Clogged Air Conditioner Drain Line: What You Should Know
An air conditioner unit is a multifunctional tool. On the one hand, the system is designed to cool the air that enters your home. However, the system is also intended to remove excess moisture, or condensation, from the air as well. Even if the air conditioner is effective at cooling the air, a problem with the moisture removal process can prevent the system from cooling your home correctly. A clogged condensation drain line is common and can prevent a system from removing the humidity successfully. Learn how to identify this problem and what you can do to resolve it.
Identifying a Clog
A clogged condensation drain isn't always easy to identify. However, the problem typically begins with a change in the air temperature in your home. For example, the air inside your home might feel more sticky or muggy than usual. As the problem continues, you might start to notice red flags around the actual unit.
When the condensation builds up inside the unit, it has to come out someplace eventually. Instead of seeing the drain pain full of moisture, you might notice puddles of water around the unit. If your air conditioner is located on an upper level of your home, you might even notice puddles of water on the ceiling from the collected moisture.
If your condensation line is located on the exterior of your home, be mindful of nests and other debris around the line. Even if you aren't experiencing any problems now, it's only a matter of time before the trouble begins, as the debris will prevent the water from draining.
Correcting a Clog
To correct the clog, it's quite simple in that you need to remove the obstruction that is preventing the moisture from flowing through. However, the process of saying the task is much easier than the execution. Many units are equipped with an air handler function that will allow you to use a wet-vac system to remove the water and mineral buildup that has likely formed inside the drain line and caused the obstruction. Once you've removed the obstruction, go ahead and clean the entire pan to help prevent a future problem.
However, if you are not comfortable using the air handler function, don't attempt to use it. You can cause more harm and possibly injure yourself if you don't use the feature correctly. Contact a professional instead. If condensation drain line clogs are a common problem, you should contact an HVAC professional. A recurrence of the same problem is often an indication of a more significant problem that needs to be addressed. For more information, contact a company like Nova Air Conditioning & Heating.
