How to Fix a Leaking Air Conditioner Condenser

Q. The drain pump on my air conditioner condenser is leaking onto the floor. Is there any way to fix this without replacing the pump?

A. Most of these condensate pumps have a switch to cut off the mechanism if the pump fails. If the pump is leaking, then it may have a bad switch. If it’s more than three years old, it may best to replace the whole unit (roughly $40 to $50). Because these pumps always hold some amount of water, they tend to collect mold and algae, which can gum up the plumbing. You’ll probably need to disconnect the pump’s power supply, then remove and disassemble the pump and clean it free of any algae gunk or debris. There’s usually only a couple of screws that hold the pump in place. Also, clean out the drain from the pan to the pump, and blow out the exit drain line by wrapping it to the end of a garden hose with some duct tape. Once the blockage is completely removed from the system, it should operate properly.