Picture this: you notice standing water pooling around the outside of your air conditioner's indoor unit, indicating a clogged drain line. What do you do next?
First, let's talk about what exactly happens when an AC drain gets clogged. In the best-case scenario, it creates a messy situation that prompts you to clean the drain line immediately. However, if you allow the clog to persist, things can turn for the worse. Water damage becomes a real threat, and mold growth in your home becomes a concerning possibility, negatively impacting indoor air quality.
As a homeowner, it's crucial to stay vigilant for drain line clogs and take immediate action to unclog your AC drain line. Doing so will prevent your home's HVAC system from wreaking havoc on your entire household.
Before we discuss what happens if an AC drain is clogged, you need to know what this drain line actually does.
When your home's air conditioning unit is turned on, it'll take your indoor air and remove the moisture from it. This moisture will drip from your AC unit's evaporator coil down into a drain pan that's also known as a condensate pan.
From there, the moisture will move through an AC drain line, also known as a condensate line, that is made out of PVC pipe. This pipe will send it down into another drain so that it can be removed from your home.
Under normal circumstances, this moisture should make its way out of your home without any issues. But every so often, you might find yourself with a clogged drain line on your hands. This can be problematic and will need to be dealt with accordingly.
Wondering what factors can lead to a clogged AC drain line? Well, there are several potential culprits. One common scenario is when the moisture dripping from your AC unit's evaporator coil carries dirt and debris along with it. Over time, this accumulation of dirt and debris can gradually build up within the AC drain line, eventually causing a troublesome clog.
Additionally, due to the substantial amount of moisture that flows through the AC drain line when your AC unit is operating, it's not uncommon for mold and mildew to take root in this area. Neglecting proper maintenance and care can allow mold and mildew to thrive, leading to an unfortunate clog in the drain line.
It's essential to remain vigilant and proactive to prevent these issues from occurring. Addressing them promptly ensures a smooth-flowing AC drain line and keeps your cooling system in optimal condition.
If you rely on the same air conditioning unit in your home for a long enough time, there's a good chance your AC drain line will clog at some point. It's why you need to know what happens if an AC drain is clogged.
More often than not, the moisture that is supposed to move through your AC drain line will start to go in the wrong direction. This will lead to standing water appearing around your indoor unit.
If you notice this standing water right away, you can clean it up and get to work on trying to unclog an AC drain line. But if you don't, it could do water damage and allow mold to grow all around your AC unit. This mold can cause health complications and damage to flooring, walls, etc.
If you ever spot any symptoms of a clogged AC drain line, you should spring right into action and work on unclogging it. Fortunately, it should only take you a few minutes at most to do it. You can find simple solutions by Googling something like "unclog an ac drain line is clogged."
The first step is to turn off your air conditioner to stop it from cooling your home while you're unclogging a drain line. Then, try taking each of these steps to remedy the situation:
Find the PVC pipe that makes up your AC drain line
Attach a wet/dry vacuum to the end of this pipe
Turn the wet/dry vacuum on to remove the clog from your AC drain line
If this doesn't work or if you don't have a wet/dry vacuum, you can also try using a garden hose to unclog an AC drain line. Simply attach a garden hose to your drain line, turn it on, and let it run for a few minutes. This should loosen the clog and push it through your drain line.
After doing this, you should make every effort to stop an AC drain line clog from coming back. You should be able to do it by using bleach to clean your drain line before you start using your air conditioning unit each summer.
Cleaning drain line clogs isn't difficult to do. But if you don't feel comfortable tackling a task like this, don't be afraid to touch base with an HVAC company that can help with your AC needs. They'll be able to bring in all the right tools and equipment to get rid of drain line clogs once and for all.
They'll also be able to inspect your HVAC system to see if a drain line clog did any additional damage you may not be able to see. It'll keep your AC unit in better condition over the long run and make sure it lasts for as long as it possibly can.
If your AC drain is clogged, don't let the issue escalate. Turn to the experts at Parker & Sons. With our extensive experience handling AC drain clogs, we have the knowledge and tools to clear the blockage quickly and effectively. Our friendly technicians are well-versed in diagnosing and resolving AC drain issues, ensuring your cooling system runs smoothly and efficiently. Don't suffer through the heat and humidity. Call Parker & Sons at (602) 344-9027 and let us restore the comfort in your home. We serve Phoenix and the Valley, including Scottsdale, Surprise, Chandler, Buckeye, and more. We also have a second location in Tucson to provide fast service to the Tucson metro area.
* Hats off to all you DIYers out there! At Parker & Sons, we love to see our customers taking pride in their homes. That said, home service professionals are 'professionals' for a reason. The information provided in this blog post is for educational purposes only. Parker & Sons is not liable for any injuries or damages resulting from attempting these DIY projects. By following these instructions, you assume all risks. For projects involving electrical, plumbing, or HVAC systems, consult a professional. Use this information at your own risk.
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