How much does it cost to fix an aircon that's dripping water in Singapore?

If the cause is a blocked drain — which it almost always is — it's fixed as part of a standard service at $50 for 1 unit, $30/unit for 2, or $25/unit for 3+. If the drain tray is physically cracked or the pipe is disconnected, that's quoted separately after inspection.

Troubleshooting

Aircon Dripping Water? Here's Why (and What To Do)

Q: Why is my aircon dripping water from the indoor unit?

The most common cause is a blocked drainage line. Every aircon produces condensation, which drains through a pipe. When that pipe is blocked by algae, mould, or debris, water backs up and overflows from the drain tray — appearing as drips from the indoor unit or the wall below it. Clearing the drainage is part of every standard service.

Q: Is aircon water dripping dangerous?

The water itself isn't dangerous, but leaving it unattended causes water damage to ceilings, walls, and flooring. In HDB flats, it can leak into the unit below. It should be fixed within a day or two of noticing it — don't let it run.

Q: Can I fix aircon water dripping myself?

If the indoor unit has a drain tray accessible to you, you can try clearing the drainage outlet with a wet-dry vacuum at the outdoor drain pipe end. But most Singaporean HDB and condo drain pipe runs are internal, not easily accessible. A technician clears it in 10–15 minutes as part of a standard service.

Q: My aircon is dripping water AND not cold — are these related?

Yes — often related. A blocked drain line allows the drain tray to overflow, which can cause the indoor unit's coil to ice over. An iced coil means poor airflow and poor cooling. Clearing the drain and servicing the coil typically resolves both issues in a single visit.

By AFIX Services · May 2026 · 4 min read

Water dripping from aircon indoor unit — common sign of a blocked drain line in Singapore homes

Water dripping from your aircon's indoor unit — or from the wall below it — is one of the most common complaints we get in Singapore. The good news: it's almost always the same cause, and it's almost always fixed as part of a routine service visit.

Here's what's actually happening, how to tell which cause applies to you, and what to do about it.

How your aircon produces water (and why it usually drains fine)

Every split-system aircon produces condensation. When warm, humid air passes over the cold evaporator coil inside the indoor unit, moisture in the air condenses into water droplets — just like a cold drink forms condensation on the outside of a glass.

That water drips into a drain tray (also called a drip tray) at the bottom of the indoor unit, then flows out through a drainage pipe that runs through your wall to a drain point outside. When everything is working, you never see this water at all.

When you do see water dripping, it's because something in that drainage path has failed.

The 4 causes of aircon water dripping in Singapore

Cause 1 — Most common

Blocked drainage line

Over time, algae, mould, and debris accumulate inside the drainage pipe. In Singapore's humid climate this happens faster than in most countries. When the pipe is partially or fully blocked, water backs up in the drain tray until it overflows — and then drips out of the front or bottom of the indoor unit, or runs down the wall behind it.

This is the cause in the large majority of dripping cases we see. You'll usually notice the dripping worsens when the aircon has been running for a while (as the tray gradually fills) and eases off when it's been off for a few hours.

Fix: Clearing the drainage line is part of every standard service. A technician uses a wet-dry vacuum to pull the blockage through from the outdoor drain point, then flushes the line. Takes 10–15 minutes. Cost: covered in a standard service from $50 (1 unit).

Cause 2

Iced-over evaporator coil

If your aircon has a clogged filter or low refrigerant, the evaporator coil can drop below freezing and ice over. When the unit is off or in fan-only mode, that ice melts — producing far more water than the drain tray can handle at once. You get a sudden surge of dripping when you turn the unit off or when it defrosts.

Signs of this: you can see ice or frost on the refrigerant pipes near the indoor unit, the unit blows air but doesn't cool well, or you get heavy dripping specifically after switching the unit off.

Fix: Clean the air filter first (it's behind the front panel — wash it under running water and let it dry fully). If the unit is still icing up after the filter is clean, low refrigerant is the likely cause — that requires a technician to diagnose and top up.

Cause 3

Cracked or misaligned drain tray

On older units, the plastic drain tray can crack from age or thermal stress. Water drips straight through the crack rather than flowing to the drain pipe. On units that have been removed and reinstalled, the tray can also be misaligned, causing water to miss the tray and drip directly onto the wall or ceiling.

Fix: A cracked tray needs replacement. A misaligned tray can be reseated. Either way, a technician needs to open the unit to inspect. We show you the problem before quoting any parts work.

Cause 4

Disconnected or incorrectly pitched drain pipe

The drain pipe runs from your indoor unit to the outside. If it's been disconnected (e.g. during a renovation or a previous repair) or if it's pitched upward instead of downward, water won't drain — it will back up into the tray and overflow. This is less common but happens after any work that involves moving or touching the drainage pipework.

Fix: The pipe needs to be reconnected or re-pitched. A technician can usually identify this quickly from how the water is behaving and where it's appearing.

Don't leave it running. Water dripping from an aircon will eventually damage your ceiling, wall, or flooring — and in HDB flats, it can leak into the unit below, creating liability issues. Book a service within a day or two of noticing persistent dripping.

Aircon dripping water AND not cold at the same time?

These two problems are often related. A blocked drain causes the drain tray to overflow; an overflowing tray can cause the evaporator coil to ice over (it sits just above the tray). An iced coil drastically reduces airflow and cooling performance.

So if your aircon is dripping water and not cooling well, clearing the drainage and servicing the coil in a single visit usually resolves both. See our guide on aircon not cold — what to check first →

Need your dripping aircon fixed this week?

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What happens during a service to fix dripping

When we come to fix a dripping aircon, here's what we do:

Inspect where the water is coming from (front of unit, back, wall below, or ceiling above)
Check the drain tray for cracks, blockages at the outlet, and correct alignment
Clear the drainage line with a wet-dry vacuum from the outdoor end
Flush the drain line to confirm flow is clear
Clean the air filter, evaporator coil, and blower wheel (standard service)
Check for ice on the coil or pipes (low refrigerant sign)
Take before-and-after photos and send them to you

If we find a cracked tray, disconnected pipe, or refrigerant issue, we'll show you and quote separately before doing any additional work. Nothing happens without your sign-off.

How much does it cost to fix?

If the cause is a blocked drain line — which it is in the large majority of cases — it's fixed as part of a standard service:

1 unit: $50
2 units: $30/unit
3 units onwards: $25/unit

Chemical wash (if the coil or blower wheel has significant mould or buildup): $60 for 1 unit, $50/unit for 2 or more.

Parts (cracked tray, pipe repair) are quoted separately on inspection. We specialise in aircon leaking water → — it's one of the most common jobs we do.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my aircon dripping water from the indoor unit?

Almost always a blocked drainage line. Water produced by the aircon (normal condensation) can't drain, so it backs up and overflows. Clearing the drain is part of every standard service.

Is aircon water dripping dangerous?

Not directly — the water isn't harmful. But leaving it running causes wall, ceiling, and floor damage over time, and in HDB flats it can leak into the unit below. Fix it within a day or two.

Can I fix aircon water dripping myself?

You can try vacuuming the outdoor drain pipe end with a wet-dry vac. In most HDB and condo setups the drainage pipe runs internally through the wall and isn't accessible. A technician clears it in 10–15 minutes as part of a standard service.

My aircon is dripping water AND not cold — are these related?

Often yes. A blocked drain can cause the coil to ice over, which reduces cooling. Clearing the drain and servicing the coil typically resolves both in one visit.

How much does it cost to fix a dripping aircon in Singapore?

From $50 for a single unit standard service (which clears the drainage line). If there's a cracked tray or pipe damage, we quote that separately after showing you the problem.

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