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09-10-2012, 10:11 AM
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9,845 posts, read 29,204,063 times
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I'm not sure if it is the higher than normal humidity (at leas I feel like it has been humid lately) but I have noticed the condensation drain line from my HVAC unit in my attic (drip line extends out of my house just below the roof) is dripping almost constantly. Went up in the attic last night and sure enough the condensate pan under the AC unit has a nice little puddle that is constantly draining through the line. I don't recall this being the case in previous summers. Has anybody else been having the same experience. Do you think it is a result of the higher than normal humidity in Raleigh this summer or is this something else I should be concerned about. Thanks!  |
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09-10-2012, 10:14 AM
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13,808 posts, read 25,942,640 times
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That is an awful lot of moisture if the pan is filling up with water, mine is bone dry even when run constantly...primary reason would be a partially clogged drain line. Super easy DIY fix.
Was there any ice on the evaporator?
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09-10-2012, 10:16 AM
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Location: Cary, NC
41,247 posts, read 71,571,140 times
Reputation: 42848
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wheelsup
That is an awful lot of moisture if the pan is filling up with water, mine is bone dry even when run constantly...primary reason would be a partially clogged drain line. Super easy DIY fix.
Was there any ice on the evaporator?
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Exactly. Sounds like a clogged drain line. The pan should be dry. |
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09-10-2012, 10:21 AM
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Location: Holly Springs
3,995 posts, read 10,459,592 times
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Yep, that is your secondary condensate line that is dripping, primary is clogged. They put those lines above windows so people will notice.
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09-10-2012, 10:58 AM
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Location: under the beautiful Carolina blue
22,127 posts, read 33,978,943 times
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Our pan filled with water earlier this summer - second time it's happened. The system shuts down and when we shop vac the water out, it runs normally again. Why would the primary line then start working again once we get that water cleared out?
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09-10-2012, 11:03 AM
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2,998 posts, read 3,183,871 times
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Yeah, you either need to have it vaccuumed out or if you are brave blown out from the attic with compressed air (although with compressed air, there is a chance you could crack one of the fittings buried in your wall and not know about it until you started smelling something funny next summer). If it hasn't been cleaned in awhile you can see how much of your evaporator coil has rusted/disintegrated over the years. Mine was pretty well plugged up the last time I had it cleaned, my guess being the prior owners never had it cleaned/catheterized as the coil was fairly rusty.
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09-10-2012, 11:04 AM
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Location: Cary, NC
41,247 posts, read 71,571,140 times
Reputation: 42848
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Quote:
Originally Posted by twingles
Our pan filled with water earlier this summer - second time it's happened. The system shuts down and when we shop vac the water out, it runs normally again. Why would the primary line then start working again once we get that water cleared out?
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Partial clog in the primary drain, so the pan fills slowly or intermittently?
Your pan has a float switch that shuts off the unit when you collect a fair amount of condensate. So, it may be that the pan fills slowly? |
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09-10-2012, 11:05 AM
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2,998 posts, read 3,183,871 times
Reputation: 3175
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Quote:
Originally Posted by twingles
Our pan filled with water earlier this summer - second time it's happened. The system shuts down and when we shop vac the water out, it runs normally again. Why would the primary line then start working again once we get that water cleared out?
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I wouldn't think that it would unless the clog cleaned itself. E.g. the clog was made by a nest of something living (e.g. bugs, spiders, etc.) and the nest left/hatched/drowned/etc. so now the flow could proceed. Although the pan should only fill up when both lines are clogged - does your system have a primary drain and a secondary? |
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