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Condensation in HVAC Systems: When It’s Okay and When It’s Not

By Aztil –

Condensation is a natural side effect of in-home cooling. Any air conditioner will produce condensation and units are designed to safely deal with the resulting water.  In fact, many see the condensation effect as a plus because it allows an AC to act as a dehumidifier for the home. However, if your HVAC condensation system stops working the way it’s supposed to, problems can occur.

Understanding the difference between normal and problematic condensation can help you maintain your home’s HVAC system and avoid potential damage. Let’s take a closer look at when condensation is or is not okay before the situation gets serious.

When Condensation in HVAC Systems Is Okay

Condensation is a normal function of air conditioners, cooling heat pumps, and dehumidifiers. When the units are working correctly, condensation is nothing to worry about.

Air Conditioners’ Condensation Running Normally in HVAC Systems

When your AC is running, condensation is normal. The cold interior of the AC unit causes water to condense on the coils and interior panels. That water runs into the condensate pan and is then removed through the drain line. The cold itself inside your AC causes condensation as a side effect. This also allows your AC to function as a dehumidifier that you don’t have to empty.

Heat Pumps in Cooling Mode

Heat pumps work exactly like traditional air conditioners when in cooling mode. The coolant and coil system produces cold inside the unit which causes condensation. Heat pumps in cooling mode also have a condensate pan and a drain line, and they also provide dehumidification for the house.

Dehumidifiers

A separate dehumidifier typically also uses condensation to collect moisture from the air. You will typically need to empty the tank after a few hours, as free-standing humidifiers usually do not have a drain line.

When Condensation is Not Okay

There are situations where condensation can become a problem. This usually occurs when your AC or heat pump unit is not operating the way it should so that the water from condensation either floods or freezes.

Blocked or Clogged Drain Lines

Your AC needs the pan and drain line to remove water that collects through condensation. If the drain lines are blocked for any reason, water will build up and eventually flood the unit. This can lead to leaks inside your utility space including the risk of water damage, electrical damage, and mold growth.

A partially blocked drain can also lead to standing water, which can stagnate and become a scummy pool for microbiology that you do not want inside your home ventilation system.

Improperly Sized or Installed Units

HVAC units represent a careful balance of size and function. If your HVAC is the wrong size for your house or other components in the system – or if the unit is poorly installed, the system may not handle condensation correctly. This can lead to an excess build of water, leaks, water damage, or inefficient cooling.

Damaged or Dirty Coils

If ice is forming on your coils and inside your AC unit, something has gone wrong. Dirty coils develop an insulating layer of dust which traps and enhances cold. This can cause moisture inside an AC unit to turn to frosty ice instead of draining correctly. Damaged coils may also over-cool, leading to ice buildup instead of drainage.

This leads to reduced HVAC efficiency, damage to the unit, freeze-ups, and the potential for water damage when the ice melts and overflows the condensate pan.

Regular maintenance, including cleaning the coils, helps prevent these issues and ensures efficient operation.

High Indoor Humidity Levels

If your home is experiencing high humidity, your HVAC may be malfunctioning. Incorrect condensation management can lead to humidity problems because the AC can no longer operate as a dehumidifier.

Condensation Leaks in the HVAC Systems

A leak in the refrigerant line can cause evaporator coils to inappropriately freeze and thaw. This temperature flux leads to water leaks and condensation issues.

Duct leaks can allow un-conditioned humid air to enter the system, increasing condensation and reducing overall efficiency.

How to Address Problematic Condensation in HVAC Systems

  1. Regular Maintenance – Schedule an inspection, cleaning, and repair of your HVAC once or twice a year.  Your qualified HVAC technician will clean coils, check drain lines, and ensure proper system operation. Don’t forget to change your air filters every month, as well.
  2. Proper Installation – Make sure your HVAC system is the right size and properly installed by professionals. Have your ductwork inspected and any problems repaired.
  3. Monitor Humidity Levels – Keep track of the humidity in your home with a hygrometer. Use a humidifier or dehumidifier to keep the humidity between 30%-50%
  4. Address Leaks Promptly – Call for repairs as soon as you notice any signs of water or refrigerant leaks. A professional technician can immediately diagnose and repair the issue.

 Know Your Condensation in HVAC Systems

We hope you learned a lot about condensation in HVAC systems. Every air conditioning unit experiences some condensation. It is part of the normal function and provides dehumidification for your home. However, if condensation begins to flood or freeze, it’s time for HVAC maintenance. Avoid risks like water damage, mold growth, or poor AC efficiency by calling for an HVAC inspection and repair as soon as you notice a problem.

