripping noise as well as fix the reason behind it.

How to Prevent Dripping Noises in the Future

While it’s impossible to completely prevent your AC from breaking, dripping noise is something you can try to stop from happening, and most times, you will be successful. How do you do it? Here are a few steps to take:

• Have a professional perform a thorough check annually. We cannot stress enough the importance of having your air conditioner unit getting checked regularly – by doing so, you can take care of issues before they cause further damage and expand your unit’s lifespan.
• Replace air filters regularly. Many underestimate just how damaging using a dirty air filter can be to your air conditioner. Replace it regularly, following the manufacturer’s recommendations – some filters will require a monthly change, while others are fine with being kept for a few months before needing to be replaced.

The Bottom Line

Hearing a dripping noise from your air conditioner unit is never a good sign – it means that something is wrong either with your AC unit itself, or the environment (like in the case of high humidity levels). Whatever the case for it, it’s crucial that you address it as soon as possible to prevent further damage.

At Meadow Air, we understand the importance of keeping your air conditioning unit in perfect condition – that’s why we offer our customers both a maintenance and a tune-up service to ensure your AC is taken care of as well as possible.

Looking for a new, reliable air conditioning maintenance service? Meadow Air is you way to go – get in touch with ius and make sure your AC works well at all times.