The ventilation system or room air conditioner contains the evaporator coil of the cooling system. As heat is removed from the air, condensation forms and flows into the drain pan below before exiting the HVAC system via the air conditioning drain line. If the condensate drain in the condensate pan or drain line is clogged, this problem can lead to poor air conditioner performance and even water damage to your home and system air conditioner.
A clogged condensate drain line is an air conditioning problem that doesn't always require professional HVAC service to resolve. If your drain line is clogged, follow these instructions to clear the clog and protect your appliance and your home.
Bannister Plumbing & Air explains why your home may have a clogged air conditioning drain line and what you should do if this happens. If you just can't clean your condensate line after these steps, contact us for air conditioning maintenance and repair service.
Clogged AC Drain Line? Here’s Why
A clogged condensate drain line is a common problem with air conditioning or air handlers, but many Jacksonville, Texas homeowners don't understand why clogs occur. As indoor air flows through the system and over the evaporator coil, airborne contaminants are carried into the unit and deposited on surfaces including the coils and drain pan. Residues found in the air conditioner can include pollen, pet hair, dust, dirt and other particulate contaminants.
During the cooling process, humidity condenses as temperatures drop, converting water vapor into condensate. Condensation forms on the evaporator coils and eventually drips off and is then collected in the condensate pan below. When water flows out of the coils, these pollutant particles accompany it.
The drain pan is connected to the air conditioner drain line so that the condensate can drain out of the air conditioner. Drainage is to a floor drain near indoor appliances or outside the home. This process can cause debris to get stuck in the pipe or tub, and if enough material builds up, blockages will occur. The humid environment and access to nutrients contained in pollutant particles can lead to the formation of mold and algae in the HVAC unit or drain pan. Additionally, these particles can build up and cause blockages in the drain pipe.
Signs of Condensate Drain Line Clogs
If there is a blockage in the exhaust duct of your air conditioning or HVAC system, there are signs that there is a blockage. If your drain line is clogged, you may notice the following:
- Wet floors and water damage around the air conditioning or HVAC system
- The drip tray is full of standing water
- There is a musty and moldy smell coming from the ventilation slits in the house
- Your house doesn't seem to be cool enough when the air conditioning is running
- Your air conditioner won't even turn on
Yes, blockages in the drain line can prevent your cooling system from turning on and cooling your home. Many HVAC models have float switches in the drain pan. These floats rise as the water level in the tank rises. At some point, the float trips and tells the HVAC system not to run the air conditioner, regardless of the temperature settings on the thermostat. If the air conditioner continues to run, more condensation would form and drip into the drain pan, eventually causing water to run down the sides of the pan and the surrounding areas to become completely wet.
How to Unclog Your Condensate Drain Line
Clogs occur in the drain pan under the evaporator coil or anywhere along the condensate drain pipe that leads from the unit to a floor drain near the HVAC system or outside the home. To clean the drain line yourself, follow these instructions and you may be able to avoid waiting for a technician and paying to unclog your drain line.
- Turn off the power to your HVAC system.
- Open the access door to the outside of your air handler or furnace so you can see the evaporator coil and drain pan underneath. If you have an indoor air handler, the coils are usually on the air inlet side. Furnaces typically have their coils positioned to the side for exhaust air.
- If there is standing water in the drip tray, it must be removed. You can soak up the water with towels or use a vacuum cleaner. Vacuum the water with a wet-dry vacuum until the pan is free of condensation.
- Clean the drip pan with vinegar or dishwashing liquid, removing mold, algae, dust, dirt, and other particles. This prevents future mold and algae growth as well as the addition of pan tablets.
- Use a fine wire brush and insert it into the hole in the drain pan to remove any debris that has accumulated there and to unclog any blockages in that area.
- Follow the drain pipe flowing out of the drain pan to find the drain opening, which is a T-shaped section of pipe leading from the main drain line. Remove the PVC cap and set it aside. Take the wire brush, insert it into the pipe and clean the pipe walls of any residue.
These methods can be used to unclog a clogged condensate drain at this access point:
- Run a plumber's snake through the drain and pipe to the outlet. Twist and remove to break up clogs and remove debris if possible.
- Attach the shop vacuum or wet/dry vacuum to this access point and seal with tape. Turn on the vacuum and give it a few minutes to clear any clogs.
- Run a garden hose through the house and insert it into the vent. Be sure to route the hose through the drain pipe toward its outlet, not toward the air handler or indoor HVAC unit. Turn on the hose so that water flows through the air conditioner drain line and to its exit point to clear any blockages if possible.
Place the drain opening outside or near a floor drain in the area. Take a brush and clean the pipe opening area to remove dirt and materials that are blocking the drain line in that area, such as a bird's nest or leaves.
The following methods can unclog the drain lines at this access point:
- Push the plumber’s snake up through the pipe opening. Turn the snake and remove it from the drain line to pull out any clog debris that has been caught.
- Attach a wet dry vacuum or shop vac hose to the end of the AC drain line, using tape to make a seal. Run the vacuum for a few minutes to suction clogs out of the line.
- Hold a garden hose to the opening of the pipe with your hand. Spray the hose up into the drain line in quick bursts to break up clogs and flush debris out of the AC condensate drain.
- Clean the condensate line by flushing it with vinegar. Pour a cup of distilled white vinegar into the pipe vent access point. Cleaning the condensate drain with vinegar will kill bacteria, algae and mold. Allow the vinegar to sit for several hours before pouring water into the access point to flush the drain line.
- Flush the drain line at the vent with water. Have someone stand at the exit point of the air conditioner drain line to check how well or poorly the drain line is draining. If the water drains cleanly from the condensate drain pipe, the blockage is likely resolved.
- Place the PVC cap back on the drain hole.
- Reattach the panel to the outside of your air handler or furnace.
- Turn on the HVAC system at the home's circuit breaker box.
If following these steps does not clear any drain line clogs, you will need the help of an HVAC professional to clear your air conditioner's clogged drain line.
Contact Bannister Plumbing & Air for an HVAC service that will clean your exhaust ducts and keep your air conditioning system running efficiently.
Maintain Your Air Conditioner with Bannister Plumbing & Air
Unclog stubborn air conditioning drain lines when your professional HVAC technician performs annual cooling system maintenance. This is just one of many tasks involved in air conditioning maintenance. If clogs occur during the cooling season, HVAC service will ensure proper repairs are made to drain condensate from your air conditioner, preventing water damage to your home. Call Bannister Plumbing & Air today to schedule air conditioning maintenance and cooling system repairs if needed.