By understanding the difference between normal and problematic condensation, you can take proactive steps to maintain your HVAC system, ensuring it operates efficiently and effectively year-round. Aztil is here to help you keep your home cool, comfortable, and condensating correctly. Contact us for your HVAC maintenance needs.

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Dana excellent service!! Found the issue quickly and fixed it with no problems. Very pleasant guy!!
Lee was super. He explained everything all his work performed perfectly. Very neat professional. A pleasure to deal with him.
Ricardo did an amazing job servicing our dryer and showing me how to keep it clean. He was efficient and courteous.
Response from the owner: Hi Richard, thank you so much for your kind words about Ricardo! We are so glad that he was able to provide you with excellent service and helpful tips. We appreciate your feedback.
Ricardo cleaned our air ducts today and did a great job! He was professional, kind, and extremely thorough. He went above and beyond any other tech who has done any work in our home by going the extra mile…in a nutshell he treated my home like it was his own, which I could tell from the minute he walked through the door. He is a true professional, and it was obvious that not only is he knowledgeable and skilled, but he truly takes pride in what he does, which is a rare thing to find. I highly recommend him, and I can only hope that he is the tech who shows up whenever I call Aztil for work to be done!!
I scheduled an appointment for yesterday for AC maintenance for a newly purchased property. As it turns out, a new AC was recommended because of mold found inside the old unit. Aztil was able to schedule my new AC installation right away for today. Iker & Inder were professional, efficient, friendly, & very knowledgeable. I know I will be signing up for Aztil’s preventative AC maintenance program. I highly recommend Aztil AC for any of your AC needs!!!
Tino fixed my problem of no heat on my new RHEEM air conditioner on a Sunday. He knew where to look for the problem, a bad connection. It's great to know that Aztil has such professional and experienced technicians.
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Outstanding service!!!
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Dana and Alex were the ultimate professionals. They repaired my air conditioner quickly and did a great job cleaning up.
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Dana Dussault is awesome.After 4 hellish days without A/C, he came to our rescue. My family and I thank you for your swiftness and professionalism.God bless you
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Dana was awesome! Clean, courteous, efficient and polite. Fixed the A/C and replaced a capacitor and got a quote for a new product Aeroseal that sounds like a good investment for the a/c ductsThanks Aztil for such an excellent experience today!
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Roberto just came and did a very thorough maintenance job on our system. He was very professional and did not leave any stone unturned. We will be very happy to have him come next time!!
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Tino the service representative did an awesome job. He called to confirm ahead of time. Very courteous and professional. Outlined his scope of work before starting. Gave options to consider for future to improve performance. I would recommend him to anyone seeking service.
Response from the owner: Hi John,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Tino was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Paul was professional and knowledgeable with the repairs made on our air conditioning. He arrived on time and informed us of what needed to be done with an estimate of the costs.
Response from the owner: Hi Rhonda,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Paul was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
My new HVAC unit suffered a major mechanical failure. Technicians Dana and Rick are incredible and are true experts. Sabrina Corradetti, a manager, is one of the best customer care people I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Getting the required parts from the manufacturer was a time-consuming ordeal, but Ms Corradetti stayed on top of the issue, kept me informed, was ALWAYS courteous and very helpful. Aztil has some really good folks working for them.
Response from the owner: Hi John,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Dana and Rick was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Ricardo did an amazing job on my contract maintenance tune up. Very thorough and explained to me what he was doing every step of the way. Thank you Ricardo
Response from the owner: Hi Howard,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Ricardo was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Dana and Jordan went above and beyond on our AC service today. They were professional and thorough. They communicated very well and answered any of my questions.
Response from the owner: Hi Nicole,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Dana and Jordan was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
I continue to recommend this business to those in the area. When I have questions, if the technician is unable to answer I am immediately able to get an answer from those in the office.
Response from the owner: Hi Ashley,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Aztil was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Dana, outstanding technician
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Ricardo was very thorough and knowledgeable. He explained everything he did . He was on time, polite and very nice. I would like him to come for all my routine maintenance of my AC.
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Dana was the Aztil tech who came by to fix my AC issue on a Sunday. He was very professional and did explain everything to me very well.This is the second time I renew my 5 year contract with Aztil.
Response from the owner: Hi Ayman,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Dana was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Paul was excellent, experienced. Recommend completely. Explained everything thoroughly.
Response from the owner: Hi Mary,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Aztil was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
WOW. David did a wonderful job. Nice when a company has an employee who cares enough to do a good job.
Response from the owner: Hi Debra,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that David was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
