Black and decker portable air conditioner leaking water

Black and decker portable air conditioner leaking water
Here’s a common question we get during Florida summers, “Why is my AC leaking water inside my home? There are multiple causes of this problem.But first, turn your AC’s thermostat to “Off” to prevent further damage to your home.

To understand why this is happening, you need to know how water forms on your AC in the first place.


Do you think you need a professional AC repair? Just call us at (800) 226-2636 or schedule an appointment online and we'll send a licensed HVAC tech right over! View our service area in Florida.


Why does water form in my air conditioner?

Your AC’s inside unit contains the evaporator coil (pictured on the right) that cools the warm air blown over it. This causes condensation (moisture) to form on the coil, just like how water droplets form on a cold glass of water on a hot day.

The moisture on the coil drips into a drain pan and down a condensate drain line (a white PVC pipe) that leads out your home.

So, with all that in mind, here are a few things that cause that water to leak into your home.

Cause 1: Clogged condensate drain line

A clogged condensate drain line is the most common cause of water leaking from your AC into your home.

If the drain line gets clogged with dust, dirt, sludge or mold, that water backs up into your home. In that case, you’ll need to unclog it. There are multiple unclogging methods, like using a wet/dry vac on the condensate line.

But the surefire way is to have a professional use a special vacuum to suck the blockage material out.

Cause 2: Damaged/rusted drain pan

Got an old air conditioner (12-15 years)? The drain pan may be damaged or rusted through, so water just falls right through. You’ll need to replace the pan.

Cause 3: Broken condensate pump

Is your furnace and indoor AC unit installed in the basement? If so, then there is a condensate pump that pumps the water outside. But if the pump breaks, the water isn’t being pumped outside anymore. You will need to repair or replace the pump.

Cause 4: Dirty air filter

A dirty air filter blocks airflow over the evaporator coil. When that happens, the evaporator coil gets too cold and freezes over. When it melts, it drips an excess amount of water that the pan may not be able to handle.

Check your air filter to see if it’s dirty and change it if needed. You should be changing it every 1-3 months (depending on the season).

Cause 5: Low refrigerant

Similar to a dirty air filter, low refrigerant will lower pressure in the AC system, causing the evaporator coil to freeze over. When the coil melts, water overflows the drain pan.

You’ll notice you’re low on refrigerant when:

  • The air conditioner isn’t cooling well
  • You hear a hissing or bubbling noise (indicating a refrigerant leak)

Depending on the severity of the refrigerant leak you’ll either repair the leak or replace the whole AC unit.

If you need a new one, read our article, “My Air Conditioner is Dying, and I Need a New One…Now What?”

Need an AC Repair Expert?

If changing the air filter did not help, contact Cool Today to repair your air conditioner.

Also, ask us about installing a float switch on your air conditioner if it does not have one already. This switch will shut down the air conditioner in case it overflows with water again.

Cool Today provides award-winning air conditioning service to communities in Florida including Sarasota, Bradenton, Tampa, Dunedin, Port Charlotte, Naples, Fort Myers, Orlando and more. If you have any questions, talk to one of our experts for help.

Posted in: Troubleshooting

I have had my a/c for a few years and have never had a problem with this. I woke up this morning to find a large puddle of water in front of my air conditioner and I fear that this will cause damage long term if left untreated. I had searched online for some answers but got different answers between it being the condensate pump to some coils that need to be cooled and that this is natural. Well I have never seen it before in my years of operation and I know it's been emptied within the last week so it's not that the machine's water bay is full of water.

Specs: Brand - Black and Decker Portable air conditioner Model - BPACT10 Volts - 115 Hz - 60 Watts - 1150 Amps - 11.5 Design pressure: High - 565.5 PSI Low - 245.6 PSI R41OA 16.2 Ozs Serial Number - BPACT10WT471900423 Indoor humidity: 51% Indoor temperature: 70 Fahrenheit Outdoor temperature: 54 Fahrenheit

That is all the information that I could think of to be relevant in any manner. Please help me!

Why would a portable air conditioner leak water?

If the condensate pump malfunctions, then water will build up in your portable AC and leak out. In this case, you'll need to repair or replace the condensate pump. Some portable air conditioners have built-in condensate pumps. Check with your owner's manual to see if there are any repair or replacement instructions.

Do I need to drain my Black and Decker portable air conditioner?

Depending on the humidity in your space, you will need to drain your portable air conditioner as often as every 8 hours. However, you usually won't need to drain your portable air conditioner this often. If you live in a dry area, then you will rarely need to drain your portable air conditioner.

How do I stop my air conditioner from leaking water?

How to Fix Air Conditioner Leaking Water from The Unit?.
Change Your Air Filters. ... .
Clean the Condensate Drain Line. ... .
Make Sure Your Drain Pan Is the Right Fit for Your Unit. ... .
Pour Bleach into Your Drain Line Every 6 Months. ... .
Don't Overwork Your Air Conditioner When It's Hot Outside..

How do you unclog a portable air conditioner drain?

Unclogging a drain hole is not too difficult, most times you can unclog it using a brush. For more stubborn clogs, you can suck out the debris using a wet/dry vacuum. While you're inside the AC unit cleaning the collection tank and holes, it's a good idea to use some bleach to sanitize the collection tank.