Water pooling on floor next to AC return

Donles316

Newer heat pump. I am having large amounts of water on the carpet--has to be absorbed with multiple bath towels. Return is in wall-- there is no water standing in return. Return is directly below air handler--no water anywhere near air handler. Its like someone is just pouring water on carpet approximately 6" away from return vent. Any idea what could be causing this?

HVACNUT

There's no condensate in the air handler in heat pump mode.
Any plumbing in the wall or above? Humidifier? Bathroom?

Jamie Hall

Verify where the water is coming from. Try putting a towel in the return itself. If it gets wet... if not, it's not coming down the return.

ChrisJ

How do these defrost?
Do they reverse?

HVACNUT

Dumb question, but it's not a geo HP right?

Donles316

No plumbing nearby. No vent nearby. No moisture immediately adjacent to the wall....its about 6" away but will not saturate if unit is not running. It's an Amana model ASPT47D14AA

ChrisJ

Donles316 said:

No plumbing nearby. No vent nearby. No moisture immediately adjacent to the wall....its about 6" away but will not saturate if unit is not running. It's an Amana model ASPT47D14AA

Are you 100% sure water isn't leaking from the roof, outside wall etc?

Donles316

Yes, its frustrating because the water is only collecting about 6" away from the wall where the return is located. I just pulled the front off. Not much water in the pan but it feels almost like half set gelatin at the bottom of pan and in the drain tube. Coils are spotless. The float wont trip the unit, either.

Jolly Bodger

Air source heat pump will reverse to defrost. This will condensate on the EVAP coil. Drain could be plugged, pan cracked, out of level, or windage is blowing it off the coil.

Donles316

Going to clean the drain and pan to be safe but there is literally no moisture or even dampness anywhere adjacent to the handler, drain tubes, etc. Just the carpet 6" away from the return.

ChrisJ

Jolly Bodger said:

Air source heat pump will reverse to defrost. This will condensate on the EVAP coil. Drain could be plugged, pan cracked, out of level, or windage is blowing it off the coil.

Can the lineset sweat on these where it wouldn't normally during cooling? If the liquid line isn't insulated etc?

mattmia2

It sounds like the "half set gelatin" which is probably some combination of bacteria and mold, is plugging up the drain.

HVACNUT

High water table?
Have you lifted the carpet to see if it originated there or is just pooling there from another area?

motoguy128

I’d expect dry coil in winter indoor humidity levels. Certainly not enough to make the floor wet.

Jolly Bodger

@ChrisJ the liquid (3/8" line) does not sweat. Or I should say should not and I have not seen one do it.

My HP makes water in defrost.

@Donles316 are you sure the HP is working correctly and not stuck in defrost with the backup heat running? This is the equivalent of running the heat and AC at the same time. Basically making an industrial dehumidifier.

Donles316

@Jolly Bodger
How would I check that? I'm not well versed in HVAC but I can follow directions with the best of them. It's just odd since there is no moisture im the air return or anywhere around the air handler, just in the middle of the hallway about 6" from the return vent. There is no plumbing below this area, nor any vents above.

ChrisJ

Donles316 said:

@Jolly Bodger

How would I check that? I'm not well versed in HVAC but I can follow directions with the best of them. It's just odd since there is no moisture im the air return or anywhere around the air handler, just in the middle of the hallway about 6" from the return vent. There is no plumbing below this area, nor any vents above.

I think the deal is pretty much the water is coming from somewhere and someone there needs to figure out where.

We can't see it. If the evaporator is dry then it's not coming from that. But if it's wet and the drain for it is leaking and running down a stud or something, who knows.

I had a 4" vent leak on the roof and run down and some how end up leaking out of the door casing over the back door no where near the pipe. In fact, it was making a 90 degree turn somehow because it wasn't even in that wall.

Water can do really bizarre things. The room it happened in is gutted right now so I can see all of the framing and I still can't figure out how it was doing it.

mattmia2

I have seen the liquid line sweat and even ice when there were eveperator airflow issues.

ChrisJ

mattmia2 said:

I have seen the liquid line sweat and even ice when there were eveperator airflow issues.

How would airflow issues cause the liquid line to sweat?

Jolly Bodger

OK, I think I have seen that once when the entire condenser was a snowman.

ChrisJ

Jolly Bodger said:

OK, I think I have seen that once when the entire condenser was a snowman.

Sounds like a little more than an "airflow issue" at that point even if it started out as one.

Patchogue Phil_2

> @Donles316 said:
> Newer heat pump. I am having large amounts of water on the carpet--has to be absorbed with multiple bath towels. Return is in wall-- there is no water standing in return. Return is directly below air handler--no water anywhere near air handler. Its like someone is just pouring water on carpet approximately 6" away from return vent. Any idea what could be causing this?

So, did you find out the water source?

unclejohn

The unit is running in the heating mode right. Can you seen a picture of the unit and where the water is.

SteamingatMohawk

Is there a small pump and reservoir about the size of half a loaf of bread that pushes the condensate out of the house? If so, check the piping to it, the pump itself, the reservoir and the piping going out of the house. Don't just look at it, blow air through the pipes to make sure they are clear.

After 30 years in upstate New York, I had water on the floor at my house. I ended up drilling two holes in the condensate line to the pump so it can be inspected and cleaned. Then I taped the hole shut...too lazy to replace the PVC fittings. Maybe some day.

Pics attached.

mattmia2

just cut it and slip a piece of vinyl tubing and hose clamps over it

SteamingatMohawk

Good idea. It will look better than two black X's on the white PVC. I put the holes half way up the side to try to make sure any condensate wouldn't leak out. So far, so good.