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Another AC drain question

Posted on 8/13/22 at 4:36 pm
Posted by REB BEER
Laffy Yet
Member since Dec 2010
17691 posts
Posted on 8/13/22 at 4:36 pm
I’ve got a pan that keeps filling up with water in the attic. The drain goes down the a bathroom drain below which is behind the sink wall. I don’t believe the pee trap is clogged as I put bleach down it a few times per year.

There is another opening right beside where the pvc exits the unit as seen in the pic. The water is dripping from this hole. Should it have some sort of plug in it or what?

There’s no threads or anything. Just a hole.

Posted by CrawDude
Baton Rouge
Member since Apr 2019
5692 posts
Posted on 8/13/22 at 6:31 pm to
Well still could still be a partially clogged/slow draining condensate drain. How well is that bathroom sink draining -OK, slow, backing up?

How old is the air handler? If fairly old, possibly a cracked or rusted primary drain pan whereat least some of the evaporator coil condensate is dripping down into the secondary drain pain?
Posted by REB BEER
Laffy Yet
Member since Dec 2010
17691 posts
Posted on 8/13/22 at 7:56 pm to
There’s actually a bunch of cool air blowing from the open hole as well. I put some more bleach in there earlier and will go check in a bit.
Posted by Tigerpaw123
Louisiana
Member since Mar 2007
17757 posts
Posted on 8/13/22 at 8:21 pm to
The other hole is just another drain from the primary pan, if water is coming from it , then either it always has and you just did not know as most are plugged, or condensate is not draining freely from the primary pan into the existing pvc

I am betting the pipe that comes out of unit is clogged before it gets to pea trap, , looks as the pvc joints are glued so I would cut pipe in middle and clean it out and repair with a coupling
This post was edited on 8/13/22 at 8:24 pm
Posted by ItzMe1972
Member since Dec 2013
12178 posts
Posted on 8/13/22 at 8:50 pm to
There is another opening right beside where the pvc exits the unit as seen in the pic. The water is dripping from this hole.
---

That hole should be plugged.
Posted by baldona
Florida
Member since Feb 2016
23383 posts
Posted on 8/13/22 at 8:57 pm to
quote:

That hole should be plugged.


This or otherwise not open with nothing in it. I’m not an hvac tech, but the second opening is to give some options during the install. I’ve seen just s 90* coupling with a float switch right there, caps, among multiple other things.

So yeah it’s weird it’s just open for sure. As said already I’d bet your main condensate line is clogged or partially or your handler pan is and that it is backing up out that hole. This never happened before so you never saw it.

Honestly you could just throw some Vent tape over it once the drain is cleared and move on, but I’d put a proper cap on it.
Posted by gerald65
Moss Bluff, LA
Member since Jul 2020
710 posts
Posted on 8/13/22 at 10:31 pm to
I suggest using a rubber tapered stopper to plug the hole. A hardware store or Lowe's should have them.

If cold air is coming out.... your are loosing a lot of cold air and $$$.

As posted.... there could be a little trash inside the A/C particularly blocking opening to this drain line. This should be checked to prevent future water drainage problems.

When I check my drain line, I have a coupling that I can take apart. I put a "catch" pan under the pipe to catch any water that might come out. I then take a deep breath and blow into the pipe until I blow out any water that is in the line. I then add about 1/2 cup of bleach and put the pipe back together.

Another thing to check is the slope of the drain line. It should gradually slope downward to where it connects to the sewer vent pipe. It the pipe sags and has a "low point" this area need to be raised a little.
This post was edited on 8/13/22 at 10:39 pm
Posted by REB BEER
Laffy Yet
Member since Dec 2010
17691 posts
Posted on 8/14/22 at 8:48 am to
Update***

I think my drain was plugged or partially plugged. I blew through it and added bleach. I put a cup under the hole. And it had <1/4” of water in it. I think that was just residual water that was still dripping when I put it there.

I taped the hole up good with duct tape and going to look for a plug to stick in there today. I also felt cold air coming out a few other seams where sheet metal was put together. Taped those up as well.
Posted by GBFINC
Member since Dec 2019
39 posts
Posted on 8/14/22 at 9:00 am to
There is an internal drain tray that water flows off coils too, unit needs to be opened and cleaned
Posted by MikeBRLA
Baton Rouge
Member since Jun 2005
17128 posts
Posted on 8/14/22 at 1:51 pm to
quote:

added bleach


Bleach will corrode your coils. Use vinegar in the future.
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