- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
re: Clogged condensate drain - Plumber or AC Guy?
Posted on 10/27/24 at 11:20 am to LanierSpots
Posted on 10/27/24 at 11:20 am to LanierSpots
quote:
Connect the shop vac to pipe on the outside of the house
That's not the one that is clogged. Thats the one that is running because the main one is clogged.
2
Posted on 10/27/24 at 12:17 pm to deeprig9
quote:
I'm handicapped and unable to get in and out of the attic.
Sorry! I was joking and wasn't aware of that.
Seriously though, you don't need to get to the attic. The condensate line will run out just above ground level through the wall closest to your air handling unit in the attic. I have cleared mine a few times using the Shop Vac. It just gets crud built up in the P-trap and the suction will break it up and let it flow out. Try it before you pay somebody a bunch of $$$ if you can get to it easily.
Posted on 10/28/24 at 12:03 am to deeprig9
I vote plumber. It’s probably clogged near the bottom where it goes to your sink or whatever. I used a shop vac to pull water from the bottom when mine was clogged then treated with bleach periodically.
Working from the attic won’t help because there are multiple paths up there and blowing one out will just force air and fluid out the other free portion or worse, dirt into your coil.
Working from the attic won’t help because there are multiple paths up there and blowing one out will just force air and fluid out the other free portion or worse, dirt into your coil.
This post was edited on 10/28/24 at 12:05 am
Posted on 10/28/24 at 5:30 am to deeprig9
quote:
I'm handicapped and unable to get in and out of the attic.
I’m in the same situation now that I broke my back.
If you are rural, call the AC/Heat guy. If city call the AC guy but before scheduling verify that he will fix the pipe if necessary and not require a plumber too.
Luckily for me the installer retired but lives in the 2nd house on the left from the subdivision entrance and his ex wife lives across the street (their 2 kids live in the hood too).
Last house I lived had a ground floor closet unit that one of the first pipe joints the glue cracked and could be slipped apart to access pouring a little bleach/vinegar in, then plugged back together.
Posted on 10/28/24 at 6:42 am to Dallaswho
quote:
Working from the attic won’t help because there are multiple paths up there and blowing one out will just force air and fluid out the other free portion or worse, dirt into your coil.
The last time my line clogged I really wanted to put a PVC ball valve in-line with the condensate drain. With the valve I can build up air pressure much easier and keep it out of the coil side. The HVAC tech had a PVC union and that was a good compromise. I also put a cap on the upper portion of the tee and I think that might be able to keep a slight positive pressure on the drain like to keep it from getting clogged as often. Either way, put in some vinegar and going strong.
Posted on 10/28/24 at 8:15 am to deeprig9
quote:
That's not the one that is clogged. Thats the one that is running because the main one is clogged.
some are not good at reading comprehension...
Posted on 10/28/24 at 8:33 am to deeprig9
Had this happen to me last year. Used my air compressor to blow out the line and it has been fine ever since.
Posted on 10/28/24 at 8:50 am to deeprig9
quote:
My system is new. No system checkup needed. Just need drain pipe cleared.
If your system is new, how is stuff clogging already? My Ac guy covers everything for first two years after a new system install, so that would be my call in your shoes.
Posted on 10/28/24 at 9:44 am to LNCHBOX
quote:
If your system is new, how is stuff clogging already?
Bc his new AC system drains into his old sewer system. The old sewer system is likely where the clog is.
Posted on 10/28/24 at 12:15 pm to deeprig9
Pour some bleach in the drain line. Not much
Posted on 10/28/24 at 3:53 pm to Love me some Les
quote:this is what you need to do. I do it every year at the start of the summer or if it gets clogged
Pour some bleach in the drain line. Not much
This post was edited on 10/28/24 at 3:54 pm
Posted on 10/29/24 at 8:59 pm to LSUBalla
you can try bleach or vinegar first, if its really bad, call the AC guy, he will blow the buildup out to clean the line.
Then monthly pour bleach or vinegar in it , about a shot glass or 2 each month.
Im not an AC guy, but i did pay 200 for this information.
Then monthly pour bleach or vinegar in it , about a shot glass or 2 each month.
Im not an AC guy, but i did pay 200 for this information.
Posted on 10/30/24 at 7:41 am to FMtTXtiger
Posted on 10/30/24 at 9:01 pm to deeprig9
Do you have a shutoff valve? I have a small hose gun I attach to the shut off valve and blast a small co2 canister into it to push all the junk out. Costs about $40 including a handful of canisters. I do it every month in the summer and usually once or twice over the fall/winter months or just before summer starts and AC runs a lot longer.
Amazon link
Amazon link
Posted on 11/1/24 at 7:28 am to Rendevoustavern
FWIW, you should be adding an acid or bleach routinely in addition to blowing the lines out. Blowing the lines just creates a hole, but it does not always completely clear an algae build up. Usually the algae is in a p trap or another location that holds water, so the standing water just gets algae over time. Blowing it out can sometimes just make a small hole through the algae, but you want to kill it all so it doesn’t come back.
Posted on 11/2/24 at 7:18 am to LanierSpots
quote:quote:
It's not something you back-pressure with a garden hose. Pipes must be disassembled.
Not true. The only thing that is typically needed is a shop vac on the outside.
Before what you quoted, he told you it was piped into the home's drain system. Where outside is he supposed to hook that up? Mine is piped into a vent line, the only place outside that I could tie in to is the vent on the roof which would do very little good since the drain T's into it and I am sure someone with a handicap that prevents them from going in the attic would also have issues going on the roof.
Posted on 11/2/24 at 7:26 am to deeprig9
Based on everything else I have read and considering your condition, I would say you should contact your AC guy and talk to him about not only clearing this clog out but also setting up clearing out the line or doing preventive maintenance regarding that for you. If a plumber is required, your AC will tell you that but in most cases, he should be able to do it for you.
Page 2 of 2
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News