AC Drain Line Clogged? Repair It Like a Professional in No Time

If in case you have ever handled a damaged AC in excessive climate, you realize it may be a complete nuisance. Nonetheless, issues are inevitable in relation to your air-con unit. 

The problem could be inefficient cooling or your AC unit not turning on in any respect.  Nonetheless, generally the explanation behind an AC malfunction is perhaps as fundamental as having a clogged AC drain line. It might sound unthreatening, however it could possibly trigger extreme injury to your AC unit and your home. Therefore, it’s important to know why your AC drain line will get clogged and what you are able to do to eliminate these clogs.   

What Is an AC Drain Line?

Air conditioners take away humidity and warmth from your house. The moisture within the air is collected on the metallic coils inside your AC unit. This water drips down into the drain pan from the coils within the type of droplets. Then by means of a PVC pipe, typically referred to as an AC drain line or condensate line, this water is taken out of the home.

The air conditioner drain line is liable for expelling extra moisture by draining it exterior your house. 

Why Does the AC Drain Line Get Clogged?

Earlier than shifting on to the small print of repairing the clogged condensate drain traces, let’s discuss concerning the purpose an AC drain line will get clogged.  

The AC drain line always stays moist, which might trigger mildew and algae development. If they’re allowed to fester for lengthy, they’ll finally trigger a blockage.  

Furthermore, there are a number of pollution within the air, like pet dander and mud particles. As this air passes by means of your air conditioner, these pollution could make their approach into your AC drain pan over time and begin to construct up within the drain line. 

It’s greatest to repeatedly keep your AC and clear up any clogs within the drain line earlier than the clog will get worse and finally ends up masking your entire pipe. 

Signs of a Clogged AC Drain Line

You may simply detect a clogged condensate drain line by the buildup of water in it. Nonetheless, another indicators that your AC drain line is clogged are:

1. AC Unit Not Working

In case your air conditioner shouldn’t be turning on or it all of a sudden shuts off whereas working, a clogged AC drain line could be the explanation behind it.

2. Water Injury in Areas Close to the AC Unit 

A clogged condensate line will trigger your drain pan to replenish, and the water sitting within the drain pan will finally overflow and trickle down the partitions. So, water injury close to an AC is a transparent indication that there’s a clog within the AC drain pipe. 

3. AC System Not Cooling Correctly

The cooling effectivity significantly drops when an AC drain line will get clogged. This occurs as a result of your system must work more durable than regular to chill an area, and it’ll additionally increase your payments.

4. Unusually Excessive Humidity Ranges

In case your AC shouldn’t be eradicating moisture from the air, it’s one other indication of a clogged AC drain line. The water sitting in a drain pan, due to a clog, can evaporate again into the air, thus inflicting humidity ranges to soar. 

5. Moldy Scent Close to the Indoor Unit 

Standing water supplies the right habitat for molds and algae to develop. You may sense a clogged condensate line from the moldy odor coming from AC. 

What Occurs if an AC Drain Line Is Clogged?

You would possibly suppose having your AC drain line clogged shouldn’t be one thing severe till you, sadly, should cope with it. It might probably trigger your AC to cease working altogether! It additionally poses a number of dangers in your house and surroundings.

1. House Injury 

If you don’t unclog the AC drain line, the water is not going to drain out and accumulate within the drain pan. The extra moisture your air conditioner will extract from the ambiance, the extra water will drip down within the AC drip pan. Ultimately, it is going to trigger the AC’s drain pan to overflow. This spilled water can injury your house. 

The overflowing water can weaken or stain your partitions and injury your furnishings. If this water is available in contact with an uncovered wire, it could possibly corrupt your electrical system as nicely.  

2. Elevated Humidity Ranges

When an AC drain is clogged, the water produced by the air conditioner has nowhere to go. This water then sits within the drip pan or air conditioner drain line. It might probably evaporate slowly into the ambiance, making the humidity stage of your house barely greater. Along with that, a clogged AC drain line makes your air conditioner much less environment friendly, so it doesn’t correctly take away the humidity from your house. This makes your home extra prone to mildew development which may end up in an unhealthy surroundings. 

3. Corrosion or Rust

In case your air-con unit has standing water within the drain pan, this will trigger rust or corrosion within the AC. Rust can lower the life cycle of your air conditioners brief and you need to take measures to forestall it. 

10 Steps to Unclog the AC Drain Line

Clearing a condensate line is less complicated than you suppose. To unclog it, you would want some fundamental tools you would possibly have already got mendacity round in your home.

