Hvac Condensate Drain Line Trap

Air conditioning units pull a lot of water out of the air.

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. 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. While most manufacturers don t specify this on this gravity ductless drains it is something to look out for. See when moist air hits something cold the water condenses out of the air and collects on the cold surface.

The drip pan connects to the condensate drain line which carries water out of the home. A p trap serves a very important purpose on an a c unit. The only code requirements for drain lines removing condensate from hvac equipment are. The imc states that condensate drains should be trapped according to manufactures specs however wording was added in imc 307 2 4 1 that states that ductless systems must either have a check valve or a trap in the condensate line.

The condensate drain line connected to your ac unit plays a vital role in the effective operation of your entire system. B that the drain lines slope toward the final drainage point at a rate of 1 8 inch per foot. If the condensate drain line is clogged you will need to use a wet dry vacuum or a special pump to unclog the line. All air conditioners have a special drain for this condensation.

That is why in the summer your car drips water. This will kill any algae mold or mildew that has formed in the pipe. It s similar to the trap under your kitchen or bathroom sink. 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.

A for the installation of a trap in accordance with the unit manufacturer s installation and operating instructions. 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. Just pour a cup of bleach in the drain line s access opening near the indoor air conditioning unit.