While your air conditioner is running, it’s also removing excess humidity from the indoor air. That’s because cool air can hold less humidity than warm air, causing moisture to leave the air through condensation as it’s cooled. When everything is working properly, condensation is disposed of through the unit’s condensate drain. When you have A/C condensate drain problems, you may end up with moisture gathering inside the air conditioner itself.
Leaking or Flooding Around the Furnace or A/C
Water gathering on the ground is a sign that the condensate drain is clogged or backing up. Clear any obstructions you can find, and if it looks like the water is coming from farther down in the plumbing, contact your local plumber or HVAC expert for repair.
Mold or Algae Growth in the Drain or Drain Pan
Standing water can contribute to the growth of all sorts of microorganisms. If you see evidence of growth, take care of it before it gets inside your HVAC system or starts impacting your indoor air quality. A 50/50 solution of bleach and water can clear out mold, mildew and algae growth, as well as keep the condensate drain clean. It’s a good idea to flush the drain with this solution once a year or so as part of your regular A/C maintenance.
Odors Coming From the Drain
The drain connects to the water disposal system, so if things go wrong, you may catch a whiff of sewage. Like the sinks in your home, the drain has a trap, a U-shaped section of pipe that holds enough water to make an air seal, preventing sewer gases from getting into your home. But if the trap runs dry, there’s no seal and noxious odors can infiltrate. Just pour a little water in to refill the trap, and you should be fine.
To learn more about common A/C condensate drain problems that affect your Lorain home and how you can fix them, contact us at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about condensate drains and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Lyudmyla Kharlamova/Shutterstock”
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area