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Locate the condensate drain access point outside your home or near the indoor air handler enclosure. You should see a small vertical vent extension as part of the piping. The vent is located above the point where the line exits your air handler. Open the plug on top to access the drain lines.
Where does AC condensate drain to?
If it gets clogged, then the condensation water backs up into the air conditioning unit and goes into the secondary emergency drain pan or drain line. This is usually plumbed to the exterior of the home and terminates in the soffit above a window or in another conspicuous spot.
Should AC drain line have trap?
Your a/c system needs to have two drain lines. As you can see on the main drain line, there is a P-trap and the vent pipe is after the P-trap allowing for proper air and water flow. The secondary drain line needs to be pointing downward toward the drain pan, but other than that, it is properly installed.
How far from house should AC drain line?
The condensate drain line is a white circular drain pipe not less than 3/4 of an inch in diameter. The problem that I see often as a Licensed Home Inspector is that most a/c condensate drain lines are routed outside, which is ideal, but stop or terminate 2 to 3 inches from the homes foundation.
Why use P-trap for condensate drain?
WHAT ARE P-TRAPS? – Condensate drains typically have traps, which are designed to keep air from moving in or out of the air handler without preventing condensate drainage. The absence of a properly working p-trap could push unfiltered air into your home and cause an overflow of the condensate drain.
Should my exterior AC drain pipe be dripping water?
Under normal conditions, the exterior AC condensate drain pipe should only drip water or produce condensation while the air conditioner is turned on. The small puddle of water this process creates should dry up quickly in warm weather.
Does condensate drain need a vent?
In an AC drain, the condensate pan is the vent. No additional vent pipe is required. The line should continually slope down to the outside. The steeper the better.
Should condensate trap be full of water?
The boiler should never be operated without the condensate trap in place, as it prevents noxious combustion gases from travelling down the condensate pipe. Should the trap have to be removed from the boiler, it must be topped up with water when it’s replaced.
Can you use PEX for condensate drain lines?
You could use PEX tubing or Vinyl, but you need to make sure that it does not get kinked in any way and that it has a large enough ID to accomadate the flow of water or you will be asking for trouble. Also make sure that you are allowed to tie into the main drain line.
How much should AC drain line drip?
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.
How much water should come out AC condensate line?
Final Thoughts. Your air conditioner should naturally drain water that was once humidity out of your home. On average, you can expect 5 to 20 gallons of condensate per day. If water is not draining, your climate may be too dry or your system is not functioning properly.
Can you run a condensate pipe outside?
Any external condensate drainage pipe shall be increased to a minimum of 30 mm ID to reduce the risk of freezing. When a boiler is to be installed in an unheated location, e.g. a loft, basement or garage, all condensate drainage pipes downstream from the trap or siphon should be considered as external.
What are the two pipes on the side of my house?
The two most common drain pipes that most people have on the side of their house are: Air conditioner condensate lines (AC drain line). Water heater pressure relief valve lines (PRV drain line).
Can you run a condensate pipe into a vent pipe?
Definition of condensate Condensate disposal by connection to a plumbing stack vent pipe, is not recommended and is prohibited by building code in some jurisdictions. Watch out: building codes and code enforcement practices vary among communities and even individual code compliance inspectors.
How does an AC drain work?
The coil removes humidity from the air and converts it into water. The water drains into the condensate drain pan, enters the drain line, travels down the drain pipe and is deposited outside near the AC’s outdoor unit. It’s a simple process unless something goes wrong.
What happens if condensate pipe freezes?
If part of your condensate pipework is outside and does freeze during a prolonged period of very cold weather, you might hear a gurgling noise coming from the boiler and if your boiler has a digital display, you may see an ‘EA’ error code too. There’s no need to worry if your condensate pipe freezes.
What type of piping do we use for condensate drains?
PVC piping systems are recognized as acceptable for use in condensate drain systems in all major model plumbing codes.
Can you run steam through PEX tubing?
No. PEX is plastic and is not rated for steam, which reaches temperatures of 212ºF.
Can you use PEX for steam heat?
Yes, PEX pipe is approved for radiant or hydronic heating applications. Since ferrous components are likely to be present in the system, it is important to use oxygen barrier PEX pipe to help prevent ferrous components from rusting.
