Leaking Air Conditioner Repair Question

[FG Lurker]

As the title says, I have an air conditioner that is dripping water inside the house... It suddenly started a few days ago.

I thought maybe the drain hose was plugged but after using suction from a wet-dry vacuum and putting a snake up the hose it there doesn't seem to be blockage. Also, some water does come out of the drain hose (it didn't at first but does now.)

Does anyone have experience with this and/or any ideas on how to fix it?

[Coligny]

As the title says, I have an air conditioner that is dripping water inside the house... It suddenly started a few days ago.

I thought maybe the drain hose was plugged but after using suction from a wet-dry vacuum and putting a snake up the hose it there doesn't seem to be blockage. Also, some water does come out of the drain hose (it didn't at first but does now.)

Does anyone have experience with this and/or any ideas on how to fix it?

So the hose to outside is good, but did you check the head unit between the radiator and hose plug ? Try vacuuming it too, maybe sumthing got dere...

(never had this problem, but once got me AC internal radiator stuck in snow, setting too cold with fan speed too low in humid room...)

[Mock Cockpit]

Condensor, 10,000 yen.
Actually don't know Lurk but that was what was wrong with mine and how much it took to fix. How new is it?

[FG Lurker]

So the hose to outside is good, but did you check the head unit between the radiator and hose plug ? Try vacuuming it too, maybe sumthing got dere...

I suspect this is what the problem is, something inside the indoor wall unit. Taking it apart looks rather daunting though, and without taking it apart I can't see anything inside it besides the radiator fins and the fan. Have you taken one apart before?

[FG Lurker]

Condensor, 10,000 yen.
Actually don't know Lurk but that was what was wrong with mine and how much it took to fix. How new is it?

I don't know a huge amount about air conditioners but I've been on a bit of a crash course. From what I understand the condenser is outside the house along with a fairly large fan and the compressor. Inside the house is an evaporator and a fan that pushes room air through the evaporator to cool the room. (Evaporators and condensers look pretty similar, like car radiators.*) The process of pushing the rooms warm air through the evaporator generates condensation due to the rapid cooling effect, and this condensation should collect in a pan and flow to the hose that takes it outside.

If there is a problem with the pan, a problem with the hose, or a problem with the valve that is probably between the two, then you get water leaking into your house...

I'm not sure how the pan and evaporator are connected together and if both need to be replaced or if they can be serviced separately. I'm also not sure how to go about taking an air conditioner apart in such a way as to not have all the coolant leak out...

I'm going to take another look at it tomorrow or Wednesday and if I still can't get it fixed I guess I'll have to call someone in. Wife isn't too happy with the water collection buckets and constant drip, drip, drip. 10,000yen doesn't seem too bad, did you call a local shop to get that price? The manufacturer?

* It seems that the air conditioners we buy here should really be called heat pumps more than air conditioners. They are able to heat and cool, meaning the condenser and evaporator switch roles when the weather changes.

[sirwanksalot]

It might be tilting in the direction of your room. If so that's an easy fix.

[Mike Oxlong]

Around here, there are cheapo cleaners that will come and remove dirt and corrosion on the a/c in your home. They run about 7000 yen for a job. The good ones will take it apart completely, clean, and reassemble. Those guys will find any problem and repair it for a modest sum along with the cleaning. The other guys will just pop the plastic cover off, spray it down with some cleaner, pop the cover back on, and ask for your money. If it's due for a cleaning, try to get one of the former guys working on it.

[Coligny]

I suspect this is what the problem is, something inside the indoor wall unit. Taking it apart looks rather daunting though, and without taking it apart I can't see anything inside it besides the radiator fins and the fan. Have you taken one apart before?

no, just fridges to steal their vacuum pumps...

Looked way too much of a pita...

[Captain Japan]

Last year I had a AC unit leak out all its coolant. (I think I pushed it to the side for my TV antenna and it twisted the nut, which caused the leak.) I inquired with the manufacturer and they wanted all kinds of cash to just open it. It's a National so I took the brochure/manual/whatever to a National elec shop near the train station and asked the guy inside if he could fix it. He came over the next day and pumped in coolant in less than an hour. Charged me less than 10,000 yen for the labor and materials. My suggestion is find a repair shop that specializes in that brand. They probably get inquiries like this all the time.