Why Is My Heat Pump Leaking Water in Norton, VA?

Heat pumps shouldn’t leak water. Hence, the sudden appearance of such a leak ought to indicate that all is not well with your system. Here are a few reasons homeowners in Norton, VA, may find their heat pump leaking:

Frozen Evaporator Coils

It may seem unlikely your heat pump’s evaporator coils could freeze in the middle of the summer, but this is absolutely possible. A refrigerant leak can vastly increase the likelihood of this event occurring.

If refrigerant levels in your heat pump happen to be low, the remaining refrigerant won’t be able to absorb as much heat as it could before. As such, it won’t be able to regulate the evaporator coils’ temperature as the rest of the heat pump does its work.

Consequently, any stray condensate in the evaporator coils will be more likely to freeze. Once ice forms in the evaporator coils, the system will enter defrost mode and melt the ice. This may easily result in a leak.

Cracked Condensate Pan

Because heat pumps transfer heat from one area to another, they generate a good bit of condensation as a by-product. Heat pumps, therefore, have a drain system whose purpose is to remove this condensation, and that system includes a drain pan.

Over time, that pan may corrode or endure other kinds of damage, causing it to crack. This will make it easy for water to leak out. Service technicians can fix or replace broken pans.

Condensate Drain Issues

After condensate drips into your heat pump’s pan, it should flow into a drain line and vanish. However, physical blockages in that drain line may prevent the water from going away. Instead, it may bubble back up to the surface and leak out.

Our team of skilled and experienced HVAC service technicians can stop all heat pump leaks and return your system to good working order. Call Mid Mountain Heating & Cooling and request our heat pump services if your system is leaking.

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