Clogged or Blocked Drain Hose

• One of the jobs of the air conditioner is to pull moisture out of the air in the room. This makes cooling more comfortable and effective. This lack of humidity inside is because the moisture is collected and condenses in the outside unit of a central system. The condensation, in the form of water, runs down into a pan and empties into a drain hose that leads away from the unit. Sometimes this area may have a leak. The leak is typically because of a clogged drain. The drain may become clogged with dirt or debris, ice forming on a condenser with poor airflow or algae growing in the drain. The drain hose may also be blocked at the end of have a squashed section or a kink preventing the free flow of condensate through the line.
  
  

Leaky Hoses or Fittings

• The hoses that carry the condensate from the drain can also leak. If they have been damaged by an object that moved across and punctured it, then water may be leaking out into the area around the unit. This may be in the inside air handler or the outside condenser unit. The fittings that connect the hose to the drain pan or other parts could be damaged and leaking can occur around them as well.
  
  

Duct Leaks

• If some of the cold air produced by the air conditioner can't get into your house, the house won't be as cool as you like. This can happen when there are air leaks in the duct system. This generally happens when the ducts are not connected properly or have been damaged, allowing the air to seep out through cracks, holes or other gaps in the ductwork. Obviously this makes the unit have to work much harder and longer to deliver enough air to cool the house. Severe leaks may even prevent the system from reaching the desired temperature at all. These ducts will have to be sealed properly to resume the proper operation of the air conditioner.
  
  

Refrigerant Leaks

• A refrigerant leak can be a major problem for an air conditioner. When Freon or another refrigerant gas is used to chill the coils and create cool air and the gas leaks, the low levels can lead to icing of coils or stoppage of cooling entirely. If your system is low on refrigerant it is only a temporary fix to recharge the system. Air conditioners do not use refrigerant like fuel, so only a leak will result in low levels. A technician will need to find the leak, fix it and then recharge the system for proper functioning.