Understanding how your A/C works is a important knowledge for all homeowners. One of your A/C system's main duties is to remove the moisture from the living space. Once the A/C's evaporator coil removes the humidity from the air, it drains the moisture through a primary drain line to either the exterior of the house or into a drain under a bathroom sink. In some rare cases, the primary drains into a sump pump in the return plenum. As long as the A/C is working, the primary drain line should be running water.
Mold is the primary culprit. Often, the primary drain line gets clogged with mold spores circulating in the air. Since the environment inside the primary drain is perfect for mold to grow and clog the line, it happens time and time again. The result is an overflow either to a secondary emergency system or onto the floor or ceiling causing expensive and catastrophic effects.
There is a way to prevent this damage. Educated homeowners know that by pouring about a cup of bleach into the beginning of the primary drain line they can prevent problems. The bleach will drain through this gravity feed tube and kill all the mold that is growing inside the line. Failure to do this does not necessarily guarantee a overflow but the chances are greatly increased if this maintenance task is not completed a couple of times a summer.
Some systems have a secondary emergency system others do not. Depending on they type of system you have (horizontal or vertical) you may have a secondary system that kicks in if the primary drain does overflow. A secondary system can be another drain that terminates to the exterior (over an eave or soffit) or there could be a overflow kill switch in place that turns off the compressor if an overflow occurs.
A vertical system has the coil above (see gas unit to left) or below (see electric unit to right) the furnace/air handler. There is usually no emergency system in place for this orientation so having a shutoff switch installed in the primary or secondary drain is a very great idea. With no emergency system in place, if the primary drain overflows, the water has no where to go but into the return plenum and across the slab. Carpet and wood can be destroyed in a matter of minutes. Hence the installation of an overflow kill switch in the primary (or secondary) drain is a great improvement.
Horizontal systems are usually located above ceilings and typically have an emergency overflow pan located under the coil. The secondary system usually starts from the coil as a short drain line that elbows down into the emergency overflow pan. It is usually located next to the primary drain but about a quarter inch higher. If the primary drain clogs, the water in the coil rises over the primary pan and flows out the secondary elbow in to the pan. The drain pan should allow water to drain to the exterior over a window, door or highly visible area for the homeowner to notice there is a problem. Overflow kill switches located in the pan are also allowed in most cases instead of a physical drain line but use of both the drain line and the switch are better.
As a important improvement, each coil should have an optional overflow kill switch installed in the primary or secondary drain line to prevent the catastrophic failure of the primary drain system. These are easily affordable as an improvement and will save you hundreds of dollars in flooring or ceiling repairs. They're easy to install but it is recommended that you have your HVAC contractor install them since the overflow kill switch has to be connected into your HVAC system's thermostat control wires to work properly. Cost for an improvement like this is around $100 for each A/C system and should be done in conjunction with an annual cleaning and service call.
If the secondary system does drip water under an eave area (or in plain sight-see left image) or the overflow kill switch is activated, you will need to contact your HVAC contractor right away to clear the primary drain line. The clog usually has to be blown out with compressed air. Don't wait for this to be a problem for you. Clear the line each summer in May and July by pouring about a cup of bleach at the beginning of the primary drain line. Understand and know your HVAC system so you can properly care for it and reduce your expenses in it's operation and repairs.
Regardless of they type of house you have, there are some necessary tasks you will have to do stay on top of things. Learn more and keep up with your house with a free My Healthy House.com profile. Stay tuned and make your house the best it can be.
Mold is the primary culprit. Often, the primary drain line gets clogged with mold spores circulating in the air. Since the environment inside the primary drain is perfect for mold to grow and clog the line, it happens time and time again. The result is an overflow either to a secondary emergency system or onto the floor or ceiling causing expensive and catastrophic effects.
There is a way to prevent this damage. Educated homeowners know that by pouring about a cup of bleach into the beginning of the primary drain line they can prevent problems. The bleach will drain through this gravity feed tube and kill all the mold that is growing inside the line. Failure to do this does not necessarily guarantee a overflow but the chances are greatly increased if this maintenance task is not completed a couple of times a summer.
Some systems have a secondary emergency system others do not. Depending on they type of system you have (horizontal or vertical) you may have a secondary system that kicks in if the primary drain does overflow. A secondary system can be another drain that terminates to the exterior (over an eave or soffit) or there could be a overflow kill switch in place that turns off the compressor if an overflow occurs.
A vertical system has the coil above (see gas unit to left) or below (see electric unit to right) the furnace/air handler. There is usually no emergency system in place for this orientation so having a shutoff switch installed in the primary or secondary drain is a very great idea. With no emergency system in place, if the primary drain overflows, the water has no where to go but into the return plenum and across the slab. Carpet and wood can be destroyed in a matter of minutes. Hence the installation of an overflow kill switch in the primary (or secondary) drain is a great improvement.
Horizontal systems are usually located above ceilings and typically have an emergency overflow pan located under the coil. The secondary system usually starts from the coil as a short drain line that elbows down into the emergency overflow pan. It is usually located next to the primary drain but about a quarter inch higher. If the primary drain clogs, the water in the coil rises over the primary pan and flows out the secondary elbow in to the pan. The drain pan should allow water to drain to the exterior over a window, door or highly visible area for the homeowner to notice there is a problem. Overflow kill switches located in the pan are also allowed in most cases instead of a physical drain line but use of both the drain line and the switch are better.
Regardless of they type of house you have, there are some necessary tasks you will have to do stay on top of things. Learn more and keep up with your house with a free My Healthy House.com profile. Stay tuned and make your house the best it can be.
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