What that drip in the basement could be

You walk into the basement and there's water on the floor near the furnace or air handler. Don't assume the worst — most of the time it's a condensate problem, not a refrigerant or boiler leak. Here's how to read what you're seeing.

If it's clear water during cooling season

Almost certainly condensate. Your AC pulls a lot of water out of the air on a humid day — gallons per day in some Connecticut homes. That water is supposed to drip into a pan and run out a PVC line to a sink, sump, or outside. If you have a puddle, one of three things is happening:

1. The drain line is clogged. Algae and dust block the line; water backs up and overflows the pan. We clear it with a wet/dry vac or a CO2 cartridge in about 10 minutes.
2. The drain pan is rusted or cracked. Older systems sometimes need a replacement pan or a secondary pan installed underneath.
3. The condensate pump failed (if your unit has one — they're the small white plastic boxes with a clear lid). The pump motor burns out and water overflows.

If it's clear water during heating season with a high-efficiency furnace

Modern condensing gas furnaces (90%+ AFUE) actually produce condensate in heating mode too — sometimes a gallon a day. Same drain, same potential problems. If you only see water when the furnace runs, that's where to look.

If it's rusty, oily, or the puddle is around a refrigerant line

That's a different problem. A refrigerant leak is usually slow and shows up as oil residue along a copper line set or at a connection. Don't ignore this. Low refrigerant means the system runs longer, the compressor works harder, and an unprotected compressor can fail — which is a four-figure repair.

If the water is coming from above

If your air handler is in an attic and you have a stain on the ceiling below it, the float switch should have already shut the unit off. If it didn't, the secondary safety failed and you have water in the ceiling. Stop running the system and call us.