Condensate Drain Vent

[Etrabby]

Hey'all

Condensate drain line does not appear to be working right. It doesn't seem plugged. I checked pitch of drain/unit and it's OK. Someone had plugged the vent on the drain at the unit. Since unit is pulling a negative I "unplugged" the vent. Condensate is still building up and overflowing in the pan. What's up with that?

[plumber]

Can you see where the end of the condensate drains out?

How long is the condensate line?

If possible take a small hose and push down past the tee where the drain comes out of the unit. Try to run some water through the condensate line watching to be sure you don't run any back up into the pan under your evaporator.

To really be sure it is good and clean you can do this: If there is room to cut the line free from your unit and still reconnect it with a coupling then go ahead and cut the line. Then take a garden hose and hold tightly to the end of the pipe. Run water through the pipe until you have a solid stream at the other end. Check the floor drain or what ever your condensate drains into to be sure it is not plugged also so you don't end up with a bigger mess than you started with.

You can jury rig a fitting on the end to allow for a solid connection where you put the hose but it should only take a few monments to blow the snot (the general consistancy of a condensate blockage usually looks like nasal mucus) out of the pipe.

Let us know how it went.

[Etrabby]

Thanks for the suggestion. The real head scratcher I had was whether there should be a vent there or not. I will definitely give the old drain clear out a try.

TYPICALLY THE DISCHARGE END DRAINS TO A SINK TAILPIECE. A SHOP VAC CONNECTED TO THIS LINE WILL USUALLY HELP MOVE IT ALONG. ALSO A BLAST OF COMPRESSED AIR WILL BLAST IT FREE. JUST WATCH OUT FOR THE MUCK. IT WILL END UP WHERE YOU DON'T WANT TO CLEAN. A VAC IS MUCH CLEANER.
ALL THE MUCK THAT IS STCUCK IN THE PIPE CAN BE WASHED AWAY IF YOU CAN ESTABLISH FLOW. ALSO A SMALL FISH TAPE OR 1/4'' CABLE CAN ALSO BE RUN FROM EITHER END. YOU PROBABLY WON'T GET PAST A 90 TURN. SO TRY FROM BOTH ENDS. YEARS OF BUILT UP MUCK MIGHT TAKE SOME EXTRA EFFORT.

DEPENDING ON THE HUMIDITY AND THE SIZE OF THE UNIT, YOU CAN HAVE 5-15 GALLONS OF CONDENSATE FORM A RESIDENTIAL UNIT, PER DAY. LOTS MORE ON A COMMERCIAL SIZE UNIT.
JUST THINK A LITTLE SWEAT WILL PAY OFF WITH A COOLER, DRIP FREE UNIT.

GOOD LUCK RICK.

[paulgrandy]

My PVC Drain lines always get plugged with dust. So the pan overflow was always dripping on the floor. I just put a piece of 1/2 inch clear on the end of it and routed it down the drain. Usually once a year I'll go inside and blow all the junk out of the PVC.

[PLUMBER JAY]

Also you must make sure you fill the trap on the condesate line before you start up the unit or else it will not be able to start draining. (just sucking air into the unit) The vent (after the trap) should be left opened to eliminate the slight chance that the trap would be siphoned. (very unlikly but i guess possible) try draining when the unit is off to make sure the unit is not sucking the trap back into it. I guess this is not a problem since it has been working at one time. so as the others said a good clean is probably all it needs

[PLUMBER JAY]

Also you must make sure you fill the trap on the condesate line before you start up the unit or else it will not be able to start draining. (just sucking air into the unit) The vent (after the trap) should be left opened to eliminate the slight chance that the trap would be siphoned. (very unlikly but i guess possible) try draining when the unit is off to make sure the unit is not sucking the trap back into it. I guess this is not a problem since it has been working at one time. so as the others said a good clean is probably all it needs

[TOD]

Mine used to overflow the pan, took me awhile to figure it out. The line looked level, but after putting a level on it it was running up hill. We all know water does not run up hill.

[tomgeer]

you shouldn't have a vent on your drain unless it is after your trap. You do have a trap don't you?