Every homeowner dreads seeing water come from a new and mysterious place—and watching it come from your A/C register can make you wonder what’s going on with your HVAC system. Fortunately, there are only a few main reasons water may drip from your A/C register, all of them fixable. Read on to learn more about what can cause your A/C register to drip and how to fix it.
What Causes Water to Form On Your A/C Register?
A/C registers drip when condensation forms on the register, which means the register is absorbing too much heat from somewhere else. This is most commonly found in bathrooms, where both the moisture level and the heat are very high. Although this is pretty much unavoidable unless you stop taking baths or showers in that bathroom; just replace the register occasionally when necessary.
But what about A/C registers in other parts of your home? There are three primary reasons your A/C register might condensate: (1) air leaks; (2) poorly insulated registers; or (3) gaps in the ceiling around the register.
- Your A/C register may drip if the duct is poorly attached to the back of the register. Any air leaking around the duct, even a small leak, can cause a lot of condensation on the grille.
- For drop ceilings, most common in offices and commercial buildings, a dripping A/C register is usually caused by poor insulation. It tends to be hotter above the ceiling grid, which can cause the whole register to condensate (and, eventually, drip).
- Drywall ceilings—most common in homes—are often poorly sealed, leaving gaps between the attic or crawl space and the living space. As the A/C unit runs, it draws warmer air around the register box and causes it to sweat. There are times when a ceiling grid with lots of gaps from worn or saggy ceiling tiles can also be the culprit. The hotter air above the grid is often drawn down through the gaps, creating condensation.
How Can You Repair a Dripping A/C Register?
For handy homeowners, air leaks around the duct or gaps in drywall ceilings are usually easy enough to seal with caulk or mastic. You can seal the gaps either inside the attic itself or by removing the register grille and doing it from inside the room. If you’re uncomfortable doing so, don’t be afraid to call your local HVAC technician.
If you believe poor insulation is the problem, insulating the register above the grid is usually a simple job. However, the material you’ll need is uncommon and generally only sold at HVAC supply stores, which don’t sell to the public.
In the event your damaged ceiling tiles are the cause of the issue, you can solve it by replacing them with new ones. Big box stores will supply ceiling tiles, but designs and styles are limited; you may struggle to match the new tiles to your current ones.
As always, if you’re dealing with a dripping A/C register and need an extra hand in diagnosing and repairing the issue, we’re here to help. North East Air Conditioning, Heating, and Plumbing’s experienced technicians can investigate your issue and give you repair options that fit your needs and budget. Just give us a call at (210) 658-0111 or visit our website to schedule your appointment.
