What is the condensate drain tray?

The condensate drain pan catches all that humidity and excess water that is removed from your air. It also makes sure the water is safely disposed of outside the home. As your HVAC system cools the air, the evaporator coil fills with refrigerant and makes that refrigerant very cold.

Where is air conditioner drain pan located?

The overflow drain pan, located underneath your indoor evaporator coils, catches condensate that forms when warm air passes over cold evaporator coils.

How do you drain the condensation pan on an air conditioner?

Directions

1. Turn off the power to your HVAC system.
2. Locate the condensate pan.
3. Use a wet/dry vacuum to clear the clog.
4. Clean the drain pan.
5. Locate the drain line.
6. Flush the drain with cleaning solution.

Why is my AC drain pan full of water?

When an air conditioner’s drain pan is full of water, the most common culprit is a clogged drainpipe. Inside the refrigerant coils and pipes is a breeding ground for algae, mold, and the like. Overtime, algae and mold can clog the drainpipe and cause water to build up and leak into the drain pan.

Should air be coming out of my condensate drain line?

Bottom line: Yes, the air coming out of the pipe is not only normal, but necessary. Doug M. The hole in the condensate line is AFTER the p-trap.

Why does condensate drain need a trap?

For the most part evaporator condensate traps are required by the manufacturer help to meet the energy efficiency standards as without it air will blow through that hole. If there is a trap tell them tho clean it all the time because it’ll clog and when it does they might call you.

How do you tell if your AC drain is clogged?

A clogged AC drain line symptoms include:

1. Musty, moldy smell near your indoor unit or in air from the registers/vents.
2. Standing water near the indoor unit.
3. Water damage in areas near the indoor unit.
4. AC system is not cooling your home.
5. AC system shuts down or doesn’t turn on.

Should there be water in AC drain pan?

However, when it comes to your air conditioner’s drip pan, also known as the drain pan, the presence of water is perfectly normal… but only if it’s flowing out of the pan. When not taken care of promptly, a clogged drainpipe can cause serious mechanical problems for your air conditioner.

Should there be water in your AC drain pan?

As a homeowner, you know finding water somewhere it’s not supposed to be is usually a bad sign. However, when it comes to your air conditioner’s drip pan, also known as the drain pan, the presence of water is perfectly normal… but only if it’s flowing out of the pan.

How do you clear a clogged AC drain line?

DIRECTIONS:

1. Turn off the power to your HVAC unit.
2. Find your AC drain line.
3. Push the stiff, thin brush into the end of the drain line.
4. Attach the end of your wet/dry vacuum to the end of the AC drain line.
5. After you’ve run the vacuum for about a minute, remove the wet/dry vac and head indoors.
6. Locate the vent tee.

How do you unclog an AC condensate drain line connected to a bathroom sink?

There are two common ways to do this. The first is to use household bleach. You can pour it down the air conditioner lines to help break up any mold and mildew and send it on its way through the bathroom drains without an issue. You may also be able to use algae tabs to combat mold and mildew.

Why does an air conditioner have a drain pan?

Your air conditioning system contains a drainpipe, which removes excess water from the evaporator coils . Before reaching the drainpipe, this water drips into a drain pan. It then flows through the drainpipe, out of your home. So, essentially, your drip pan serves as a reservoir that carries water from the evaporator coil to the drainpipe.

How much water should drain from a central air conditioner?

In an arid climate where relative humidity remains well below 50 percent most of the time, the evaporator coil in a residential central air conditioner will send about about 5 gallons of water down the drain per day. In humid climates, however, the drain pipe may convey as much as 20 gallons per day.

Where is the air conditioner drain line?

Locate the drain line on the exterior of the home. This line is normally placed near or behind the outside air-conditioning unit; it is typically a black or white PVC ( polyvinyl chloride ) pipe extending from the wall.

Should a home air conditioner be draining water?

You should never be experiencing any water inside your home. How often should it be drained? Well, the only time you’ll really only need to drain your AC is if the water is collected when using it as a dehumidifier. If this is the case, you should try to clean and drain every 30 days at the very minimum.