Water leaking from LG HVAC Standard Indoor Unit

last month

I have a LG LMU366HV compressor (36K), and connected to it I have two LMN096HVT (9K BTU) headers and one LMN186HVT (18K BTU) header. These are Standard Indoor Units and were installed at the same time 15 years ago into my brick house. All of the units have the copper, electrical lines (in plastic protection) go on the side of the house and then running across the roof where the compressor is stationed. The drain pipes exhaust the water onto the side of the house.

About two weeks ago, my 18K header (LMN186HVT) started to leak some water from the center area of the flap (horizontal blade). Cooling works perfectly and no weird sounds coming from the unit. I went to wash/clean the two air filters, and things seem to work fine again up until yesterday, when the same thing started again.

I got brave and opened the bottom of the unit but did not see anything out of the ordinary. I was able to examine (visually and physically) the drain hose as it’s going into the wall and I could not feel any water / moisture there. I believe that this is not the type of the unit that has a “drain dish” and I could not see where it collects the water right, which I guess goes directly into the drain pipe. And I can clearly see myself that about 10 minutes after starting AC, the water drips out from the drain pipe (on the side of the house), so very doubtful there is any kind of a drain blockage.

I am attaching 3 videos to show the leak itself (it always only drips from the center area), my inspection when I removed the bottom of the unit, and drain pipe working while it drips on the inside also.

https://streamable.com/lf9zpu

https://streamable.com/rj6nfr

https://streamable.com/ty8rz7

Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas what might be causing this? The weather outside is not that hot, and it really doesn’t matter if it’s 80F or 100F outside for this issue to show itself. It usually takes at least one hour from starting the AC to when the inside leakage begins.

Thank you. All input is very much appreciated.

Featured Answer

klem1

last month

If at first you don't suceed,try again. You've earned an atta boy award.

Don't become frustered if it starts leaking again in a few days. No rinse cleaner sometimes does such a good job on exceptionally dirty coils that debris washed out lodges in drain. A bit of insurance can be had by pouring water through drain 2 or 3 days after applying cleaner then 1 week and 2 weeks later. Idea being to "flush" debris that might otherwise stack up. I'm not advocating disassembly again. Hopfully a tube can reach pan to squirt some water,otherrwise while unit is off water can be squirted onto coil where it runs down and out. If terminal end of drain is visable, looking for stuff being wshed out might indicate efforts are helping.

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Comments (8)

Clyde Kalvin
last month
Is the condensate line clogged?
Michael K.
Original Author
last month
Where / how would I check for this?

This is a page from the installation instruction, and I don't see anything except drain line, the copper and electrical.
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dadoes
last month
The drain line is the condensate line. The condensate is, of course, humidity/moisture condensed out of the room air by the cooling process. It drips off the evaporator (cooling) coil in the head unit. There must be a pan of some sort into which the condensate collects as it drips off the coil. Find where the drain line connects to the head unit, that should be the drain pan.

The drain line may be partially obstructed, impairing the drain flow and causing condensate to pool in the drain pan until it drips/runs over. Does the video of the outside drain reflect the volume of flow that you normally observed before the inside leaking began?

A dirty evaporator coil can also cause condensate to follow an abnormal drip-route such that some of it goes elsewhere than into the collection pan.
klem1
last month
Sounds like drain line is partly stopped up and unit makes water faster than it can drian out. Start by blowing drain line out with compressed air, The simplest way if you don't have proper tools is portable air tank and fat valve stem.
Michael K.
Original Author
last month
Well, after much effort, I only have the original drainpipe working (with no extensions), and although one can clearly see it dripping, the unit continues to drip a bit inside. So it seems like I need to access the drain dish for a real cleanout. I tried to open up the HVAC to try accessing the drain dish, to see its condition, but could not figure out how to remove the cover to gain access. Since this model is very old ( LG LMN186HVT ), I could not find any videos of how to do so. I thought I loosened enough screws, but when I tried to pull it off, it would start pulling up from the installation plate.

Any ideas how to get there or calling service is my only option?
klem1
last month
I can think of many situations people find themselves in and asking same questions you are. Doesn't sound like wrench turning is your Sunday suit, time to earn a buck doing what you do best and hire someone for this.
Michael K.
Original Author
last month
I guess not giving up pays off. I was able to remove the cover and got to the drain pan, which was very filthy. Got it all cleaned out, applied some Nu-Calgon Foam (no rinse), and all working very well. At least for now...