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A condensate drain line is a line that runs through a home or building’s central air conditioning system and leads to the outside. Condensate lines are typically crafted with PVC pipe or metal, and they provide a funnel for the humidity and condensation created by air conditioner evaporator coils as the systems run.
Where is the condensate drain?
Your air conditioner has a condensate drain line that runs from the indoor unit to the outside of your home. You’ll find a white PVC or copper pipe located near your outdoor unit—this is where the drain line ends.
How does condensate drain work?
How a condensate drain pan works is by collecting this water as it drips from your air conditioner’s evaporator coils. The condensate pan is attached below the evaporator coils. It must be correctly fitted to catch moisture without leaks. Moisture flows to the condensate drain line and out of your home.
What is HVAC condensate drain?
In your HVAC system, there sits a large metal pan right under the indoor unit. This is what is known as your condensate drain. When you run your air conditioner, water collected from the air will drip out. The condensate drain allows the water to go into the drain pan and out into the drain line.
Where do I drain my HVAC condensate?
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.
What happens if condensate line is clogged?
A Clogged Line Will Freeze Your AC System A clogged condensate drain line will trap water in your air conditioner. As a result, the evaporator coil will eventually turn to ice. The moisture in the drain line can also freeze, which will cause your air conditioner to turn off.
Why are there two condensate drains?
The main air unit is equipped with two condensate drain outlets: a primary drain for conveying water outside and a secondary drain as a backup, in case the primary becomes blocked or congested.
Why does condensate drain need a trap?
In short, the fundamental purpose of one of these traps is to use a column of condensate in such a way as to prevent air movement into or out of the equipment casing, while still allowing the condensate to drain away. An improperly constructed or missing trap can cause the following problems.
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 AC condensate drain into sewer?
Should you be worried about an AC condensate drain into the sewer? A simple answer would be yes. An AC condensate line should never connect to sewage directly. This lets the sewage air enter your AC system.
Does furnace need condensate drain?
In order for the furnace to work properly, that condensation needs to be drained out or else it would accumulate inside the heat exchanger, inducer and venting, impeding proper gas/combustion product flow. The condensate trap is absolutely mandatory for a high-efficiency gas furnace.
How does AC drain?
Your air conditioner evaporator coil becomes covered in condensation as it removes both heat and humidity from your home air. The water this drain pan collects then flows into a vertical pipe called a drain line that runs from your indoor AC component to an outdoor drain.
How far should AC drain line be from house?
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.
What do you do with AC condensate?
A simple way to recycle this condensate in a home is to have the drain line run into a rainwater barrel or other storage container. Given that the system can produce up to 20 gallons of water a day, this can be a significant recycling of water.
Where should a condensate pipe be installed?
Where should a boiler condensate pipe go? The HHIC states that: ‘When fitting a new or replacement boiler, the condensate discharge pipe should be connected to an internal ‘gravity discharge point’, such as an internal soil stack, internal kitchen or bathroom waste pipe such as sink, basin, bath or shower waste.
Does a 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.
How do I know if my condensate drain is clogged?
Signs the AC Drain Line is Clogged Musty, moldy smell near your indoor unit or in air from the registers/vents. Standing water near the indoor unit. Water damage in areas near the indoor unit. AC system is not cooling your home. AC system shuts down or doesn’t turn on.
Can you snake a condensate line?
You can snake a clogged A/C drain line to remove blockages. Traditional plumbing snakes usually cannot navigate the 90* turns of PVC elbows, but a smart snake can. Be careful when snaking the drain that you do not push the clog farther down the line.
