water leaking from heat pump

Puddles of water inside can be a sign of a real problem. There are 4 main reasons a heat pump system might leak water inside your home, including Dirty evaporator coil, Frozen evaporator coil, Clogged condensate drain line, and Cracked drain pan. All of these issues require professional HVAC repair. Over time, dust, dirt, and debris can collect on the evaporator coil, reducing air flow. This can cause excess condensation. If the coil is dirty for too long or has a refrigerant leak, it can cause the coil to freeze. The condensation that the HVAC system produces during the refrigeration cycle first drips into the drain pan and then into the drain line. However, over time, the drain pan can become clogged with dirt, debris, cobwebs, and more. Another issue that can cause your heat pump system to leak water inside is a clogged condensate drain line.

heat pump dripping water

Puddles of water inside can be a sign of a real problem. There are 4 main reasons a heat pump system might leak water inside your home, including Dirty evaporator coil, Frozen evaporator coil, Clogged condensate drain line, and Cracked drain pan. All of these issues require professional HVAC repair. Over time, dust, dirt, and debris can collect on the evaporator coil, reducing air flow. This can cause excess condensation. If the coil is dirty for too long or has a refrigerant leak, it can cause the coil to freeze. The condensation that the HVAC system produces during the refrigeration cycle first drips into the drain pan and then into the drain line. However, over time, the drain pan can become clogged with dirt, debris, cobwebs, and more. Another issue that can cause your heat pump system to leak water inside is a clogged condensate drain line.

heat pump dripping water inside

Puddles of water inside can be a sign of a real problem. There are 4 main reasons a heat pump system might leak water inside your home, including Dirty evaporator coil, Frozen evaporator coil, Clogged condensate drain line, and Cracked drain pan. All of these issues require professional HVAC repair. Over time, dust, dirt, and debris can collect on the evaporator coil, reducing air flow. This can cause excess condensation. If the coil is dirty for too long or has a refrigerant leak, it can cause the coil to freeze. The condensation that the HVAC system produces during the refrigeration cycle first drips into the drain pan and then into the drain line. However, over time, the drain pan can become clogged with dirt, debris, cobwebs, and more. Another issue that can cause your heat pump system to leak water inside is a clogged condensate drain line.

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Heat Pump Leaking Water

Is water leaking from your heat pump? Don’t panic, but do some investigating. It may be part of normal operation, but it could be a sign of a problem. Let’s take a look.

Why is the heat pump leaking water outside in winter?

Heat pump condensation is a natural byproduct of operation. Condensation can form outside during the heating mode and heat transfer process. Condensation may ice over in colder temperatures. If this happens, the heat pump will enter the defrost cycle to clear the icing away. This normally takes a few minutes.

Why is my heat pump leaking water inside?

Puddles of water inside can be a sign of a real problem. There are 4 main reasons a heat pump system might leak water inside your home, including

Dirty evaporator coil
Frozen evaporator coil
Clogged condensate drain line
Cracked drain pan

All of these issues require professional HVAC repair.

Schedule heat pump repair now

Dirty evaporator coil

The evaporator coil is housed inside the air handler, or in a case next to your furnace. During the refrigeration cycle, the evaporator coil works with the outdoor condenser coil and other system components to heat or cool your home.

Over time, dust, dirt, and debris can collect on the evaporator coil, reducing air flow. This can cause excess condensation. Changing the air filter and getting regular maintenance can help prevent a dirty coil.

Frozen evaporator coil

If the coil is dirty for too long or has a refrigerant leak, it can cause the coil to freeze. If you see visible frost around the indoor coil, shut the system down to prevent further damage. A frozen evaporator coil requires an HVAC professional to diagnose why it happened and to fix the problem.

Schedule heat pump repair now

Clogged or cracked drain pan

The condensation that the HVAC system produces during the refrigeration cycle first drips into the drain pan and then into the drain line. However, over time, the drain pan can become clogged with dirt, debris, cobwebs, and more. This can cause the pan to overflow. The drain pan can also crack or become corroded, with the same result.

During regular HVAC maintenance, an HVAC technician will examine the drain plan and drain line and replace any defective parts.

Clogged drain line

Another issue that can cause your heat pump system to leak water inside is a clogged condensate drain line. The system naturally produces condensation during the refrigeration cycle. If everything is working right, the water droplets flow through the drain line and outside your home. A clogged drain line causes the water to back up and onto the floor.

This might not be a big deal in an unfinished basement, but if your indoor unit is located in the attic, a clogged drain line can result in water damage. Regular HVAC maintenance can help prevent this problem.

Prevent problems with regular maintenance

Taking care of your heat pump system can help prevent problems. Change the HVAC air filter every 30-90 days based on the quality of the filter. A clogged filter can cause a dirty evaporator coil, which can cause the coil to freeze. See our HVAC filter maintenance guide for some tips.

Make it a habit to sweep away dirt, dust, and cobwebs each time you change the filter. Keep flowers, shrubs, and vines at least two feet away from the outdoor unit.

In addition, keep the condensate drain line free from debris. If it is clogged on the outside of the home, it can back up into the drain pan. The indoor drain pan needs to have a working float switch and if there is a p-trap, it can get clogged. You can pour vinegar down the line to prevent moldy buildup from clogging the line.

Professional HVAC maintenance

Schedule heat pump maintenance every spring before cooling season starts, and every fall before heating season starts. Professional tune-ups can catch problems while they are still small and before they lead to increased heat pump repair costs. Consider signing up for a maintenance plan for ease of scheduling and potential savings.

Finally, if you have a Trane smart thermostat, consider opting into Trane Diagnostics. This allows your Trane dealer to monitor your heat pump system remotely. They’ll receive alerts of any issues with your system and can act quickly to help you, even when you’re away from home on vacation. This can save you money and give you peace of mind.

Anne Fonda, Content Writer at Trane Technologies

A Content Writer with Trane Technologies, Anne Fonda researches topics and writes for Trane® and associated residential HVAC brands. She works in collaboration with Trane Technologies subject matter experts, offering easy-to-understand, informative content on complex topics. Her goal is to help consumers make informed decisions on the products and services they need.

She has written for HVAC and other service provider websites for over 16 years. Before transitioning to web content writing, Anne had a 14-year stint as an award-winning journalist. She graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism. When she’s not working, Anne enjoys playing word games, reading, gardening, spending time with family, and visiting gardens and museums.

Expert review by Kimberly Sexton, Senior Systems Engineer