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AC drain overflow options
Posted on 2/18/25 at 10:01 am
Posted on 2/18/25 at 10:01 am
What’s the best option for dealing with AC overflow lines? Last summer the side of our house stayed muddy where the overflow drain came out since it ran so much.
Before we get back into the extreme heat I was going to tear out about 4” of sod/dirt and add sand/fabric/57 limestone. Was contemplating digging a pit about 2’ deep x 2’ diameter and filling it with stone and turning the drain pipe down to it. That way water is getting into the subsoil faster.
Anything I should do differently? Suggestions?
Before we get back into the extreme heat I was going to tear out about 4” of sod/dirt and add sand/fabric/57 limestone. Was contemplating digging a pit about 2’ deep x 2’ diameter and filling it with stone and turning the drain pipe down to it. That way water is getting into the subsoil faster.
Anything I should do differently? Suggestions?
5
Posted on 2/18/25 at 10:07 am to Geauxld Finger
Are you sure this is your overflow drain and not your primary condensate drain?
Your overflow should only be draining when the pan is full which is indicative of a potential issue.
Your overflow should only be draining when the pan is full which is indicative of a potential issue.
Posted on 2/18/25 at 10:13 am to Ziggy
quote:
Are you sure this is your overflow drain and not your primary condensate drain? Your overflow should only be draining when the pan is full which is indicative of a potential issue.
Correct, modern systems should have the main drains going to the plumbing and then the overflows going outside. The overflow should not have to be used.
My AC installers screwed up a couple units that caused a mess, but they came back and fixed it eventually. After using the wrong lines for a season, I got to learn all about vacuuming, blowing, and bleaching the main drains.
Posted on 2/18/25 at 10:14 am to Ziggy
So truth be told, there is no drip pan. It’s an old house we inherited from in laws and have been renovating over time. Most likely mother in law was deathly afraid the drip pan would leak so she had my late father in law bypass it and put a direct drain line out of the attic and out the exterior wall.
So as you can imagine, it’s just a sloppy mud puddle during summer by the pipe. I rigged it up to get water immediately away from the foundation but it’s just putting the water collection further into the yard.
We will probably be replacing the unit in a year or two but I’m not trying to incur that expense right now
So as you can imagine, it’s just a sloppy mud puddle during summer by the pipe. I rigged it up to get water immediately away from the foundation but it’s just putting the water collection further into the yard.
We will probably be replacing the unit in a year or two but I’m not trying to incur that expense right now
This post was edited on 2/18/25 at 10:16 am
Posted on 2/18/25 at 10:14 am to Geauxld Finger
Your ac evaporator drain should be plumbed to a drain vent line if ac unit is located in the attic. The secondary overflow pan should be the only drain to the outside.
Posted on 2/18/25 at 10:18 am to Trytoon
I can tell you that whoever set up this system initially was a friend of my late father in law so I’m quite sure things were not done 100% by the book.
It’s basically the only drain line for the unit. That’s why there’s so much volume coming off of it. It’s a slow trickle all the time
It’s basically the only drain line for the unit. That’s why there’s so much volume coming off of it. It’s a slow trickle all the time
Posted on 2/18/25 at 11:10 am to Geauxld Finger
Our A/C guy had me drill some holes in a bucket, fill it with stones, and bury it below the drain. It’s seemed to work well so far for our condensate line that drained all day during the summer
Posted on 2/18/25 at 1:02 pm to Geauxld Finger
Your plan to dig a drain pit is OK only if your soil drains. Try a test 1st. Dig a pit about 12" diameter and at least a foot deep. Fill it with water and wait. Twenty minutes is a good drain time. In my BTR yard the pit still has water in it 4 hours later... poor drainage.
Posted on 2/19/25 at 7:17 am to Geauxld Finger
My setup is similar both lines join near unit in attic and drain by my back door. I put a clear hose and ran it into a rain barrel on my back porch.
Posted on 2/19/25 at 8:20 am to Geauxld Finger
Pipe it to your neighbor’s yard.
Posted on 2/19/25 at 8:22 am to Koolazzkat
…..Or, plant a banana tree at the drainage site, it’ll drink up all that condensation and then some.
Posted on 2/19/25 at 9:58 am to Koolazzkat
No neighbor on that side. There’s a drainage ditch that connects to a culvert but I’m not saw cutting through my driveway for a 1” drain line
I’ll try the gravel pit with the bucket and top dress gravel the other areas for now.
I’ll try the gravel pit with the bucket and top dress gravel the other areas for now.
Posted on 2/19/25 at 10:16 am to Dallaswho
quote:
Correct, modern systems should have the main drains going to the plumbing and then the overflows going outside. The overflow should not have to be used.
My AC installers screwed up a couple units that caused a mess, but they came back and fixed it eventually. After using the wrong lines for a season, I got to learn all about vacuuming, blowing, and bleaching the main drains.
Maybe on new builds and I'm not sure when that started, but every older house from say 2010 or previously that I've been around has the HVAC line plumbed outside. Extremely extremely common.
As said, the best thing is to use one of those gutter drains into a bed of rocks to get the water deeper. I'm not sure how much change that really makes outside of just not making the top muddy.
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