Why Is My Aircon Leaking Water?
Woke up to water dripping from your aircon? Aircon water leak repair is one of the most common calls we get in Serangoon, and the cause is usually simple.
Your aircon makes water every time it runs. Warm, humid air passes over the cold coil, and the moisture turns into condensation. It drips into the drain pan and flows out through the condensate drain line.
According to HDB’s aircon installation guidelines, as summarised by Helpling Singapore, that water should discharge into a nearby floor trap inside your flat. When anything stops that flow, the water spills out of the indoor unit and onto your wall, bed or floor.
Brian started Cool Earth Aircon in 2007 as a one-man workshop, and he has seen nearly every kind of leak since. Most of them come down to one of these:
- A choked drain line. Slime, dust and biofilm build up inside the pipe until water can’t pass.
- A dirty or cracked drain pan. Jelly sludge blocks the outlet, or an old pan has a crack.
- A pipe fault. Torn pipe insulation lets the cold pipe sweat, and the drips run down the wall.
- Wrong tilt or gradient. If the unit or drain pipe slopes the wrong way, water pools and overflows.
- A failed drain pump on ceiling cassette units.
We find the cause, quote first, then clear or fix it. Repairs start from S$60. If the same leak comes back within 90 days, we return and fix it at no extra charge.
What to Do Right Now
- Switch the unit off at the remote and the isolator switch.
- Catch the drips with a towel or basin. Move bedding and anything electrical away.
- Wipe the wall so water doesn’t soak into the plaster.
- WhatsApp us a photo of the leak and your Serangoon address. We keep same-day slots, subject to availability.
One quick tip: empty the basin once the dripping stops. The National Environment Agency (NEA) advises against leaving trays or receptacles under an aircon unit, because standing water can breed mosquitoes.
Why Leaks Are Common in Serangoon Central and Serangoon North
Many homes in Serangoon Central and Serangoon North are 1980s HDB flats. The original drain pipes often run a long way through trunking to the outside, with only gentle slopes.
Over the years, sludge settles in the low points and the pipe chokes. That’s why leak repairs are some of our most common jobs in these estates.
Leak Symptoms and Likely Causes
| What you see | Likely cause | Usual fix |
|---|---|---|
| Steady drip from the front of the unit | Choked drain line | Drain flush and vacuum |
| Leak only at night | Partly choked line, long run time | Drain flush |
| Leak right after servicing | Loosened sludge, knocked hose | Flush, covered by our warranty if we serviced it |
| Water stain down the wall | Torn insulation or drain pipe fault | Insulation or pipe repair |
| Leak keeps coming back | Sludge in drain pan | Chemical wash or overhaul |
| Dripping from a ceiling unit | Drain pump fault | Pump check and repair |
Common Problems We Solve
The leak that keeps coming back
If the drain pan is coated in sludge, flushing the line only buys you a few weeks. The sludge soon blocks the outlet again.
Cleaning the pan as part of a chemical wash stops the source. So does taking the unit out for a chemical overhaul, which is the better fix for older units.
Water on the bed at night
Bedroom units run the longest at night. A half-choked line can overflow while you sleep. Clearing the line restores full flow.
A sweating pipe on the wall
When insulation tears, the cold copper pipe drips condensation down the wall. Helpling Singapore notes that damaged insulation lets condensation form along the pipe run or trunking, which is why the stain often shows up far from the unit.
Re-wrapping the pipe stops it.
Preventing Future Leaks
Regular general servicing every 3 to 4 months includes a drain line flush. It clears sludge before it can build up into a blockage.
If you have more than two units, our servicing contract keeps every unit on schedule. You won’t need to track which one is due.
Need aircon water leak repair in Serangoon? WhatsApp us a photo of the leak and your address, and we’ll book you in, with same-day slots subject to availability.