Hvac Condensate Drain Line Trap

A for the installation of a trap in accordance with the unit manufacturer s installation and operating instructions.

Hvac condensate drain line trap.

Trap failures due to freeze up drying out breakage blockage and or improper installation can compromise the seal against air ingestion through the condensate drain line. If the condensate drain line is clogged you will need to use a wet dry vacuum or a special pump to unclog the line. In our opinion and as we discuss in these articles while a trap on a condensate drain line usually provided quite close to the condensate collection pan itself can reduce the chances of sewer gases backing up from a condensate drain that has been connected to the building dwv vent piping not a procedure we recommend a conventional p trap in the condensate drain will not protect against all sewer gas backup possibilities. When the drip pan becomes full or clogged or the condensate line is clogged water can spill over the drip pan s edges onto the floor surrounding the unit.

It s similar to the trap under your kitchen or bathroom sink. That is why in the summer your car drips water. A p trap serves a very important purpose on an a c unit. Air conditioning units pull a lot of water out of the air.

While most manufacturers don t specify this on this gravity ductless drains it is something to look out for. The drip pan connects to the condensate drain line which carries water out of the home. Ultimately your condensate line is responsible for removing the condensation that s produced by the evaporator coil draining it from the air handler to the outside of your house. All air conditioners have a special drain for this condensation.

The only code requirements for drain lines removing condensate from hvac equipment are. Traps with insufficient height between the inlet and outlet design deficiency on draw through systems can cause the drain to back up when the fan is on possibly causing drain pan overflow or water droplet carryover into the duct system. Another sign your condensate lines may be clogged is if no moisture is exiting outdoors. A central air system routes condensation through a u shaped trap located in the drain line just outside the air handler.

The condensate drain line connected to your ac unit plays a vital role in the effective operation of your entire system. This will kill any algae mold or mildew that has formed in the pipe. Just pour a cup of bleach in the drain line s access opening near the indoor air conditioning unit.