Ask Allegra: Stopping that drip in central air units

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Dear Allegra: I have central heating and air. The unit drips water when the air conditioning is running. I am assuming it is condensation, but how do I stop it? I have to have a bucket to catch the drips and empty it periodically. The lower I have the temperature, the less it leaks. I have the thermostat set at 79 degrees so the drip is slow. What do you think the problem is and what can I do about it other than calling the plumber? – All Wet

Dear All Wet: The drip pan, whose purpose is to catch condensation, is probably overflowing and/or the weep pipe or drain tube is clogged. Sometimes, the weight of the water that improperly builds up in the drip pan causes the pan to tilt away from the drain tube just enough to cause a buildup and backup. The drain tube leads to a device that pumps condensation away from the unit. If the pump is not working there will be a backup of water.

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