A clogged condensate drain or a cracked pan can overflow into an attic, closet or ceiling without warning. The Hanahan drying crew maps the damp area, opens what is soaked and dries the rest.
(888) 532-8921Ceiling stained? Call for drying
Turn the thermostat to off so the air handler stops making more condensate while the drain is sorted out.
Keep people out from under a bulging stain, and place a bucket beneath any drip.
Leave ceiling fixtures off if water is near them, since wiring may be wet.
Capture the pan, the stain and any wet insulation for the claim file.
AC Condensate Leak Water Damage: the trade facts
An air conditioner pulls water out of humid air, and that water is supposed to leave through a drain. When the drain clogs, the pan rusts through or a float switch fails, the overflow drips onto whatever sits below. In a closet or attic, that may be insulation, a ceiling or a wall.
A ceiling stain caught early costs $900 to $2,200. Opening the ceiling and clearing attic insulation runs $2,000 to $4,200, and damage that reaches closet walls and flooring runs $3,800 to $6,500. Discovery time decides the tier.
$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 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 crew follows the stain back to the pan, drain or air handler.
Soaked ceiling board and insulation are cut out and bagged.
Air movers and a dehumidifier run on the framing and closet walls.
Meters confirm dry readings before repair work begins.
Condensate water starts out clean, which keeps the job smaller if the leak is caught soon. The longer it drips, the more drywall and insulation it soaks, and slow leaks tend to travel along framing before they show. A thermal camera and a moisture meter find the full wet area before any cutting starts.
Drywall with only a light stain can often be dried in place with air movers and a dehumidifier. Sagging, crumbling or repeatedly wet ceiling board is cut out, along with soaked insulation. The crew leaves the air conditioner repair to an HVAC contractor, and drying proceeds once the drain is cleared so the leak does not restart.
A stained ceiling can also trace back to the roof, so a ceiling leak check covers both sources. Wet framing and walls often need structural drying, and the Hanahan hub lists the rest of the water services.
Condensate leak jobs are handled across ZIP 29410, including Sweetgrass, The Gardens, Edgewood Trace, South Cove and Amber Glen, along with Charleston Oaks and Mossy Creek.
The same service nearby: ac condensate leak water damage in Goose Creek, North Charleston, Charleston.
It starts as clean water, though it can pick up dust and slime from the pan and drain as it travels. Long-running leaks are treated with more care than a fresh one.
Light staining on firm board can be dried in place. Sagging, soft or crumbling drywall comes down, since it will not regain strength.
An HVAC contractor repairs the unit. The restoration crew handles the wet materials, and drying works best once the leak is stopped.
Look for brown rings, bubbling paint, a musty smell near the air handler or a pan that stays full. A moisture meter confirms what the eye misses.
Wet attic insulation compresses and holds moisture, so the affected section is removed. Dry sections around it can usually stay.
Policies differ on sudden versus gradual leaks, so the cause matters. Photos, readings and dated notes help an adjuster decide.
Wet ceiling under the air handler? Dispatch runs 24/7.
Condensate water soaks ceiling board and insulation more each day it drips. The drying crew maps it, removes what failed and dries the rest.