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Using Bleach in Your AC Drain Simply open up the drain line clean out or T on your inside unit and pour a 50/50 warm water and bleach mixture OR warm water and vinegar solution through the line. Be sure to use a minimum of 2 cups once or twice per year.
How do you clean AC drain with bleach?
Just pour a cup of bleach in the drain line’s access opening near the indoor air conditioning unit. This will kill any algae, mold or mildew that has formed in the pipe. If the condensate drain line is clogged, you will need to use a wet-dry vacuum or a special pump to unclog the line.
Should I use bleach or vinegar to clean AC drain line?
We recommend using vinegar instead of a bleach solution because bleach can be harmful to your AC system if your drain line has copper tubing. Using vinegar will not damage your system. Spilling bleach can also ruin carpet or clothing, whereas vinegar will just leave a strong odor.
How much bleach do you put in AC drain line?
Mix 1/4 cup bleach with 1 cup hot water and pour it into the pipe that leads into the condensate drain pan. PVC pipe and pans are not affected by the corrosive nature of chlorine bleach, but be careful to not splash the bleach onto the evaporator coils or other metal parts of the air conditioner.
What can I use to clean my AC drain line?
Add ¼ cup of distilled vinegar to the drain line through the opening where the cap was removed. It’s recommended you use regular distilled white vinegar, as the increased acidity boosts its cleaning properties. If you find the smell of vinegar foul, you can also use peroxide or hot water and a dash of dish soap.
Will bleach clear a clogged AC drain?
For many years the recommendation for cleaning the drain line has been to use bleach or white vinegar with hot water as a cleaning solution. These two chemicals work well in clearing the pipe. The ratio is 50/50. Repeating this several times should remove a small blockage.
Is it safe to put bleach in air conditioner?
Mold, mildew and algae will grow in your air conditioner condensation drain year-round. Using bleach during the summer months is safe as long as the unit is operating because the constant flow of condensation will wash out any bleach residue.
Does vinegar damage drain pipes?
The answer is that vinegar will not harm your pipes if used in small doses as recommended in many of the recipes that you find online. No matter what your pipes are made of, pex, pvc, copper, etc. Vinegar will not harm your water pipes.
How do you pour vinegar in an AC drain line?
Flush the drain line with distilled white vinegar. Slowly pour one cup of distilled white vinegar into the drain line’s opening and let the solution sit for 30 minutes. Alternatives to vinegar include hot water, peroxide, or bleach.
How much and when should you use vinegar for the air conditioner?
– Remove the cap and pour in distilled vinegar. There is no exact amount you need to add, but around ¼ a cup should be fine. – Repeat every month for a clean and bacteria free drain line!.
Does bleach damage PVC pipes?
You can put small amounts of bleach down PVC pipes, but it probably won’t break up clogs very well. Larger amounts can be dangerous. The bleach can also combine with substances trapped in the pipes and cause a reaction.
Can you put bleach in condensate pump?
Put a funnel in the “T” and pour a quart or two of bleach into the drain. Go slowly as to allow the bleach to kill the mold and mildew . This should be done once a year at least. If you have a condensate pump, the bleach will fill up the water reservoir and turn on the pump cleaning out the vinyl exit tubing.
Can I use vinegar to clean AC coils?
Yes, vinegar mixed with water is often used to clean AC coils at home. However, vinegar is usually effective only against lighter dirt build-ups. Nevertheless, you can keep your coils in good shape by mixing white vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spraying the mixture onto the coils.
How do I unclog my AC condensate drain line?
How to Unclog Your AC Condensate Drain Line Turn off your air conditioner. Remove the cap from the pipe. Check to see if there is any debris stuck in the drain. Remove any visible debris and retest for proper drainage. Pour in Vinegar. Replace the drain cap. Remove the drain cap.
Can I clean my AC coils with bleach?
About 1/2 to 1 cup of bleach to a gallon of water works very well. Never use acid based chemicals to clean your coils! Dust and dirt build-up on the inside of the coils. After spraying and carefully brushing the coils, I sprayed everything with a bleach/water mixture.
How often should you pour bleach in your AC?
Using Bleach in Your AC Drain Be sure to use a minimum of 2 cups once or twice per year. Be advised, however, some newer units no longer recommend bleach or vinegar due to oxidation/degradation concerns.
Is it safe to pour white vinegar down the drain?
Vinegar is made up of water and acetic acid, which is (you guessed it) an acid. Baking soda, vinegar and boiling water can help clean drains naturally, but you may need something stronger, like Liquid-Plumr, to fully unclog those really tough drain clogs.
Can vinegar clear a slow drain?
Fortunately, if caught early you can clear a clogged drain using common household items. Vinegar, baking soda, borax, and lots of hot water are simple, yet effective tools in clearing slow-draining sinks.
Is baking soda and vinegar safe for drains?
It turns out my high school chemistry teacher was right… the fizzy combination of baking soda & vinegar is INEFFECTIVE when fighting grease clogged drains. Baking soda is a base while vinegar is an acid, their chemical reaction produces water with a tiny amount of salt in it, not a fat destroying drain cleaner.
