A cooler's year, and where the leaks tend to start
- Late spring start-up
- The supply line gets reconnected and the pan refilled. Fittings that froze or loosened over winter often drip now.
- Early summer
- The pads and float valve get their first heavy use. A stuck float lets the pan overfill and spill onto the roof or into the duct.
- Midsummer storms
- Wind-driven rain and hail can damage the cabinet or the flashing around the cooler curb.
- Late summer
- Mineral scale builds up in the pan and drain. A clogged drain or bleed line can back up.
- Fall shutdown
- Shut off the water and drain the line before the first hard freeze. A line left full can split in the attic or wall.
How cooler water ends up in your living room
A typical rooftop unit sits on a curb or platform over a duct that drops straight into a hallway or central room. Water arrives through a small supply tube, often run from a basement or utility-room pipe up through a wall or closet and across the attic. The pan holds water, a pump soaks the pads, and the excess leaves through a drain or bleed-off line.
Any of those parts can leak. The pan rusts through. The float valve sticks open. The supply tube cracks where it crosses a cold attic. The flashing around the curb fails and lets rain in. And since the duct opening sits right over the living space, water that gets into the duct tends to drip straight through the ceiling grille.
Attic insulation hides an early leak well. It soaks up the water, holds it against the drywall ceiling, and shows no stain until the ceiling itself is saturated.
If you find a cooler leak
- Turn the cooler off at its switch or thermostat and close its water supply valve, usually a small valve on a pipe in the basement or utility area.
- Put a container under the ceiling grille and move belongings out of the way.
- If the ceiling sags, keep everyone out from under it.
- Check the attic around the duct for wet insulation, if you can do it safely.
- Photograph the ceiling, the cooler cabinet and the supply tube.
- Have someone take moisture readings in the ceiling and attic. Wet insulation usually has to come out.
Seasonal care that prevents most cooler leaks
| Task | When | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Drain the pan and supply line | Before the first hard freeze | Prevents freeze splits in the attic or wall |
| Close the indoor supply valve | At fall shutdown | Keeps water out of the line if a fitting fails |
| Cover or seal the ceiling grille | Over winter | Keeps warm, moist house air out of the cold duct |
| Check the pan for rust and test the float | At spring start-up | Catches the two most common overflow causes |
| Check the curb flashing and roof around the unit | After big storms | Rain and hail damage can leak even with the cooler off |
General information for Lakewood, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.