1. When warm air from your return system meets the cold heat exchanger the air is cooled AND excess moisture condenses from the air.
2. The condensed water runs to the bottom of the heat exchanger (HX) unit where it is collected and directed to drain #1. If you have an attic system drain #1 is the lower drain on the outside wall.
3. The proper operation of this drain #1 depends on three things, no leaks in the Heat exchanger floor AND no clogs in the drain #1 And heat exchanger unit being slightly slanted toward drain #1. In my case the heat exchanger floor was cracked and leaked AND the heat exchanger was sloped wrong so the water flowed the wrong way anyway.
4. If one of the problems in 3. exists (HX floor leak or wrong slope) the water will drip into the pan under the HX. This pan is for emergency's only and has its own drain---drain#2 which is the upper drain in an attic installation. So if the HX leaks, is sloped wrong or drain #1 is clogged the water does go to the emergency pan. If the emergency has rusted out and leaks or it it is sloped wrong or if its drain is clogged the water spills onto your ceiling.
So what do you do about this yourself instead of calling expensive tech who are not fixing the problem???
First---put a level on the HX unit and make sure it is sloped toward the drain... You have to check both along and across the HX unit to make sure the slope is toward drain #1. Do the same with the emergency pan.
Second--if the slope's are right check the pvc drains. Normally there is a hole left in the PVC pipe to blow out the drains. If not just cut the pvc and install your own hole. Block the upstream passage and blow air from your lungs downstream If blocked you will notice right away. Do the same for upstream. Same thing for the emergency drain PVC. If you find either blocked you need to identify the source of the blockage---it might be insulation coming loose from inside the HX.
Third---this is what I had to do---I cut a hole in the HX box on the top so I could look inside. The material is mostly stiff insulation so it cuts easily. The HX inside is metal so cut carefully. Use the metalized tape to put it back together. I looked inside my HX box and found the floor cracked AND the pvc drain connection broken AND the slope was wrong. I sprayed the floor with rubber sealant, fixed the broken pvc connection and fixed the slope and solved 90% of the problem. My emergency pan was rusted out and the slope wrong on it also. I fixed the pan and the slope and solved 90% of that problem also. But, I will soon need a new system as mine is 18 years old. I have never had an issue with clogged PVC drains. I would bet your problem is one of these other problems.
Very simple fix. Most times the installers put in 1/2" PVC drain lines, cuz it's cheaper. As bacterial build up it clogs the lines. Very common. Right at the drain pan look to see if they' installed a 3/4" to 1/2" reducer. If so, remove it and install a 3/4" male pipe thread to barbed fitting and then 3/4 PVC drain line. OR, install a 3/4" male pipe thread to 1" PVC adapter and then run 1" solid PVC tubing to the drain.
Larger drain diameter eliminates the buildup of crud.
Can you purchase a small air-compressor that has a blower attachment and every so often blow the drain out yourself? Make sure the compressor has a small tank maybe a 2 gallon unit not the oe that plugs into your cigarette lighter to inflate tires. Something like this "Porter-Cable 3.5-Gal. 135 PSI Pancake Compressor - PCFP02003" I would really like to know what is the obstruction in the drain?
Hi.. I would suggest you to call an experienced air conditioner service provider in your area. They can better help you with your air conditioning unit. They also provide annual maintenance to keep your air conditioning unit work properly and efficiently.
Your must have been installed cheaper PVC drain lines.Change it....
We have been having leaks from our air conditioning unit during the summer months. We have had many service people out to look at it. They all tell me that my two separate drains are clogged, and therefore the water runs over the pan and we get a leak. They unclog the drains and everything seems fine for a while. Then the problem starts again. Sometimes it will be months, and sometimes it will be weeks before the problem comes back. Is there anything that we can do to help this situation? We have yet to repair ceiling because of this nuisance leak. I'm sorry if I have left out any information that may help to answer this question. Any advice is appreciated. Thank you.
