A gray attic unit sitting in standing water on the decking, with a white PVC drain line beside it

A Condensation Leak in the Ceiling Usually Means the AC

In most Kyle homes, the air handler (the indoor half of the AC) sits in the attic. Every hour it runs in a humid Texas summer, it pulls water out of the air, and that condensate drains through a PVC line to the outside. When the line clogs with algae or debris, or the drain pan rusts or cracks, the water has nowhere to go but down: into the insulation, through the drywall ceiling and onto the floor below. A condensation leak in the ceiling in July is almost always this.

How the AC Drain System Works, and Fails

Part	Job	How it fails
Primary drain line	Carries condensate outside	Clogs with algae, sludge or debris
Primary pan	Under the coil, feeds the line	Rusts, cracks or tilts
Secondary (emergency) pan	Under the whole unit	Fills when the primary fails; can overflow or rust through
Secondary drain or float switch	Warns you, or shuts the AC off, when the pan fills	Missing, disconnected or stuck

If you see water dripping from a ceiling vent or near the air handler, switch the AC off at the thermostat. That stops new condensate. Then call.

Water Heaters in the Attic

Many Central Texas homes also have the water heater in the attic, on a platform over the garage or a hallway. A tank holds 40 to 50 gallons or more and stays connected to the supply, so a failure keeps feeding water until someone shuts it off. Tanks rust through at the base, relief valves discharge, and fittings at the top loosen. Signs to watch for: rust at the base, water in the pan, rusty hot water, popping noises, and a tank that's past ten years old. If it's leaking, shut off the cold-water valve on top of the tank and turn off its power or gas.

Why Attic Leaks Spread Fast

Attic leaks do more damage than their size suggests. Blown-in insulation soaks up water and holds it against the ceiling drywall, which sags and stains across a wide area. Summer attics are hot and humid, so wet insulation stays wet. And because nobody goes into the attic, a slow drip from a pan can run for weeks before the stain appears. Drying usually means pulling the wet insulation, opening part of the ceiling and drying the framing before anything is repaired.

Water dripping from the AC or the attic?

Tell a Kyle restoration company what you're seeing: (737) 265-3450.

Call (737) 265-3450

Why Is My AC Leaking Water Through the Ceiling?

Usually because the condensate drain line is clogged, the primary pan has rusted or cracked, or the secondary pan has filled and overflowed. Less often, refrigerant problems cause the coil to freeze and then melt in a rush. The water damage, meaning the wet insulation, ceiling and floor, is what a restoration company dries and repairs. Mention the AC when you call, so the company knows where the water started and can make sure the drain is cleared before it closes anything up.

What the Restoration Work Looks Like

Readings on the ceiling below and in the attic around the unit.
Soaked insulation pulled out of the attic.
The saturated section of ceiling opened, if it's sagging or soaked.
Drying in the attic and the room below, with readings.
New insulation, drywall, texture and paint.

More on attic leaks: attic leaks: AC condensate lines and water heaters.

Keeping It From Happening Again

Keep the condensate line flushed and the pan checked, especially before summer
Make sure a float switch or secondary drain is installed and working
Look at the water heater pan and the base of the tank a few times a year
Know where the attic water heater's shutoff valve is

In a house only a few years old, the first hard summer is when a badly sloped drain line shows itself. More: water damage in a newer home.

Why Summer Is Attic-Leak Season

Kyle's summers are long, hot and humid. The AC can run most of the day for months, pulling the most water out of the air exactly when the attic is hottest. Algae grows in condensate lines, debris collects in pans, and any slope problem in the drain shows up. Many attic leaks happen in the first heat wave of the year, after the system has sat idle through spring.

Early Warning Signs

water dripping from a pipe over a window or near the eaves outside: the secondary drain is working, which means the primary is blocked
the AC shutting itself off on a hot day: a float switch may have tripped
a faint stain or a sagging spot on the ceiling near the air handler
rusty water from the hot taps, or water in the water heater pan
a musty smell from the supply vents

Any of these is a reason to check before the ceiling comes down.

Attic Leak Help Around Kyle

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Main page: water damage restoration in Kyle.

Leaks From the Attic