PTAC Leaking water DIY Easy Fix

Leaking Water

Sometimes, you may find that your unit is blowing water droplets through the front grill (also called “spitting water”). Other times, it could be leaking condensation from the bottom. There are a number of reasons this could be happening.

Most of the time, if the unit is leaking or spitting water, it isn’t installed correctly. During the cooling process, PTACs will create condensation on the coils. That condensation then drips off into a drain pan at the bottom of the unit. If installed correctly into the wall sleeve, the unit should be tilted slightly backward by a few degrees so that water in the pan drains to the outside. 

A unit that is tilted slightly forward may allow the fan to blow water droplets through the front grill. Otherwise, it might simply leak out of the bottom of the unit onto the floor. To fix this, start by checking the angle of your unit and tilting it back if necessary. While different manufacturers have their own recommendations, angling your unit about 2° toward the outside is often a best practice.

Other times, a leaking unit may be the result of a clogged drain pan. Units can often collect dust and debris over time, and if a drain pan is not cleaned this can prevent the water from draining outside. To fix this, you simply need to clean the drain pan, remove any obstructions, and put it back in place.

Frozen Coils

If you’ve ever seen icicles on the back of an AC unit, then you’ve likely seen a unit with frozen refrigerant coils. If this happens, your PTAC unit will often stop cooling or freeze up water in the drain pan and cause excess water to leak from the bottom.

Frozen Coils

If you’ve ever seen icicles on the back of an AC unit, then you’ve likely seen a unit with frozen refrigerant coils. If this happens, your PTAC unit will often stop cooling or freeze up water in the drain pan and cause excess water to leak from the bottom.

Refrigerant coils typically freeze because they haven’t been cleaned in a long time. If this is the case, you simply need to take the unit outside and clean the coils before reinstalling it.

In other cases, it might be an issue with a small refrigerant leak. If you’re able to patch up the coils yourself, you can install a piercing valve on the suction side of your unit to add more refrigerant. Then, you will need to weld it together afterward.

When we repair coil leaks at our facilities, our technicians will cut off the line to the leaking side of the coils to install an access port. We will then fill the unit with more refrigerant and clamp it back up using a pinching tool. This pinching tool allows us to weld up the hole and seal it tight. When it’s complete, these units come out looking factory-new.

Continued Maintenance Advice
Although knowing how to repair a PTAC unit is useful information, good maintenance practices will help preserve the longevity of your unit and prevent the need for extra repairs. In fact, a well-maintained PTAC unit should last 18 to 20 years.

Changing/Cleaning the Filter
Changing your air filter doesn’t just help with indoor air quality. It also affects the unit’s efficiency and lifespan over time.

Typically, your filter should be changed out or cleaned (if reusable) every 30 days. When your filter goes unchanged for longer than that, it collects a thick layer of dust and other pollutants. These pollutants then build up on the filter and blow off into the air stream. This buildup also restricts airflow through the filter and the coils, causing undue pressure on the compressor. Over time, this pressure shortens the life of your compressor, which can make for a costly repair.

Cleaning the Coils
As outside air continues to blow through the refrigerant coils, they can build up dust and debris just like the air filter. For this reason, it’s important to clean the coils on your PTAC unit at least once every year (if not every six months). This prevents them from freezing or creating pressure on other parts of the unit from restricted airflow.

Final Thoughts

PTACs are much more complex than many people realize, but they are still fairly easy to repair. If you are mechanically inclined in any way, repairing your own PTAC unit is usually possible through watching a few tutorial videos and paying careful attention to how you install a new part. Some brands like Amana are great investments for this very reason. They perform well and they’re easy to repair. 

That said, repair jobs are tough. It can be difficult to diagnose the right issue without prior experience working with PTAC units. Even then, finding a part for a good price online or in a store can be a nightmare.

If you need help finding brand new PTAC parts at a lower price, we have you covered at PTAC4Less. We also have a wide selection of new and refurbished units available in case you decide it’s not worth fixing. Give us a call or send us an email for repair advice and help selecting the right unit for your space.

[Bill-imnt]

A little Clorox in the rinsing water will help as well! And a few drops in the tray once in a while, best if things are not growing in there.

[cadillacnan]

All mine were just serviced and water goes into room ..not level

[LarryDuguay]

Try a wet vac, Pan Tabs, then a hose clamp!