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Air conditioner leaking water: why, and what to do tonight

HHCBy the Hunter Home Climate editor (not a licensed technician)
Updated 3 October 2026 · 2 min read
Quick answer

An air conditioner leaking inside usually has a blocked condensate drain or a filter so dirty the coil iced up and then melted. Turn it off, catch the water, and check the filter and the drain outside.

Tonight

  1. Turn the unit off.
  2. Catch the water with a towel and a container, and move anything electrical away from the drip.
  3. Check the filter. If it is clogged, clean it: how.
Illustration: a towel laid on the floor below a slim white rectangular wall-mounted split system air conditioner indoor unit, wide and shallow with a horizontal louvre along its bottom edge mounted high on the wall, a folded towel on the timber floor below
Illustration of a typical job, not a real home.

The usual causes

CauseSignWho fixes it
Blocked drain lineNo water dripping outside where the drain endsA technician can clear it
Dirty filterIce on the coil, then drips as it meltsYou: clean the filter
Unit not levelDrips from one end of the unitThe installer
Low refrigerantIcing even with a clean filter, weak coolingA licensed technician only

Find the drain outside

The condensate drain is a thin pipe that ends outside, often near the outdoor unit or into a garden bed. On a humid day with the unit running in cool mode it should drip.

Illustration: a thin white plastic condensate drain pipe coming out of a brick wall near the ground, with drops of water dripping from its open end onto mulch in a garden bed, close up
Illustration of a typical job, not a real home.

Is it an emergency?

Not usually, but water near electrics is a hazard: keep the unit off until the cause is fixed. Refrigerant work needs an ARCtick-licensed technician. hipages puts split system repairs at about $85 to $160.

Common questions

Can I still use my air conditioner if it is leaking water?

Turn it off until you know why. A clean filter or a cleared drain often fixes it; keep water away from electrics.

How much does it cost to fix a leaking air conditioner?

A split system repair is typically about $85 to $160, according to hipages, more if parts or refrigerant are needed.

Sources

  1. hipages, How much does air conditioning repair cost? (6 January 2026)
  2. Australian Refrigeration Council, Refrigerant handling licence

Checked 3 October 2026. Prices are published ranges, not quotes; rebates change, so confirm with the installer and the NSW Government.