Air conditioners create cool air that gets delivered into the room, significantly cooling down the room temperature. Anything cooler than the outside air typically creates condensate as water vapor in the air is cooled into a liquid state. Air conditioners are no exception - they create condensate that trickles into a collection pan within the unit.

In this article, we take a look at the importance of an air conditioner pump, and what their role is in the air conditioning system. We'll also include common problems with air conditioning pumps, as well as how to fix them.

What is an Air Conditioner Pump?

As air conditioning units create condensate, the cooled water vapor has to go somewhere! Condensate typically goes to the drip pan, which collects the water accumulated in the system for easy draining. The air conditioner pump is responsible for redirecting this condensate to the drip pan, keeping the cooling system and AC compressor dry.

Without the air conditioning pump, the unit will quickly fill up with water, damaging the mechanical parts of your AC unit. The pump is also called the condensate line, and is the middleman between the condenser unit, and the drip tray.

Unlike an AC compressor, which only pumps gas, AC pumps can pump both liquid and gas out of the unit, typically referring to the condensate and water vapor accumulated inside the unit. The pump is the reason your AC unit does not leak water indoors.

The Importance of AC Unit Pumps

1. Keeps the Unit Dry

The main purpose of the AC unit pump is for self-maintenance. The cooling system easily creates condensate, especially in humid weather. The pump ensures that water does not flood inside AC units, keeping the internal components dry and in good working order.

Without the pump, the unit may stay moist throughout aircon usage, causing mold growth, mildew, and frozen coils. The pump is essential in the maintenance of the unit, avoiding costly repairs that come with malfunctioning aircon systems.

2. Prevents Water from Pooling Indoors

Besides flooding the cooling system, water accumulated in the unit may also start to drip and pool indoors without the pump. The condensate may start dripping indoors into your room, which is not ideal for any cooling system. The pump prevents this by redirecting the condensate to a collection tray or outside.

Diagnosing Faulty AC Pumps

#1 Aircon Pump Not Working

If your AC system pump is no longer working, and there's water pooling inside your unit, then your condensate line may be in need of a cleaning. You can have our professional Luce Aircon technicians to clean your unit for you instead of probing around the unit to dislodge obstructing debris. It's the safer and more thorough option!

If a dirty condensate line is not the problem, then the issue may be with the state of your condensate drain pump. You may need to have the part replaced, which our technicians at Luce Aircon can assess and provide you with recommendations for its repair.

#2 AC Freezing Up

If your AC system is freezing up, the issue may be a combination of your condensate drain pump not working, and a refrigerant leak. When refrigerant meets the accumulated condensation in your unit, it freezes the water droplets, causing your unit to freeze up. A licensed technician will be able to find and fix the leak for you.

Other reasons why your air conditioner may be freezing up include dirty filters and coils, obstructed vents, weak airflow, and more. To find out what's causing your unit to freeze, it is best to have a professional inspect your unit.

Call the Professionals

Having problems with your air conditioning unit? Our technicians at Luce Aircon will be able to help! We have decades' worth of experience cleaning, inspecting, and repairing different models and brands of air conditioners across Singapore, so you can be sure we'll get to the bottom of the problem, and fix your unit!

Give us a call today, and let us know what we can do to address your air conditioning concerns!