Aircon drain pan
The drain pan collects water from the indoor coil before it flows into the drain pipe. If the pan is cracked, shifted, or dirty in the wrong way, water can leak from the indoor unit.
What This Part Does
The drain pan sits below the indoor coil. It catches condensate water during cooling.
From the pan, water flows into the drain pipe and leaves the unit. The pan must stay aligned so water moves to the outlet point.
If the pan is cracked or out of position, water can escape before it reaches the drain pipe.
What You're Likely Seeing
You may see water dripping from the front or base of the indoor unit. In some cases, water appears only after longer cooling runs.
A drain-pan fault can look like a blocked drain pipe because both cause indoor water leaks. The drip pattern often gives the first clue.
Users may also notice stains near the unit or along the casing edge.
- Water dripping from indoor unit casing or front edge
- Leak repeats during cooling runs
- Water stain near indoor unit or wall path
What Else Causes This
A blocked drain pipe is more common than a cracked pan. Water backs up and overflows even when the pan itself is fine.
A float switch issue can shut the unit down without a pan crack. The problem may be the overflow protection path, not the pan body.
Coil icing can also create heavy water after melting. That can look like a drain-pan problem from the room side.
How A Proper Diagnosis Works
We first confirm where the water starts and how it travels. This helps separate pan leaks from drain-pipe overflow and ice-melt patterns.
Then we inspect the pan for cracks, poor seating, tilt, and buildup that changes water flow inside the unit.
We also check the drain path and float-switch behavior because these parts work in the same drainage system.
Pan repair or replacement is recommended only when the pan condition clearly explains the leak path.
What The Checks Usually Show
Indoor water leaks may come from the pan itself, the drain path, or a cooling fault that creates too much water at once.
| Finding | Next Step |
|---|---|
| Drain pan cracked | Replace or repair drain pan and retest drainage |
| Pan misaligned or not seated | Reseat pan and retest water flow |
| Pan normal, drain path blocked | Clear drain pipe and retest |
| Pan normal, ice-melt signs present | Check airflow and cooling condition |
Not sure which path applies to your situation?
Describe it on WhatsAppWhen This Can Wait
If there is active indoor dripping onto furniture, flooring, or electrical points, do not wait. Turn the unit off and arrange a check.
If the leak was one small event and has not returned, monitoring may be reasonable while you record the exact drip location.
We will tell you when the pattern looks like a true pan fault versus a drainage or cooling issue.
When To Stop Waiting
The signal is water pooling or dripping from the indoor unit, especially during high humidity operation.
Pan deterioration usually shows as rust or cracks that slowly expand.
Water leaking from the pan can damage nearby structures and encourage mould growth.
When water drips into risk areas or pooling appears under the unit, pan replacement is needed.
About The Repair
Drain pan repair work depends on unit access and pan condition. Some cases need reseating, while others need a part replacement.
The right fix depends on the leak path. Replacing the pan will not solve a blocked drain pipe or coil icing issue.
We confirm the pan fault before naming replacement as the next step.
Common questions
Same situation with your aircon?
Describe what's happening. We'll work out the likely cause and tell you the right next step.
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