It is not a great drain clog remover. Bleach has no effect in dissolving the common culprits of household drain clogs, like hair, food scraps and grease.
Pour one cup of bleach down your drain line every month to help keep it free from clogs. One cup of bleach is the cheapest and easiest way to unclog the drain line in your AC. Be sure not to use any other type of chemical, as other chemicals could have a negative reaction with the bleach.
Add ¼ cup of distilled vinegar to the drain line through the opening where the cap was removed. It's recommended you use regular distilled white vinegar, as the increased acidity boosts its cleaning properties. If you find the smell of vinegar foul, you can also use peroxide or hot water and a dash of dish soap.
Using Bleach in Your AC Drain
Simply open up the drain line clean out or T on your inside unit and pour a 50/50 warm water and bleach mixture OR warm water and vinegar solution through the line. Be sure to use a minimum of 2 cups once or twice per year.
Bleach is a common cleaner found in most homes, but is it safe to use in homes with PVC piping? In short, yes. You can safely use bleach to clean and disinfect your PVC pipes, as long as you dilute it first and avoid mixing it with other chemicals.
Pour ¼ cup of distilled vinegar into the opening of the drain line. Distilled white vinegar is preferable for this job as its high acidity levels work hard to remove the buildup lodged in your drain. If you don't have any vinegar in the house, you can use peroxide as a substitute.
Preventing AC Drain Line Clogs
However, you can prevent clogs by keeping them clean. During the summer months, pour hot water and vinegar down your drain line at least once per month to ensure no build up occurs.
You can unclog a clogged AC drain line in just a few minutes using minimal tools if you catch the clog early enough. Many HVAC professionals suggest that you avoid using harsh chemicals such as Drano to unclog the block.
The easiest way to clean drain lines is with a bit of bleach or vinegar. It only takes 5-10 minutes to clean your system and remove any mold or mildew, and when you're done you will be able to use your AC system even better than before!
Just like cooking oil, bleach is one of those things you shouldn't pour into your sink. You should also never use bleach to unclog your drains. Doing so can even burst your drain pipes, and you'll be left with a nasty and expensive mess.
Vinegar or Hydrogen Peroxide
If you don't have the tools above, pouring either a cup of vinegar or a cup of hydrogen peroxide can help clean a drain line. While this method won't remove clogs, it can sometimes help them to break down enough to flow out of the system on their own.
Generally, you should leave bleach in your shower drain for about 10–15 minutes before flushing it down with hot water. However, it's best if you check the manufacturer's instructions for the product you're using.
Bleach and cleaning fluids create toxic gasses when mixed together. If you pour bleach and other cleaning agents down your sink drains, and they mix in your pipes, you can contaminate the air in your home with the resulting gas created. The following items should never be poured down the sink with bleach: Vinegar.
Mixing vinegar and bleach together releases a poisonous chlorine gas, which can be fatal if inhaled at high enough concentrations.
Dust is one of the most common causes of clogged air conditioner drains. As such, you must clean or replace your AC air filters to prevent dust from building up on the evaporator coils.
Flush Condensate Drain Line
Clogs in the condensate drain line cause moisture to back up in the air conditioner, which can be damaging. The repair cost to have the drain line flushed runs between $75 to $250.
A puddle of water on the ground near your air conditioner is one of the first and most obvious signs that your drain line is stopped up. A clogged AC drain line is no joke because it can cause extensive water damage to your home, including mold and weakening your structural foundation.
Where it is. Your air conditioner has a condensate drain line that runs from the indoor unit to the outside of your home. You'll find a white PVC or copper pipe located near your outdoor unit—this is where the drain line ends.
By putting a quarter of a cup of distilled vinegar into your air conditioner's drain line, the vinegar kills mold, mildew, algae, fungus and bacteria. It'll clear buildups and clogs.
Use A Drain Snake
If you have a very stubborn clog that doesn't come out with a shop vac and water, then you can try using a drain snake. Push the drain snake down into the drain line access near the air handler.
If you're pressed for time, simply sponge down the sink with Pine-Sol® full strength. You can even splash a bit down the drain to refresh your garbage disposal with your favorite Pine-Sol® scent.