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re: AC drip pan help

Posted on 5/16/25 at 7:19 am to
Posted by LemmyLives
Texas
Member since Mar 2019
12781 posts
Posted on 5/16/25 at 7:19 am to
quote:

Put 1 tablet in your pan everytime you change your filter (during the summertime).


OP will read this and think he needs to change the filter and put the enzyme in once a year. That isn't even valid advice if you live in Michigan.
Posted by FredBear
Georgia
Member since Aug 2017
16733 posts
Posted on 5/16/25 at 7:27 am to
quote:

Just put a shop vac hose on the pipe outlet. This is one of the easiest ways to save money you will ever encounter.



This is what I do
Posted by Adajax
Member since Nov 2015
8037 posts
Posted on 5/16/25 at 7:33 am to
quote:

is there anyone I can call tonight who wouldn’t crush me in fees to unclog it tonight?


It would be cheaper to get a hotel.
Posted by Slevin7
Member since Sep 2015
2695 posts
Posted on 5/16/25 at 7:33 am to
If you have one, it’s bad

You need a float switch.
Posted by J Murdah
Member since Jun 2008
40105 posts
Posted on 5/16/25 at 7:46 am to
You can buy a hand pump from a hardware store for 20 bucks. They work really well when you have the drip pan in an inconvenient place and don’t want to carry a shop vac full of water through the attic. I emptied my drip pan the other day this way in about 6 pumps and 3 minutes. It was very similar to sex with my wife.
This post was edited on 5/16/25 at 7:47 am
Posted by Polar Pop
Member since Feb 2012
10905 posts
Posted on 5/16/25 at 7:49 am to
Aside from cleaning the line out so your pan can drain, do you know where the source of the water is coming from?

I was in my attic a few weeks ago and noticed water in my pan. The plastic drain valve had a drip about every 10 seconds. Over 24 hours, those drips would fill the pan enough to start trickling out to exterior. $9 and 5 minutes to change out the drain valve.
Posted by cheobode
Member since Dec 2017
1485 posts
Posted on 5/16/25 at 9:23 am to
Apparently, I didn't have a float switch on mine and it was dripping over and made a spot on my ceiling. Never shut off though. Have a buddy who does A/C work come out, drain it, blew the line and installed a float switch. I think he charged me $80
Posted by Hampton
Member since Oct 2020
2440 posts
Posted on 5/16/25 at 10:19 am to
If you use vinegar and it works, great. I and many others use bleach and it works great. So suck it
This post was edited on 5/16/25 at 10:25 am
Posted by Bullfrog
Running Through the Wet Grass
Member since Jul 2010
60240 posts
Posted on 5/16/25 at 10:28 am to
Normally, AC condensation runs to your internal household plumbing.

If that stops up, it then runs outside to drip.

If that stops up, it flows out of the unit in the attic and collects in the metal drip pan.

If that fills up, a float switch shuts off the unit and you avoid water coming through the ceiling.

If you don’t have a float switch, have one installed.

If you don’t have an easy way to add vinegar, bleach or Liquid Plumber-not recommended but works, or to apply compressed air through, have one installed.

If you don’t have a spare capacitor for your compressor, go out there, get the numbers off of it and order you a spare off Amazon.

If you don’t have a shop vac to use with your hand on the outside condensation drip, go get one.

Then you should be able to prevent or handle most AC problems.
This post was edited on 5/16/25 at 10:32 am
Posted by gumbo2176
Member since May 2018
19171 posts
Posted on 5/16/25 at 10:37 am to
You say you used your shopvac to remove the water. Why not try to use the suction of the shopvac to help clear the drain line. The only thing in there is usually a buildup of algae from not flushing it regularly with bleach. A good suction on the shopvac just may unclog it.

I'd never get an A/C guy out for something as simple as that and pay $$$$ for him to do something that is not that hard to remedy.
Posted by BPTiger
Atlanta
Member since Oct 2011
6011 posts
Posted on 5/16/25 at 10:39 am to
I’ve also used a shop at the bottom of the pipe to suck all the gunk out.
Posted by triggeredmillennial
Member since Aug 2023
205 posts
Posted on 5/16/25 at 10:40 am to
(no message)
This post was edited on 5/28/25 at 2:35 am
Posted by Hangit
The Green Swamp
Member since Aug 2014
45095 posts
Posted on 5/16/25 at 10:44 am to
quote:

Just put a shop vac hose on the pipe outlet. This is one of the easiest ways to save money you will ever encounter.



This is what I do


#metoo

I did discover that I was too lazy to run an extension cord out there so I bought a battery-operated small shop vac.

Posted by CuyahogaTigerJr
Northeast ohio
Member since Aug 2018
2362 posts
Posted on 5/16/25 at 11:38 am to
Same thing happened to me last year I thought the drip pan or line coming out of it was clogged , hvac company I called said I needed a whole new unit… I went back up there to look at it again, put my hand on the drip pan near the tube coming out and the water started rushing out, so long story short the drip pan was not level anymore and was holding water, I used some shims to level it , no problem now.


TLDR… see if the drip pan is level
Posted by Hampton
Member since Oct 2020
2440 posts
Posted on 5/16/25 at 11:44 am to
STFU
Posted by jpainter6174
Boss city
Member since Feb 2014
6227 posts
Posted on 5/16/25 at 11:44 am to
quote:

hvac company I called said I needed a whole new unit…


Probably shouldn't use them again
Posted by UptownJoeBrown
Baton Rouge
Member since Jul 2024
5914 posts
Posted on 5/16/25 at 1:07 pm to
Was told by an AC guy not to use bleach. The fumes attack the aluminum unless you flush it out multiple times which we all know how lazy people are. He only blows the lines out which he said also clears the line better of any debris like cockroaches in it.
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