Why is my car’s AC leaking water?

Wednesday 18th September 2024



Many vehicles rely on an air conditioning system to keep the interior cool and comfortable all year round. If you notice a puddle of water from under the front of your car or the passenger side of the dashboard, it might be caused by a water leak in your AC. Repairing an AC leak is crucial to preventing a more serious issue from developing. 

Formula One Autocentres’ article discovers why your car’s AC system leaks water. 

The AC needs a regas 

The right amount of refrigerant is essential for your air conditioning unit to circulate cold air inside your vehicle. Over time, low refrigerant levels lead to reduced pressure on the AC unit. It can cause the evaporator coils to freeze, overflowing the condensate drainpipe and blowing warm air. If your car’s AC system has low refrigerant, we can refill it with our AC regas service. Visit your local Formula One Autocentres branch and we’ll top up your car’s AC with refrigerant. 

Dirty air filters 

Regularly using your car’s air conditioning system will lead to your air filters in the passenger compartment accumulating dirt, dust and unhealthy levels of fungal spores and other harmful contaminants. This leads to clogged filters, freezing up the evaporator coils, and increasing the likelihood of water leaks inside and outside the vehicle. Also, a dirty air filter can create an unpleasant smell from the AC. You can get your car’s air-con filter cleaned by booking an AC clean with us online. 

A worn, blocked or broken condensate drainpipe 

A damaged or blocked condensate drainpipe will prevent water from draining away and cause water to accumulate inside the vehicle. Poor road conditions or vibrations can lead to the drainpipe disconnecting or breaking, causing a water leak from the AC system when it’s on. If you have a worn or disconnected drainpipe, our specialist air con technician can reconnect or replace it. 

A faulty blower motor 

The blower motor allows the AC to disperse cool air inside your car. However, a faulty, malfunctioning or broken blower motor can lead to water leaks inside the AC and increased condensation. Therefore, the blower motor must be checked regularly to reduce the risk of water leaking from your car’s air conditioning system. 

Faulty AC seals 

Rubber or plastic seals hold your car’s air conditioning system in place. However, if the AC seals become faulty or worn, water starts to seep from the AC and into the cabin on the passenger side. We recommend getting your car’s AC system serviced by our air conditioning experts. 

Is your vehicle’s air conditioning system blowing an unpleasant smell? Our article covers the 5 reasons why your car’s AC smells. Get your leaking AC fixed by booking our air conditioning service at one of our nationwide branches today.  

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