Right here’s the toolkit that you’d have to unclog an AC drain line:

• Duct tape
• AC drain line snake/snake wire
• Vinegar
• Moist-dry vacuum
• Water
• Backyard hose

Following is a step-by-step information that will help you eliminate the blockage within the drainpipe of your AC:

1. Swap Off the AC

To keep away from any electrical injury or shock, change off your air conditioner and circuit breaker panel. This ensures the protection of the system and the individual doing the AC upkeep.

2. Open the Entrance Panel

Now open the air conditioner panel, which is the outer cowl on the entrance of your AC. You will notice the evaporator coil connected to the air handler and an AC drain pan beneath the evaporator coil.

3. Clear the Drain Pan

In case of a blockage in your AC’s drain, the pan will probably be full of water. Use towels to fastidiously take in this gathered water. Clear the pan if there may be any mildew or particles current with cleaning soap or vinegar. This may also assist the drain pan keep freed from mildew and algae sooner or later.

4. Examine the Drain Line & Clear It 

Additionally, you will discover a gap within the drain pan which known as the drain gap. Do a visible inspection of this half. In the event you discover a clog or filth caught right here, then push a skinny wire brush into the drain gap. It should assist clear off the filth and mildew that’s clogging this level.  Alternatively, you need to use your naked palms to take away the particles. Ensure to wash it fastidiously so the particles doesn’t get pushed down additional. 

5. Find the Drainpipe

Hooked up to the drain gap will probably be a PVC pipe referred to as the drain line. One finish of this pipe is linked to the condensate pan, and the opposite finish is positioned close to the out of doors AC unit. 

6. Loosen the Clogs within the Drain Line

Utilizing the identical wire brush, clear the clogged drain line of the AC manually by pushing it contained in the drain pipe and twisting it. 

7. Utterly Break All of the Clogs

You should utilize any of the next three strategies to additional unclog the AC drain line. 

• Use a wet-dry vacuum and seal it to the entry level of the AC drain line utilizing duct tape. Now activate the vacuum and let it run for a couple of minutes. This may enable the vacuum to suck out the clogs.
• Take an AC drain line snake and run it down the route of the pipe’s exit. Twist and switch to interrupt the clogs. Ensure to not push the drain snake within the route of the air handler, as it could possibly injury the evaporator coils of your AC.  
• Take a backyard hose and place it close to the pipe opening. The fast bursts of water will assist break clogs and clear out the AC drain line. 

8. Pour Vinegar Into the Condensate Line

Dilute 1-2 cups of distilled white vinegar and pour it into the AC drain line and anticipate a couple of hours. It should assist additional filter out the blockage attributable to clogs.

9. Flush with Water

You could run water by means of the HVAC drain line after breaking the clogs. This may present an excellent rinse! Pour water into the drain line from the tip that’s linked to the drain pan. You may place a bucket on the exit level or ask somebody to face and watch. The clog is gone if water flows out of the exit level nicely. Woohoo!

10.  Reassemble Your Air Conditioner

Now, shut the drain vent by placing a PVC cap on it. Reattach the AC panel again to your AC unit. Flip your AC on, and it ought to work easily.

In the event you fail to clear an intense clog or your AC drain line retains clogging repeatedly, then contact an HVAC skilled for assist. It’s greatest to wash your drain line as soon as each month or two to forestall clogs.

Easy methods to Stop a Clogged AC Drain Line?

Right here are some things you are able to do that may maintain the AC drain line from getting clogged once more and enable you to attain the right temperature and superb humidity ranges in your house. 

1. Common Upkeep

Common HVAC upkeep is the one factor that may maintain your condensation line from getting clogged. It’s prompt to flush drain traces frequently with heat water or with a  combination of vinegar and water. As vinegar is mostly an excellent cleansing agent, utilizing it is going to additionally stop mildew development sooner or later.

2. Repair AC Drain Line Pipes

Your AC drain line could be clogged as a result of the drain pipes weren’t accurately put in. In case your AC drain pipes are sloped improperly, there are extra probabilities of clog formation. You should get your pipes checked by an HVAC skilled to re-install the traces. 

3. Altering Air Filters Commonly

Mud is among the main elements that may trigger a clogged condensate drain line. Utilizing air filters that work effectively can stop mud accumulation on evaporator coils. Therefore,  you shouldn’t solely be utilizing good high quality air filters, however you additionally want to vary them frequently. 

Let’s Sum it Up

A clogged AC drain line can pose extreme dangers to your HVAC system and the construction of your home as it could possibly injury partitions and flooring. It additionally causes mildew development and humidity points. Following some easy steps, utilizing available house tools, you’ll be able to eliminate this downside by yourself. In the event you nonetheless face condensate drain line clogging points, looking for assist from an HVAC professional is the precise selection.   

June 1, 2022