As a 20+ year aircraft mechanic in the Air Force it's not everyday you see system overviews as clear and concise as this was! Thank you, this will help me in my preventative maintenance efforts with my home unit! I'm experiencing a full drip pan and it's heavy drainage so I feel more equipped to remedy this situation.
Your series of videos by subject are talking to areas we never have need to look at unless something goes wrong, then its probably too late. Nice work!
Nice video, great explanation. I'm with maker of Safe-T-Switch. I suggest adding second sensor, or just utilize SS2 to go in secondary port of AC Coil (primary drain pan). Also suggest our transparent trap, EZT-113B (comes w/ cleanout brush). Finally, address rust draining using pH-Pro condensate acid neutralizer. Easy to install, easy to maintain.
I'm not in a Trilogy home but still found your video worthwhile. Many thanks, and kudos on the presentation. Twice (the second time being yesterday) in 13 years (since we moved into the new house), our outdoor pipe leaked. But ours doesn't empty onto the grass at the side of the house, ours empties onto the welcome mat at the front door. Otherwise, never a leak. In fact, I was told once that the pipe is purposely placed at the front door to alert us to a problem. It sure did; my front door mat smells like vinegar. Unfortunately, I don't remember what I did to fix the problem the first time, and won't know for a day or two if I managed to solve it this time. This morning I used a wetdry vac to suck out the contents of the front door pipe, and ensured the downstairs bathroom sink, where I'm told the condensate empties, wasn't clogged. Also changed the filter, though it didn't need changing. I have (had?) a blockage but don't know where. Two indicators: 1) the front door vent leaking and 2) the pan under the air handler letting me hear water dropping into the pan. (Normally it's silent.) I poured vinegar into the pipe stub in the air handler closet (second floor), but would bet most of it landed on my front porch. That tells me the blockage isn't in the pipe going outside, right? I use vinegar ever three months or so, and keep a log so I don't forget. Filters are replaced every two months. Hoping I fixed the blockage, but I hate fixing something and not knowing how I did it. ;-)
do not drain condensate line to outside, in winter if it gets below 32F it will freeze and block the drainage, better to drain to another drain line inside home such as kitchen drain or bathroom sink drain
Watched lots of videos on this topic. First one to address the difference between the condensate line and the overflow line. I have water leaking out the overflow. Can I just do maintenance on the overflow line to make sure there's no blockage?
I think you mean to do maintenance on the normal drain since it is not draining properly. There could be many reasons for flow diverting to the overflow line. In specific order it can be... 1. It was never plumbed correctly in the first place (this happens more times than you would think). 2. It is plugged in the evaporator unit, resulting in it flowing out elsewhere and into the secondary drain pan. 3. The normal drain line is plugged and backing up into the evaporator unit. You can rod out or blow out items 2 & 3. To test #1, pour water into the normal drain trap, if it come out the top drain, it is piped wrong.
My neighbor just noticed the same thing last week on one of his two upper drains. His pan was dry as well. He had a contractor come in and determined that the drain lines were piped incorrectly 3 years ago when his AC units were replaced. My guess is you may have the same situation if your secondary drain pans are dry.
I've found my way here wondering the same thing. Going to go up in the attic and check my pan area. Upper pipe is causing a muddy mess outside, so I was considering digging a rock box in the ground and running PVC down. Now it just seems I need some AC attention.
Yes, the air conditioning condensation routes outside by design. It just drains to the ground. In Arizona where the humidity is very low the amount that drains is less than a gallon per hour. Humid regions may drain larger quantities.
Assuming your water is dripping from the lower AC drain pipe you can do as you desire. It's just condensation. If you use a pipe or hose to route the water away it should be vented at the outside drain. That is, air should be able to enter the pipe or hose where you connect it to the house.
As a 20+ year aircraft mechanic in the Air Force it's not everyday you see system overviews as clear and concise as this was! Thank you, this will help me in my preventative maintenance efforts with my home unit! I'm experiencing a full drip pan and it's heavy drainage so I feel more equipped to remedy this situation.
