Any HVAC experts on board?

[Barnacle_Bill]

I have an air exchanger in my attic leaking water into my ceiling. I cleared the pan drain for what I hope is a temp fix however I cannot get the water to come out the main drain. I took it loose and could see water in there and put a shop vac on the line to make sure it is clear. Until all this started I didn't even know there were 2 drains and I can't ever remember any water coming out of the main drain so this may have been this way since day 1. I checked the unit for being level and although not perfect it was very very close. Any ideas?? Good grief its hot up there.

 

[timothy47129]

Re: Any HVAC experts on board?

You could be low on refrigerant and the evaporator coil is freezing up and thawing out.Try taking a coat hanger and bending the end over about an inch and carefully stick it in there and try to pull anything out.Condensate drain pans and lines are prone to build up algae

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Any HVAC experts on board?

Could this be my problem? I do not have the ?" pitch.

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Any HVAC experts on board?

Without the pitch, potential for draining inside the house is greater. Also no pitch will allow standing drain water, which in turn fosters growth of undesirable stuff. This stuff will dry out during nonuse times and then become floating scabs/plugs when in use again.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Any HVAC experts on board?

Yep, lack of pitch is a distinct possibility, but if this just started I would check for icing of the evaporator like Timothy noted.

 

[dolluper]

Re: Any HVAC experts on board?

turn heater on

 

[timothy47129]

Re: Any HVAC experts on board?

If its an electric air handler check to make sure there isnt a washable filter in the return side of the air handler.You would be suprised how many times i have found them completely clogged were the installer put a filter in the living space but didnt take the time to remove the one in air handler.you might have to remove the evaporator panel to check if there isnt a 2"x 16" lil door with 2 screws in it on the bottom.

 

[hrdwrkingacguy]

Re: Any HVAC experts on board?

That unit looks like the drain is on the negative(return) side of the coil...Do you have a running trap like that one in the picture, or a real P trap...The unit should be perfectly level or pitched a little towards the drain...What do you mean you can't get water to come out of the main drain? do you take the drain off the unit and water wont come out, or does it not make it to where it goes outside the house?

What I do for every condensate leak issue is cut the drain after the P trap and see what comes out...A lot of times the fine dirt on the coil makes mud in the p trap when the unit starts to make water when its humid...If the unit is level and the p trap is clear then its a matter of 1/4" pitch per 10' of run out of the house...

Running traps like the one in the picture are worthless...You need to have 1.5" + the static pressure of the system worth of difference in the inlet to outlet of a p trap to make it drain right...

 

[mxcobra]

Re: Any HVAC experts on board?

the drains must slope doun to drain... the secondary is their just incase the main drain gets cloged wich it probly is...
again if the drain is not sloped it will leak.... 1/4 inch per foot is minamam you can have greater wich would be recamended.
The trap is their so bugs and critters cant climb up pipe into coil the lower end of trap should always remain full of water
were is the leak at exactly their could be a crack in the pvc or a inproperly glued fitting or evan a crack in the pan....
freezing would not be the cause of a leak, just a hot house...

 

[CharlieB]

Re: Any HVAC experts on board?

Drains can often grow a mold which can plug a drain.

You may need to snake a wire through the line to breach the plug, then sterilize the line with a cup of bleach to finish clearing the rest of the growth.

Add a cup of bleach to your annual maintenance schedule to keep the lines clear.