Who would you call? (apartment complex, Home Depot, buy)

[Flamingo13]

The drain line running along the a/c-furnace has a leak at a t-joint - I tried to repair it using epoxy clay-type stuff that I got at HD (admittedly, the guy there had NO clue) - it didn't work. I previously had work done by Cropp Metcalf (sp?) - but have also heard of whatever company has Flood in the name. Any opinions?

[spencgr]

Who does you HVAC maintenance? That's who I would call....

[Flamingo13]

Originally Posted by spencgr

Who does you HVAC maintenance? That's who I would call....

I've never had a maintenance plan - guess I need to consider one?

[boyd888]

Originally Posted by Flamingo13

I've never had a maintenance plan - guess I need to consider one?

He just means it is recommended that you have your furnace/AC checked out every so often. Not a bad idea, but you can do basic maintenance yourself just fine.

If the tubing is PVC I would just replace all of the drain and I think that is what a professional would do as well. PVC is cheap and very easy to glue together - just buy the same pieces you already have at Home Depot. Plenty of youtube vids out there as well. DIY for <$50, a pro would likely be $200-300? I dunno, up to you.

[Flamingo13]

The drain is bracketed/screwed down all along the unit, then to the wall, then to the laundry tub.

[ICS67]

Originally Posted by Flamingo13

I've never had a maintenance plan - guess I need to consider one?

Considering that a central A/C can cost $5,000 and a furnace $2,500-$3,000, I really think a service plan with a reputable HVAC company is a wise expenditure. Mine costs $140 a year, which includes an annual servicing of the furnace in autumn and the AC in spring. Not sure if you have a gas furnace, but especially given what happened a couple of days ago with an apparent gas leak explosion that leveled that apartment complex in Silver Spring (as well as the threat of a faulty furnace releasing carbon monoxide), I really enjoy the peace of mind knowing that a pro has inspected and serviced it.

The other advantage of a service plan is that regular customers will have priority above non-clients when repairs are needed. When my old furnace was in its death throes one very cold December morning a few years back, for example, my company sent a technician over immediately to jury rig a fix to last until the next day, when they installed a new furnace. If I had not been on a service plan, I'm not sure I would have had a new furnace within 24 hours.

Perhaps something to think about.

[leighland]

Originally Posted by ICS67

Considering that a central A/C can cost $5,000 and a furnace $2,500-$3,000, I really think a service plan with a reputable HVAC company is a wise expenditure. Mine costs $140 a year, which includes an annual servicing of the furnace in autumn and the AC in spring. t.

who do you use? Do you like them a lot?

I hate my current dude-and he is a dumb dude

I have heard Shanahans is a good group despite being a big company.

[car54]

Originally Posted by Flamingo13

The drain is bracketed/screwed down all along the unit, then to the wall, then to the laundry tub.

Is there a condensate pump? Every laundry tub discharge I've ever seen involved a pump. If the pump quits, you're going to have water on the floor.

Another thing, with the recent high humidity, the drain line could just be sweating rather than actually leaking. Foam rubber pipe insulation on the line often eliminates this.

[Flamingo13]

Thanks all.

There is no pump, it's actually leaking at the t-joint that comes from the dehumidifier and connects to the drain line (PVC).

[VRE332]

Originally Posted by Flamingo13

Thanks all.

There is no pump, it's actually leaking at the t-joint that comes from the dehumidifier and connects to the drain line (PVC).

You're lucky that pipe has no pressure and just dripping condensed water. I'd just take that whole pipe off and replace the T. Take a picture and go to home depot and get the glue and same type of pipe and DIY. Of course, everything needs to be dry and you have to shut down the A/C unit.