AC leaking water or not cooling? 7 causes

Is your AC leaking water or not cooling anymore? Usually it's a dirty filter, a blocked drain or a dirty outdoor unit. Those are problems a service visit fixes quickly.

I'm Andres, a technician on Bonaire. Below you'll read what to check yourself first, the 7 most common causes, and when it's better to call a technician.

Check first: 4 things in 2 minutes

Before you call anyone, take a look at these points. Sometimes that already solves the problem.

1. Is the remote set correctly? Check that it's on cool (snowflake) and not on fan, dry or auto. Set the temperature a few degrees below room temperature.
2. Are the batteries dead? If the remote's screen is blank, replace the batteries.
3. Has the power been off? After a power outage or a tripped breaker, the AC is sometimes off or on a different setting. Check your breaker panel too.
4. Is the filter full? Open the front of the indoor unit. If the filter is full of dust, rinse it with lukewarm water and let it dry completely.

Still not working properly? Then look at the causes below.

The 7 most common causes

1. Dirty filter

What you see: the AC blows weakly and cools less. Sometimes it starts leaking too.

On Bonaire a filter quickly fills up with dust and sand. Too little air then passes over the coils. They get too cold, ice forms, and when it melts the water drips out.

Solution: clean the filter. You can do that yourself, every 2 to 4 weeks.

2. Blocked drain

What you see: water drips from the indoor unit or runs down the wall.

An AC pulls moisture out of the air. That water runs outside through a small hose. Dust, slime and sometimes insects can block that drain. Then the drip tray overflows.

Solution: flush the drain and drip tray. I do that at every service visit.

3. Dirty or salty outdoor unit

What you see: the AC runs, but the room doesn't really get cool. The outdoor unit feels very hot.

The outdoor unit needs to get rid of heat. If it's full of dust, salt or leaves, it can't do that well. You see this a lot at homes by the sea or exposed to the wind.

Solution: clear and rinse the outdoor unit. You can remove clutter around it yourself. Cleaning the fins is best left to a technician.

4. Ice on the indoor unit

What you see: ice or frost on the coils or the lines. Later a puddle of water.

Ice forms when there's too little airflow (dirty filter) or too little refrigerant. If you keep the AC running, it only gets worse.

Solution: switch off the AC and let it thaw. If it comes back, have it checked.

5. Low refrigerant

What you see: the AC cools less and less, even with a clean filter. Sometimes you hear a hissing sound.

Refrigerant doesn't get used up. If there's too little, there's a leak somewhere. Salt and vibration can cause small cracks in lines and connections.

Solution: a job for a technician. I'll find out what's going on and tell you honestly whether repair or replacement makes more sense.

6. Indoor unit not level or drip tray broken

What you see: water leaks from one side of the indoor unit, even with a clean drain.

If the unit isn't level, the water runs the wrong way. A cracked drip tray always leaks.

Solution: remount the unit or replace the drip tray. That's installation work.

7. Electrical fault

What you see: the AC won't switch on, keeps cutting out, or the fan outside doesn't turn.

After a power outage or brownout, a part may be broken, such as the capacitor or the fan motor. Rusty or loose connections also cause faults.

Solution: have it checked by an electrician. Don't touch the wiring yourself.

When to switch off the AC immediately

In these cases, switch off the AC right away and cut the power at the breaker panel:

• You smell burning or see smoke.
• Water is running near a socket or the wiring.
• The breaker trips again every time you switch on the AC.
• There's a lot of ice on the indoor unit.

Then send me a WhatsApp with a photo, and I'll look at what needs to be done as soon as possible.

What does it cost?

Most leaking or poorly cooling ACs are fixed with a service visit. That costs USD 45 per AC. Until 15 November 2026 you pay USD 80 for 2 ACs, and USD 35 for each additional one.

Need more, like a repair or remounting? Then I charge USD 25 per hour, with a minimum of 2 hours. Parts are extra. You always hear the cost first.

Want to stop it from happening again? Also read: How often should you service your air conditioner on Bonaire?

Frequently asked questions

Is it bad if my AC leaks a little water? Yes, don't ignore it. Water can damage your wall, floor or furniture and cause mould. It's usually quick to fix.

Why isn't my AC cooling even though it's on? Often the filter or the outdoor unit is dirty. Check the 4 points at the top of this post first. If that doesn't help, it may be refrigerant or a broken part.

Can I top up the refrigerant myself? No. It requires special equipment, and if there's too little, there's a leak somewhere that needs to be found first.

My AC started leaking after a power outage. How is that possible? After an outage the AC sometimes starts on a different setting or switches on and off a lot. Turn it off for a few minutes, then on again. If it keeps leaking, have it checked.

How quickly can you come? Send a WhatsApp with photos of the problem. I reply quickly and schedule a time that suits you.

AC problem on Bonaire?

Send me a WhatsApp with a photo or short video of the problem, the brand of your AC and your neighbourhood. Then I can see right away what's needed. I work all over Bonaire.