How to Deal With Common Condensate Drain Problems

Most homeowners worry about clogged pipes in their plumbing, not their air conditioner. However, there’s one very important water pipe that’s part of your HVAC system: the condensate drain. When it gets clogged, it can cause leaks and water damage as bad or worse than plumbing leaks.

What is a Condensate Drain?

The condensate drain is a necessary part of the HVAC system that catches water from condensation during the cooling process. The part of the air conditioner that creates the cooling effect is the evaporator coils. As ambient-temperature air passes over the coils, it becomes chilled. The drop in temperature causes condensation to form and fall into the drip pan.

Why Do Condensate Drains Get Clogged?

Drip pans are connected to a drain that allows condensate water to flow outside your home. When that drain gets debris or mold overgrowth, it stops the flow of water. Since water is still falling into the drip pan, it will eventually overflow. Before you know it, you have leaks, water damage, and sometimes even damage to your HVAC system.

The two main culprits of condensate drain clogs are:

1. Debris from dust and other particles in the air.
2. Mold, mildew, and even fungal growth from the damp conditions in the drip pan and drain.

How Do You Prevent Clogged Condensate Drains?

By addressing the two main causes of clogs, you can prevent problems from ever happening.

You will never get all the particles out of your air, but you can greatly reduce them. When the air inside your air conditioning system is not clean, the particles in the air get trapped in the water as condensation forms. Changing your filters regularly is one way to avoid this issue. Installing an air-cleaning system can also improve your indoor air quality.

The best way to prevent mold, mildew, and fungal overgrowth is to have your drain inspected and cleaned yearly as part of your overall HVAC preventative maintenance.

If you have more questions about maintaining your condensate drain or any other HVAC maintenance issues in the Lorain area, contact Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning today.

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 drain problems and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 440-201-2959.

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