What is an Air Conditioner Drip Pan?

What Can Go Wrong with One?

An air conditioner’s job seems simple enough: cool down your air and keep your home comfortable. But the truth is that there are a number of things that happen behind the scenes in order to make the cooling process possible. For example, moisture is released when your air is cooled down, and your system needs a way to deal with that moisture. That’s where an air conditioner’s drip pan comes into play. Today we’re going to talk about what an air conditioner drip pan is, what can go wrong with it and how you can prevent issues with the drip pan in your home!

What is an air conditioner drip pan?

As we mentioned above, moisture is released from your home’s air during the cooling process. When warm air comes into contact with the cold evaporator coils inside your system, water drips off of those coils the same way that water drips off the sides of a glass of water or a can of soda when you drink one outside.

A drip pan sits right underneath your system’s evaporator coils and collects all of the moisture that drips off of them. Without the drip pan, that water would drip directly onto your system and cause some serious damage.

The drip pan is connected to your system’s condensate drain line, which is used to safely drain the water from the pan out of your home or into a nearby drain.

What can go wrong with an air conditioner drip pan?

Although an air conditioner’s drip pan has an easy job, there are a few things that can go wrong with it that can lead to some serious issues with your system, including:

• Cracks in the drip pan. Cracks can develop in a drip pan naturally over time, or something could come into forceful contact with the drip pan and cause it to crack. In either case, a cracked drip pan will allow water to leak directly out of the pan and onto your system.
• Water overflowing the drip pan. If your condensate drain line gets clogged, water will begin to build up inside of your air conditioner’s drip pan. Just like water can build up in a kitchen sink when the drain below is clogged, watch can build up in the drip pan when the condensate drain line is clogged. If the clog is severe, water can start flowing over the edges of the drip pan and damage the system below.

How can you prevent air conditioner drip pan issues?

One of the best ways to prevent problems with your air conditioner’s drip pan is to schedule a tune-up for your system every year. During your tune-up, we’ll inspect both your drip pan and your condensate drain line for any signs of leaks or clogs, and we’ll take care of those problems before they damage your system. You can also help prevent clogs in your condensate drain line by changing your air filter every month, because particles from dirty air are often responsible for clogging up the drain line.

In addition, consider installing a drip pan with a float valve. A float valve is a safety device that monitors the water levels in your drip pan and shuts down your system if those levels get too high.

If you have any questions about your air conditioner’s drip pan, or if you’d like a cooling system serviced or installed in your home, contact Hydes, your Coachella Valley air conditioner installation and repair contractor.