Your series of videos by subject are talking to areas we never have need to look at unless something goes wrong, then its probably too late. Nice work!
Nice video, great explanation. I'm with maker of Safe-T-Switch. I suggest adding second sensor, or just utilize SS2 to go in secondary port of AC Coil (primary drain pan). Also suggest our transparent trap, EZT-113B (comes w/ cleanout brush). Finally, address rust draining using pH-Pro condensate acid neutralizer. Easy to install, easy to maintain.
I'm not in a Trilogy home but still found your video worthwhile. Many thanks, and kudos on the presentation.
Twice (the second time being yesterday) in 13 years (since we moved into the new house), our outdoor pipe leaked. But ours doesn't empty onto the grass at the side of the house, ours empties onto the welcome mat at the front door.
Otherwise, never a leak. In fact, I was told once that the pipe is purposely placed at the front door to alert us to a problem. It sure did; my front door mat smells like vinegar.
Unfortunately, I don't remember what I did to fix the problem the first time, and won't know for a day or two if I managed to solve it this time. This morning I used a wetdry vac to suck out the contents of the front door pipe, and ensured the downstairs bathroom sink, where I'm told the condensate empties, wasn't clogged. Also changed the filter, though it didn't need changing.
I have (had?) a blockage but don't know where. Two indicators: 1) the front door vent leaking and 2) the pan under the air handler letting me hear water dropping into the pan. (Normally it's silent.) I poured vinegar into the pipe stub in the air handler closet (second floor), but would bet most of it landed on my front porch. That tells me the blockage isn't in the pipe going outside, right? I use vinegar ever three months or so, and keep a log so I don't forget. Filters are replaced every two months.
Hoping I fixed the blockage, but I hate fixing something and not knowing how I did it. ;-)
Excellent information and presentation
Very well done. Thanks.
Thanks Dave
do not drain condensate line to outside, in winter if it gets below 32F it will freeze and block the drainage, better to drain to another drain line inside home such as kitchen drain or bathroom sink drain
Love it!
My drain line located right under the eave of the house drain a lot of water when the ac is on. I checked the pan, it’s completely dry? What next?
Watched lots of videos on this topic. First one to address the difference between the condensate line and the overflow line. I have water leaking out the overflow. Can I just do maintenance on the overflow line to make sure there's no blockage?
I think you mean to do maintenance on the normal drain since it is not draining properly. There could be many reasons for flow diverting to the overflow line. In specific order it can be... 1. It was never plumbed correctly in the first place (this happens more times than you would think). 2. It is plugged in the evaporator unit, resulting in it flowing out elsewhere and into the secondary drain pan. 3. The normal drain line is plugged and backing up into the evaporator unit. You can rod out or blow out items 2 & 3. To test #1, pour water into the normal drain trap, if it come out the top drain, it is piped wrong.
My upper outside drain has water pouring out of it. But the emergency pan in the attic is dry. Any thoughts before I have to call out the ac guy?
My neighbor just noticed the same thing last week on one of his two upper drains. His pan was dry as well. He had a contractor come in and determined that the drain lines were piped incorrectly 3 years ago when his AC units were replaced. My guess is you may have the same situation if your secondary drain pans are dry.
I've found my way here wondering the same thing. Going to go up in the attic and check my pan area. Upper pipe is causing a muddy mess outside, so I was considering digging a rock box in the ground and running PVC down. Now it just seems I need some AC attention.
Old house. Do have an outside pipe on outside wall draining water. Where is it draining?
Yes, the air conditioning condensation routes outside by design. It just drains to the ground. In Arizona where the humidity is very low the amount that drains is less than a gallon per hour. Humid regions may drain larger quantities.
Can we attach a hose to the outside pipe drainage so that it doesn't drip on the cement of the side of the house?
Assuming your water is dripping from the lower AC drain pipe you can do as you desire. It's just condensation. If you use a pipe or hose to route the water away it should be vented at the outside drain. That is, air should be able to enter the pipe or hose where you connect it to the house.
outside house drain pipe is dripping excessively for 2 weeks . what to do?
Not sure what town you’re in or the equipment you have. Can you post a photo?