Many people have an air conditioning system to keep their homes comfortable when the weather is too hot outside. A home is not cooled, but the heat is actually removed as the refrigerant is circulated throughout your home. But, this introduces another key problem, moisture can accumulate in the home during this process, and in the cooling industry, this is referred to as “condensate.” Manufacturers have developed systems that remove condensate from the home as a secondary feature or as an added dedicated sub-system. These systems are extremely effective, and the collected condensate is directed into a dedicated drain. Let’s take a closer look at the condensate drain, how it affects your home and how to ensure it’s working correctly.
How Does a Condensate Drain Line Work?
The condensate collected by your HVAC system must be controlled to avoid water leaks and the associated damp related problems. Most modern systems can a dedicated condensate drain line, which includes a drain pan and pipes that move the moisture into the drain. The drain pan is where the collected moisture is gathered, and it is typically located in a space under the evaporator coils. Pipes connect the drain pan through an outer wall of your home to move the condensate to an outside drain. If you take a look under the evaporator coils of your system, you should see a white PVC or clear plastic pipe leading to the outer wall. Outside the home, this pipe will run down a single side of the building, and you may see it steadily dripping water into a drain. This is your aircon condensate line, and if it isn’t dripping when the system is operating, there could be a clog or blockage preventing efficient draining.
How Does a Condensate Drain Line Become Clogged?
Every air conditioning system acts as a basic dehumidifier to remove the moisture that can affect your home. Some systems may even have a dedicated dehumidifier sub-system if your home is especially prone to humidity issues. As the treated air is circulated throughout your home, it gathers up any material present in the air. A great deal of this material will ultimately end up in the air filter it that component is working properly. But, some of these airborne contaminants will be gathered in the moisture, and their ultimate destination is the condensate drain pan. These materials can include dirt, dust, oil, and others that eventually create a dirty pool of water in the pan. Given enough time, mold growth can occur, leading to the formation of material that can enter the drain line and block it. The best way to avoid this problem is to contact a local HVAC specialist and ask about regular maintenance for your system. This will include a thorough inspection and cleaning of your condensate drain system.
What Happens if the Condensate Drain Fails?
If your condensate drain becomes clogged or it stops working altogether, this is a huge problem that needs to be corrected quickly. When the drain pan that connects to the drain becomes full, and the condensate cannot drain, it will drip into the surrounding areas. This may sound like a trivial problem, but if you don’t inspect your air conditioner regularly, this water can buildup over time. Water can cause a great deal of damage in a very short period of time, and water damage is expensive to fix. Whenever there is any type of water leak in a home, it is often accompanied by mold and mildew issues. These fungi are hard to clean, and when they are circulated throughout the home, they can trigger allergies and cause breathing issues. So, it is extremely important to regularly check the condensate drain and ensure that it is working as intended by the manufacturer. Experts recommend that an HVAC system is inspected at least once per year, and the condensate drain is included in this health checkup.
Can a Malfunctioning Drain Affect Other Components?
The short answer is yes. When the condensate drain isn’t working properly, other components, including the separators and filters, cannot perform their jobs effectively. This will inevitably lead to failures that can lead to an expensive repair bill. Another problem is that a component failure can lead to both a lack of efficiency and a lower than expected lifespan of the main system. Although the most pressing issue is the condensate drain pan overflowing and causing water damage, there are wider ramifications to consider.
What Should You Do if You Notice a Leak?
If you have noticed evidence of water damage in your home, it’s important to locate the source quickly. A failure in a condensate line or an associated drain can cause a number of issues that will not improve without some kind of intervention. The most obvious first course of action should be to clean up and spilled water that you find. Then take a look at the condensate drain pan to see if it is overflowing with dirty looking water. If the drain pan is full, then you have a blockage located somewhere in your drain line. Remove the dirty water with a shop vac or an old towel to get a closer look inside. If you’re lucky, you may see the clog at the entrance to the condensate drain line, and you may be able to remove the obstruction with a pair of tweezers or needle nose pliers. If the clog is further in the drain, you can attempt to flush the line, but this can cause further problems. The best approach is to contact your local HVAC specialist and ask them about a routine annual health check for your system. This will include a check and cleaning for your condensate drain pan and drain line.
The old adage “prevention is better than the cure” can be applied to many aspects of life, and it is very relevant to HVAC systems in general. An HVAC system represents a significant investment, and it makes good sense to protect that investment. Regular servicing and maintenance can boost performance, improve energy efficiency, and extend the useful lifespan of heating and cooling equipment.