Most leaks are smaller than the panic they cause. Here's how our techs actually work through it — in order, cheapest and most likely first — plus real jobs we've closed out.
Cheapest and most likely causes first — this is the same sequence our techs run on a service call.
Dry everything off completely and run the unit — watch exactly where the first drip actually appears (housing top, base, a fitting) before assuming anything. Guessing usually points you at the wrong part.
The lid and its O-ring are the single most common leak point. Often it just needs reseating or a fresh O-ring — not a full housing replacement.
A leak that starts within a day or two of a service visit is very likely tied to that exact connection. A reputable company will come back and check their own work for free.
An on-and-off leak usually means a seal or clamp that's marginal, not fully failed. Cheaper and easier to fix before it fails completely — especially anywhere water damage would be costly.
Anonymized from actual service visits — city, brand, and what our tech actually found on site.
Two separate units, same week, same root cause: the filter housing and manifold assembly needed replacement to stop the leak at the source.
A crack in the filter housing lid's screw fitting was losing about an inch of water a day. Missing neoprene gasket compounded it — unit kept powered down until the replacement lid arrived.
Customer reported a leak the day after a filter housing install. Tech returned at no charge to check the work — found the actual cause was unrelated to the original repair, and fixed it on the spot.
The filter housing lid and seal — by far the most common leak point. Dry everything off completely, run the unit, and watch exactly where the first drip appears before assuming anything needs full replacement. Often it just needs reseating or a new O-ring.
Almost certainly, yes. If a leak appears within a day or two of any service visit, it's very likely tied to the specific connection that was just worked on. Call the tech who did the original repair first — a reputable company will come back and check their own work at no charge.
Yes, worth addressing even though it feels minor. An intermittent leak usually means a seal or clamp that's marginal rather than fully failed — cheaper and easier to fix now than after it's had months to fail completely.
Yes — even a small crack in the lid, or a missing gasket underneath it, can lose an inch of water a day. It's easy to miss visually since the crack itself is often small, but the water loss it causes is very real.
Water pooling near any electrical connection or outlet, or a leak that's clearly accelerating rather than steady. Power down at the breaker and call. Text or call (619) 289-9282.
Every diagnostic visit includes a full inspection, not just the symptom you called about — and a same-day report with photos.