What’s the White (or Gray) Slimy Gunk Coming from My A/C Drainline?

Micro organism (white slime):

Micro organism (it was beforehand commly regarded as algae, however is now identified to be micro organism) seeks a heat/moist setting to develop with an excellent meals provide, which could be present in outsized, brief biking AC tools in addition to soiled air filters supplying their meals. A symptom of micro organism run amuck is your a/c system not cooling. Micro organism grows and it travels up your condensate drain line into your air handler unit. This micro organism clings to the aspect of the drain pipe and begins to develop in lengthy, slimy tendrils. Water continues to journey down the piping to the outside, frequently pushing on the micro organism. after the micro organism has grown for some time, the transferring water can break off a bit of micro organism (and even the vanguard of a protracted tendril) and that transferring micro organism colony chunk can lodge in a narrowed part of drainline the place different micro organism is rising. At this level the AC system shuts down or floods water from the indoor tools.

Service Process:

When our technicians go to your private home for a unit not cooling in the summertime months, the very first thing they examine is the condensate removing system. Float switches in drain overflow strains or on emergency drain pans, are designed to close down an air conditioner and forestall water harm. After discovering water at a float change, our technician will clear or vacuum the water on the indoor ac unit or pan. Subsequent, the tech will vacuum the drain line from the surface of the house. An non-compulsory remedy for very caught drains is a chemical cleansing. The technician fastidiously placing a drain clearing chemical into the drainline and following up with clear water to finish the flush. This restore can final many months, however won’t ever be everlasting. At Superior Cooling now we have had a lot success with changing downside drain strains with bigger piping to provide the micro organism a tough time plugging the bigger space.

Preventive Upkeep:

A helpful home-owner can carry out a month-to-month filter change and moist vacuuming in the course of the summer time. The thought behind this process is stopping the drain line from plugging up within the first place so the air conditioner by no means shuts off and a service name will not be wanted. The filter change will forestall grime (meals) from attending to the micro organism to feed it. After you discover the condensate drain pipe exit which is a white pipe usually close to the outside air conditioner part. Vacuum the put with a moist vacuum for five minutes or so ensuring to kind a decent seal from the vacuum hose to the drain pipe. If you find yourself finishing the process make certain it appears like nothing extra is popping out (the vacuum hose tends to shudder when it’s eradicating gunk). Professional Tip: should you change your filter month-to-month, vacuum the drain line on the identical day.