An air handler pulls gallons of water out of humid Lowcountry air every day. When its pan or drain fails, the water damage restoration experts trace the overflow and dry the ceiling and walls below.
(888) 532-8921AC pan overflowing? Call now
Switch the thermostat off so the unit stops making condensate.
If it is safe to reach, look for water in the pan under the air handler.
Set a bucket under ceiling drips and move furniture out of the way.
Keep clear of drywall that bulges with water above it.
AC Condensate Leak Water Damage: the trade facts
Air conditioning runs most of the year in Goose Creek, and many homes keep the air handler in the attic or a hall closet. On a humid summer day that unit pulls gallons of condensate from the air. Algae and sludge clog the condensate drain, the pan fills, and a rusted pan or a missing float switch lets the water run into the ceiling, the closet wall or the floor below. The leak is often slow and shows only as a stain.
In Goose Creek, SC, AC condensate leak water damage typically runs $900 to $6,500. How long the leak ran, how much ceiling and insulation is wet and whether water reached walls and flooring move the number most.
$900 to $2,200
$2,000 to $4,200
$3,800 to $6,500
Ranges are typical figures, not a quote. The category of water, the square footage, the material class and how fast drying started move the number most. The Goose Creek water damage cost calculator gives a closer range.
The tech who does the walkthrough finds the source and maps the moisture before equipment goes down, and the drying team keeps it running until the readings say dry.
The walkthrough tech traces the overflow from the air handler.
The mitigation team pulls wet insulation and soaked ceiling drywall.
The drying team dries the ceiling joists and wall cavities.
The crew logs readings until every material reads dry.
A brown ring on the ceiling under the attic unit, water in the secondary pan, drips at a supply vent, a damp closet floor or a musty smell when the AC starts are the usual signs. The Energy Saver site covers air conditioner maintenance, including keeping the condensate drain clear.
A small leak that runs for days soaks insulation and drywall more than one big spill. Wet insulation pressed against the ceiling keeps the drywall wet, and the EPA indoor air quality pages explain why moisture inside a home needs fixing quickly. Coverage for gradual leaks varies, so check with your own insurer.
The Goose Creek restoration crew covers ZIP 29445, from Crowfield Plantation and Sedgefield to Boulder Bluff, Liberty Hall, Carnes Crossroads and the homes off St. James Avenue and Red Bank Road.
Nearby coverage reaches Hanahan, North Charleston, Summerville, Ladson, Moncks Corner and Charleston.
Most often the condensate drain clogs with algae, the pan overflows, and a rusted pan or a missing float switch lets the water through to the ceiling.
Condensate starts as clean water, so it is usually Category 1. A leak that sits for days in insulation and dust can change that.
Not always. A small wet area can often be dried in place. Sagging or soaked drywall and wet insulation above it usually come out.
An HVAC technician clears the drain and repairs the pan or float switch. The restoration team dries the ceiling, walls and floors.
A ceiling leak caught early usually dries in three to five days. Leaks that ran for weeks can take longer.
A sudden overflow is often treated as accidental discharge, but damage from a leak that ran for a long time may be treated differently. Coverage depends on your policy, so check with your own insurer.
Ceiling stain under the AC? Dispatch runs 24/7.
Water from an air handler soaks insulation and drywall before it drips. The drying team finds it and dries it.