Why Is The Wall Around Your Ductless Air Conditioner Moist?
Posted on: 18 May 2017
Ductless air conditioners can be a lifesaver when you need to keep your home cool without tearing down the walls to install ducts. But like all air conditioning systems, they are prone to a number of issues. One issue that homeowners often notice is that the wall where their ductless air handler is mounted gets a bit moist. This is not an issue you should ignore -- whether it happens once in awhile or frequently. Here's a closer look at what causes moist walls and what you can do to solve this problem.
What causes the wall to become moist?
There's a line condensate drain line that leads from your air handling unit to a drain outside your home. This drain line runs through your wall. If it begins leaking, the moisture will trickle down your wall.
It's also possible that the air handling unit itself is over-cooling and developing some condensation. This may drip down the wall and absorb through the wallpaper or paint.
What problems can arise if you don't take care of the issue?
If you don't act quickly, you'll end up with mold in your walls. This can be really hard to get rid of once it sets in; you'll likely have to replace the drywall. Mold spores can cause allergies, not only for the humans in your home, but also for your pets. Of course, ignoring the moisture also means you're ignoring whatever is wrong with your air conditioner, which may mean the unit breaks down prematurely or experiences bigger problems down the road.
What should you do about the problem?
The first thing you should do is look over your AC unit and make sure there are no obvious issues that could be leading to the moisture buildup. Clean or change the filter, as a dirty filter can cause your AC unit to super-cool and release condensation. Make sure there's nothing in front of the air handling unit that's blocking the flow of air.
Once you've checked these items, if the wall continues to get moist, you should have your HVAC contractor come out to look over the system. Chances are, they'll need to repair a leak in the condensate line, which will involve removing the wall unit and later returning it to its place. At that time, they can help you assess damage to the drywall and decide whether or not you also need to do repairs to the wall. For more information, contact a company like Air Cool AC Inc.
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