The homeowner approved a full replacement, which swaps out the rusted pan and corroded coil along with the rest of the 16-year-old system.
Why is water leaking from my AC into the ceiling?
An AC pulls water out of the air as it cools. That water drips into a pan under the indoor coil and runs out a drain line. A clogged drain line is the most common cause of leaks, followed by a rusted or cracked pan, a disconnected drain, and a frozen coil that melts faster than the pan can drain. In attic installs, a secondary pan with a float switch should catch overflow before it reaches the ceiling. A yearly AC tune-up includes checking the drain.
What is a hydronic air handler?
It’s an indoor unit that uses hot water from your water heater for heat, with a small pump moving the water through a coil. For cooling, it works like any split AC, with an indoor coil, a drain pan, and an outdoor condenser.
Should I repair or replace a leaking 16-year-old system?
If the leak is a clogged drain, a repair makes sense. When the pan is rusted through and the coil is corroded, the coil is often the next failure. Our coil corrosion write-up and full system replacement page explain how to weigh it.
