Why Is My Car Leaking Water?

Seeing water where it shouldn’t be might have you feeling like you’re seeing a mirage. When it comes to water leaking from your car—a place you commonly don’t see it—there are a few reasons this may be happening. To help our friends around the Danvers, Peabody, and Salem, MA, areas, we at Ira Toyota of Danvers have created this guide to “Why is my car leaking water?”

After reading, you’ll have a better understanding of why your car is leaking and what your next steps should be. Keep reading to get started!

Why Is My Car Leaking Water?

When you see water leaking from your car, chances are that water is coming from your air conditioning system. Especially on hot days, you might find water dripping from under your car. Although, you may also have interior water leaks.

Let’s take a look at the reasons for interior and exterior air conditioning leaks.

1. Exterior Leaks

A few drops of water leaking from underneath your car is most often a normal occurrence. When it’s uncomfortable outside and you have the A/C on full blast to keep you from melting into a puddle on the sidewalk, your cooling system is working harder than normal.

How your cooling system works is by pulling the moisture from the humidity. This moisture travels through the air conditioning unit’s evaporator core to condense the liquid into a gas.

However, the liquid that isn’t turned into a gas needs somewhere to go.

That’s when it follows the evaporator drain and settles onto the pavement underneath your car.

2. Interior Leaks

The liquid from your A/C unit has a path to follow, but sometimes it has other plans in mind. Instead of draining onto the pavement, this liquid may leak onto your floorboards.

Other possible sources for interior leaks could include:

• Lack of sealant with windshield or sun/moonroof
• Body corrosion
• Seams of car have broken open

While exterior leaks are a more common occurrence, interior leaks will require the immediate attention of a mechanic.

Why Is My A/C System Leaking Water into My Cabin?

There are many reasons your car’s A/C system might be leaking water into your cabin. Here are just some reasons the water may take a path other than the evaporator drain:

• Clogged drain: If your evaporator drain is clogged, water won’t be able to get through. This will cause the water to back up and drain into your cabin. Dirt, debris, and other materials may be the culprit for the clog.
• Faulty seals: There are several seals piecing together the A/C unit of your car. If these seals are aged or if they fail, water can slowly leak from them into your cabin.
• Issues with evaporator core: While it’s not very common, sometimes debris can get inside your evaporator core. During the condensation process, this debris can turn into a corrosive material, which can lead to your evaporator core rusting.

My Car Is Leaking Water: Next Steps

Whether your car is leaking large amounts of water onto the pavement outside or if your cabin is turning into a pond, the attention of a mechanic’s trained eyes is essential. Luckily for drivers around Danvers, Peabody, and Salem, Massachusetts, we at Ira Toyota of Danvers have an on-site service center staffed with a team of highly skilled technicians.