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Response from the owner: Hi Steve,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Aztil was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Last week we had an issue with our A/C...our request for service was handled promptly and professionally. The work took an extra day and this morning, DANA & ALEX showed up as promised. They completed the work, explaining what they did making sure we were completely satisfied. You have two outstanding employees representing your company.
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Ricardo is Amazing!!!!!! He did such an incredible job helping my ducts get clean!! We can now finally breathe healthier and live happier!!!! Overall, everyone that has come to my house has done more than a 5 star job!! I wish we had been dealing with this company from day one. I will NEVER use another company again!!!
Response from the owner: Hi Melissa,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Ricardo was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Dana was very professional. Explained every step of the way
Response from the owner: Hi Jennifer,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Dana was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Paul g is awesome and so is the company
Dana and Cody from Aztil arrived when scheduled. He had the part needed and proceeded to replace the broken piece. Everything was fixed quickly, and our air conditioning is working perfectly, and he left his work area clean and neat. It’s the kind of experience one wants for a repair.
Response from the owner: Hi Patti,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Dana and Cody were able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Dana was great. Quickly fixed the problem and advised me on how to avoid future issues.
Response from the owner: Hi James,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Dana was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Wr have been under service with Aztil since 2013 and they have kept us going. Our technician, Ricardo is excellent, very knowledgeable. He takes his time for little things and keeps our AC going smoothly. Couldn't recommend more!. Thanks!
Response from the owner: Hi Czarree,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Ricardo was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
I have been under contract with this AC company since 2013. They have kept me going since. Just got my usual 6 month tune-up, and my technician, Ricardo was excellent and very helpful, and answered all my questions. Highly recommend. 6 months later, Ricardo is back! Excellent as always!
Response from the owner: Hi Bret, We're glad to hear that the technicians were courteous of your belongings and that Patty was helpful in scheduling the service. We take pride in our customer service and we appreciate your feedback. Thank you for choosing us for your duct cleaning needs.
We had a great experience with Dana from Aztil. He was super thorough and very helpful. He communicated great and was right on time! Highly recommend !
Response from the owner: Hi lindsay,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Dana was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Ricardo went above and beyond to ensure my AC was functioning well. He took the time to review routine maintenance . He also cleaned the dryer duct and again with above and beyond. He was polite and efficient.
Response from the owner: Hi Barbara,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Ricardo was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Jordan Henry was very nice and helpful to us at late night. We much appreciated his work on our HAVC. We support this company.
Response from the owner: Hi Claudia,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Aztil was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Ramon is absolutely amazing! Very informative and an excellent technician! This is the second time we’ve had him and he’s great
Response from the owner: Hi Kathy,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Ramon was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Dana & Cody gave excellent service to my freaking out self, answered all my many questions about my cracked water tray and more. Also explained about a condensate pump. Very pleased with both them and the way they work together as a team to ensure my problem was repaired.
Response from the owner: Hi Dottie,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Dana & Cody was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Ramon from Aztil cleaned out the A/C drain and was very thorough, in addition to being polite!
Response from the owner: Hi Marna. Thanks for your positive feedback. Glad you were satisfied with the service from Lee. We value our employees and treat them well, that's why they stay with us. They also enjoy working with great clients such as yourself :) We appreciate your support and business.
We had our six month maintenance and had a great experience. The technician went above and beyond to ensure our unit was cleaned out.
Response from the owner: Hi Ashley,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Aztil was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Ramon took the time to be very thorough and informative. Answered any questions we had and explained recommendations well. Feel comfortable that we are in good hands with Aztil. Great service and fast response to urgent calls for service.
Response from the owner: Hi Steven,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Ramon was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Dana from Aztil completed a major repair to my 3 year old Carrier A/C unit. Dana worked efficiently, carefully and neatly in my home. The replacement of the defective part was covered by the carrier warranty and all of the labor was covered by my Aztil maintenance contract. Dana was extremely fair and honest and did not do any upsell or extra work to run up a big bill. It was all covered by my warranty and maintenance contract. My home is cool and comfortably. I highly recommend Dana and will ask for him for all routine maintenance and repairs.
Response from the owner: Hi Michele,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Dana was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
We had an A/C tune up today. I am happy to give 5 stars to Ricardo who was meticulous in doing the job right. He went above and beyond and was very courteous. 👍
Response from the owner: Hi Robert,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Ricardo was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Great Job Dana !
Response from the owner: Hi Mario,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Dana was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Dana was professionally trained and efficient and quick to get my unit working
Response from the owner: Thanks Linda for your positive feedback. We appreciate your business.
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