AC and Appliance Leak Water Damage

If your air conditioner, washer, dishwasher or ice maker is leaking, turn it off and call 786-919-0159. A live person answers 24/7 and sends a crew with a fast response anywhere in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach.

In South Florida, air conditioners run nearly every day of the year, and every one of them produces gallons of condensate water. When the drain line clogs or the pan rusts through, that water goes into the closet, the ceiling below or the floor. AC leaks are one of the most common water damage calls in the region, and because they are slow, they often go unnoticed until the damage has spread.

Common AC and Appliance Leaks

AC condensate drain clogs

Algae and debris build up in the condensate line until water backs up and overflows the drain pan. A float switch should shut the system off, but many are missing or have failed.

Rusted drain pans and attic air handlers

Older metal pans rust through. Air handlers in attics leak into insulation and ceilings, and the first sign is often a stain below.

Washing machines

Rubber fill hoses burst, drain hoses come loose and second-floor laundry rooms leak straight through the ceiling below.

Dishwashers and ice makers

Supply lines behind dishwashers and refrigerators crack or loosen, soaking cabinets and flooring out of sight.

Water heaters

Tanks rust out and relief valves discharge, flooding closets and garages.

What to Do Right Now

• Turn off the AC at the thermostat and the breaker, or shut off the appliance and its water supply valve.
• Put towels or containers under drips and move belongings away.
• If water is coming through a ceiling, stay out from under it and turn off power to that room.
• Photograph the leak, the appliance and the damage.
• Call 786-919-0159 for the water damage, and an AC technician or appliance repair company for the unit itself.

Why AC Leaks Cause More Damage Than They Look

An AC leak usually drips slowly for days or weeks before anyone sees it. By then, water has soaked the closet floor, wicked into nearby drywall, run under flooring and, in two-story homes and condos, soaked the ceiling and insulation below. Moisture mapping with meters and thermal cameras shows the full extent, so drying covers everything that is wet, not just the visible stain.

Preventing AC Leaks

• Have the condensate line flushed and the system serviced regularly.
• Make sure a float switch is installed on the drain pan or line.
• Replace rusted metal drain pans.
• Use steel-braided washer hoses and replace them every few years.
• Consider water leak sensors in AC closets and laundry rooms.

Will Insurance Cover AC Leak Cleanup?

Most homeowners and HO-6 condo policies cover water damage that is sudden and accidental, such as a burst pipe, a failed water heater or an overflowing appliance. They usually exclude damage from slow leaks that went on for weeks, normal wear and tear and flooding from outside water, which needs a separate flood policy.

Your policy also expects you to prevent further damage, which is why starting AC leak cleanup right away matters. To protect your claim, photograph the damage and the source before cleanup, report the claim promptly, keep receipts and ask for the crew’s moisture readings, photos and drying records to share with your adjuster.

Attic Air Handlers and Second-Floor Units

Many South Florida homes, townhomes and condos have air handlers in attics, hall closets or upstairs. When these leak, water goes down: into insulation, through ceiling drywall and onto the floors below. Attic leaks are especially sneaky because the insulation soaks up water for days before a stain appears. If you see a stain under an air handler, turn the system off and have both the attic and the ceiling checked.

Washer, Dishwasher and Refrigerator Leaks

Appliance leaks usually happen behind or under the appliance, where you cannot see them. A dishwasher supply line can drip into the cabinet base and subfloor for weeks. A refrigerator ice maker line can soak the floor and the wall behind it. A washing machine hose can burst and release water until the supply is shut off. Steel-braided hoses, a drain pan under the washer and leak sensors behind appliances are inexpensive ways to prevent most of these calls.

Why Slow Leaks Lead to Mold

A sudden flood gets noticed right away. A slow AC or appliance leak does not, and that is exactly what makes it dangerous in South Florida. Materials stay damp for days or weeks in warm, humid air, which is ideal for mold. By the time you smell it, mold may already be growing inside walls or under cabinets. If a slow leak has been going for a while, the crew checks for mold during moisture mapping and handles it with containment if found. See mold remediation.

Float Switches and Drain Line Safety Devices

A float switch is a small sensor in the drain pan or condensate line that shuts off the air conditioner when water backs up. It turns a potential flood into a warm house, which is a much better problem. Many older systems do not have one, and some have switches that have failed or been bypassed. Ask your AC technician to check yours at every service visit. A secondary drain pan under attic air handlers adds another layer of protection.

AC Leaks in Condos

In condo buildings, air handlers sit in closets inside each unit, often stacked above one another. When one overflows, it can damage the unit below and sometimes several units down. Owners are usually responsible for their own AC equipment, so a leak from your unit may become your insurance claim. Regular maintenance and a float switch protect you and your neighbors.

What AC Leak Cleanup Includes

Cleanup covers the closet or attic around the air handler, the floor and walls nearby, and anything below. Wet insulation in attics is usually removed. The bottom of closet drywall and baseboards may be cut out so the wall cavity can dry. Carpet and pad near the closet are checked and dried or replaced. Once readings are normal, repairs restore the closet, ceiling and flooring.

Washing Machine Floods

A burst washing machine hose can release several gallons per minute until someone shuts off the supply valve. In second-floor laundry rooms, that water goes straight through the ceiling below. Turn off both supply valves behind the washer and call. Afterward, replace rubber hoses with steel-braided ones and consider an automatic shutoff valve for the laundry.

Related Services

• Ceiling and Wall Water Damage: when the leak came from above
• Water Mitigation and Drying: drying closets, floors and walls
• Mold Remediation: when a slow leak led to mold
• Condo and HOA Water Damage: leaks that reach the unit below

Where We Provide AC Leak Cleanup

AC Leak Cleanup is available 24/7 across all three South Florida counties, in every city, town and neighborhood:

• Miami-Dade County: Miami, Hialeah, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Doral, Kendall, Homestead and more
• Broward County: Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Coral Springs, Pompano Beach and more
• Palm Beach County: West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Jupiter, Wellington and more

See every community on our South Florida service areas page.

AC and Appliance Leak Questions