What should you do when your aircon leaks onto the floor?
Switch the aircon off, catch the drip with a basin or towels, and wipe the floor dry at once, especially laminate or parquet. Photograph where the water comes from and any marks on the ceiling. Leave the unit off until the cause is found: running it keeps feeding water into the floor, wall or ceiling.
Key takeaways
- Safety first: water and electrics do not mix; switch off before you mop.
- Speed saves floors: laminate and parquet swell where water sits, so wipe it up straight away.
- Photos help: a short video of the leak helps us bring the right tools and supports a warranty claim.
- Off means off: a leaking unit left running keeps pouring water into places you cannot see.
In the video above, we repair a Mitsubishi Electric Starmex that was leaking water.
The first hour, step by step
- Switch off with the remote, then at the wall switch if it is dry and safe to reach. Do not touch a wet switch or plug.
- Catch the water. A basin or a folded towel under the drip; move rugs, beds, sofas and electronics out of the way.
- Dry the floor. Wipe up standing water, then go over it again with a dry cloth, paying attention to the joints between boards.
- Record it. Photos and a short video of the indoor unit, the pipes, the floor and any ceiling or wall marks.
- Check below and around. Look along the pipe route for stains, and if you live above someone, check whether water could be reaching their ceiling.
- Book the fix and send the photos. See our aircon water leaking repair, or message Luna on WhatsApp at any hour.
How fast does water damage each surface?
Surface | What water does | How fast to act |
|---|---|---|
Laminate | Swells and lifts at the joints; it rarely goes back flat | Wipe at once |
Parquet and timber | Stains, then cups or lifts | Wipe at once and keep it dry |
Vinyl | Fine on top, but water can creep under the edges | Wipe the same day |
False ceiling board | Stains, then sags as it soaks up water | Call before the stain spreads |
Painted wall or plaster | Bubbles and peels, can turn mouldy | Call when the first mark appears |
Where is the water coming from?
Water dripping from the bottom of the indoor unit usually means the drain pan or drain pipe is blocked with slime. Water from the pipes or the ceiling usually means worn pipe insulation: read why worn pipe insulation drips. If it started right after a service, read why an aircon leaks after servicing. For every cause and the checks you can do, read why an aircon leaks water.
Why do leaks show up far from the aircon?
In many HDB flats and condos the drain pipe runs through trunking or a false ceiling, so the first sign of a leak can be a stain far from the aircon, or a call from the neighbour below. Our humidity means a blocked drain fills quickly, so a leak that was a few drops on Monday can be a puddle by Wednesday.
What it costs
Job | Price | What drives it |
|---|---|---|
Premium servicing with PowerJet | S$80 for 1 unit | Most leaks: drain pan, blower fan and coil cleaned, drain cleared and flushed |
A different cause (insulation, a pump, re-levelling) | Quoted before any work | What failed and how easy it is to reach |
Most leaks are prevented with servicing every three months: read how to prevent aircon water leaks.
When to call a technician
Call us as soon as you find water under the unit, on the pipes or on the ceiling. Leave the aircon off until we have found the cause.
Frequently asked questions
Is it dangerous to keep using a leaking aircon?
It can be. Water can reach power points, extension cords and the unit's own electrics. Switch it off and use another room until the cause is fixed.
Can I poke the drain pipe clear myself?
Please do not push wire or sticks into the drain. It can pierce the pipe or push the slime into a tighter plug further down. Our technicians clear it from the unit with the right tools.
Water is coming through my ceiling from the flat above. Is it their aircon?
It may be, if their drain pipe or aircon runs above your ceiling. Take photos, tell your neighbour and the management, and have a technician check where the water comes from before anything is opened.
You serviced my aircon and now it leaks. What do I do?
WhatsApp us photos or a video. Within 90 days of our servicing, the site inspection and fixing the leak are free. Damage to floors or ceilings is not part of the servicing warranty.
Eric Lim, aka Uncle EricFounder of iAircon.Repair, now in its 10th year servicing aircons in Singapore. Every job is filmed, so you can watch the work on YouTube.
