Coming home to find water pooling around your Lufkin, TX, AC system is a horrific experience. The water can destroy drywall, flooring and anything sitting on the floor. It is essential that the homeowner knows what to do in this crisis. McWilliams & Son & Air Conditioning offers the following advice to help you solve this problem. You can also prevent this condition with regular air conditioner maintenance.
The first thing to do is turn the power off. Do not turn on light switches or attempt to work on or near the AC system while the floor is wet. This prevents you from being electrocuted. Get a mop and bucket or towels and dry the floor as best you can. If drywall is wet, the only thing to do is waiting for it to dry. Watch for mold growth in the flowing days. Using a solution of 10 percent bleach in 90 percent water will kill mold growth. An air conditioner maintenance company can remove the water if you are unable to do so.
With the floor dry, open the cabinet to the AC system. Look inside with a flashlight. Try to trace where the water is coming from. Most likely, it will be coming from the drain pan or the drain line. Both can overflow if routine air conditioner maintenance is not performed. Inside the drain line, mold, fungus and algae can grow in the moist environment. It can eventually clog the line completely. The water has nowhere else to go but to the inside of the house. Get a long, semi-stiff wire and gently try to dislodge the clog. If you cannot reach it, try to remove it with a wet vac. Wrap a wet towel tightly around the drain line. Place the wet vac hose over the drain line and use the towel to seal the end. Hold the towel in one hand and turn the wet vac on. If that pulls the clog out, continue on to the next step. If not, call for service.
If the clog has been dislodged, pour a cup of household bleach into the tube and drain pan. Wait for approximately an hour. In that time, inspect the electrical connections to ensure they are dry. If the wires are wet, do not turn the AC system on at all. Inspect the evaporator coils. They should not be coated with debris or scale. If they are, an air conditioner maintenance company should be called to clean them. Turn the system on. The drain pump should remove the bleach and water from the pan. If it does not, the system needs repair.
Having a broken AC system is no fun. In the summer time, it can be dangerous. In Lufkin, TX, the system is essential for the health and comfort of the home’s occupants. McWilliams & Son & Air Conditioning is available for emergencies twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. They can install, maintain and repair any HVAC system you have.
