AC leaking water in Lake Mary, Florida
Condensate faults are the single most common AC service call in Florida. Most of the time water at the indoor unit is a clogged drain line or a tripped float switch doing exactly what it was built to do — stop the system before the overflow reaches a ceiling.
What is most likely wrong
- Clogged condensate drain line Very common
Algae and biological growth clog the PVC line over a Florida summer; water backs up and overflows the pan.
- Full or clogged secondary drain pan Common
Standing water visible in the secondary pan, or a stain on the ceiling below an attic air handler.
- Cracked or disconnected drain line Common
A steady drip even with a clear line, usually where PVC sections meet.
- Frozen coil thawing Common
A puddle appears once the ice on the coil melts after the system has been running hard — the leak is a symptom of a different fault. Frozen coil causes ›
- Improperly sloped drain line or missing trap Less common
Slow drainage and recurring clogs even right after cleaning — an installation issue, not a maintenance one.
What you can safely check yourself
- Where the water actually is: at the indoor air handler, or only at the outdoor condenser, which is often normal condensation and not a fault.
- The condensate line where it exits the house: dripping steadily, dry, or backed up?
- The float switch, if you can see it — if it has tripped, the system should be off, which means it is doing its job, not failing.
- If the air handler is in the attic, check the ceiling below it for a fresh stain before assuming the drain is the whole story.
Refrigerant, capacitors and the inside of an electrical panel are not homeowner jobs — a run capacitor holds a lethal charge after the disconnect is pulled, and refrigerant handling requires EPA Section 608 certification under 40 CFR Part 82 subpart F.
In Florida, an air-conditioning contractor licensed under Chapter 489 may replace, disconnect and reconnect the power wiring at the dedicated disconnect — s. 489.105(3) — which is exactly why that scope exists: it is not general household electrical work. Verify any Florida air-conditioning contractor’s licence at myfloridalicense.com.
Why this shows up in Lake Mary and Heathrow
Condensate faults carry higher stakes in Lake Mary than in a slab-mounted system further north. In the 1988–1996 median-era stock and through Heathrow’s 1985–2019 build years, the air handler is routinely in the attic, so a clogged line does not just mean a puddle — it means a ceiling. Seminole County Property Appraiser CAMA extract (parcel file dated 5 September 2026), tax district M1 — City of Lake Mary — improved residential parcels only.
The system running almost year-round compounds it: near-continuous condensation means the drain line accumulates algae faster here than in a four-season climate, which is why a routine flush is one of the few maintenance items with a real payoff in this market.
What the fix typically costs
| Item | Researched range | What drives it |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic / service call | $79–$250 | Orlando third-party range; Central Florida contractors publish flat fees of $89–$95, usually credited toward the repair. |
| Condensate drain clearing | $150–$250 | Orlando; the single most common Florida AC service call. |
Researched Central Florida ranges gathered 12 September 2026 for research/pricing.json: Orlando-metro contractor-published prices corroborated against a third-party Orlando cost guide, with any aggregator figure labelled as such. These are market ranges, not our prices, and not a quote.
Keep reading
Sources for this page
- Smart Home Air & Heat — AC repair cost Orlando 2026
- Clear Comfort Orlando — published prices (serves Lake Mary)
Researched 6 September 2026. Fees, rebate amounts and code minimums change — check the issuing authority before you rely on a figure.