A clogged AC drain pipe is the most common cause of standing water in your AC drain pan. As air passes over the evaporator coils in your air conditioner, it cools down and loses some of its humidity. This humidity is left behind in the form of condensation on the coils.
The unit is designed to collect the moisture from the air in the room. If the room has a high humidity level, the unit will work harder to cool the air thus collecting more water.
This is what you will do: Get a shop vac, and suck out all the water and possible clogs from that opening under the pipe. You can also run a plumber's snake to clear the clog, and go outside, at the exit, and suck out from there as well with the shop vac.
Flush Condensate Drain Line
The repair cost to have the drain line flushed runs between $75 to $250.
You should flush your AC drain line once every three months to keep it clear of debris and buildup. Keeping your AC drain line clean prevents clogs, backups, mold growth, and extra wear on your AC unit.
If the air conditioner is not properly draining water, it indicates that there is a leak occurring somewhere else in the system. To address this issue, it is crucial to rely on the expertise of a skilled technician who can first identify the problem among the potential causes.
It's completely normal for your AC to drain 5-20 gallons of water outside of your home (via the condensate drain). It's NOT normal for your AC to drain any amount of water inside your home (around your indoor AC unit).
The main causes of condensation on your AC vents include temperature differences between outside air and your vent, your AC ducts being improperly sealed, lack of insulation around your ducts, dirty air filters, or even too much air moisture.
As with any moist environment, the tank filled with stagnant water can also become a breeding ground for mold. Note that even with units featuring auto-evaporation, you might still need to manually drain your portable AC if you're in a high-humidity environment.
You might experience overflow and possible water damage.
If your portable AC unit lacks an automatic shutdown feature, or if it malfunctions, failing to drain the collected water can cause an overflow. This can lead to water damage to the unit itself, your flooring, furniture, and other nearby items.
How do I find my AC drain line? Your AC has a condensate drain line running from the indoor to the outdoor unit. You'll find the end of the drain line somewhere near the outdoor unit (usually a copper or white PVC pipe). As for the access point, look for a vertical pipe with a cap near the indoor unit.
To unclog an AC drain line, turn off the power to the unit. Locate the drain line and use a wet/dry vacuum to suck out the clog. Flush the line with water using a garden hose or cup of water. Check and clean the drain pan under the indoor unit.
Clear Drain is an air conditioning drain water treatment system that helps keep your AC unit's drain lines clean and clog-free. It has an easy-to-install dispenser that uses gel tab slow-release tablets to treat your AC system's drain water.
If the drain line gets blocked, you may experience reduced cooling efficiency, water leakage, frozen coils, Mold and mildew growth, and even a shutdown of your entire air conditioning system.
Call Service Champions for Emergency AC Repair
We provide residential AC repair in San Jose, Sacramento, and other parts of Northern California. Call 833-600-0991 or schedule your visit online whether you need a condensate drain line unclogged, an AC thermostat repair, or an air conditioner replaced.
Some homes may have a drain pan condensate safety switch that will automatically shut down the indoor unit if the water level inside the drain pan begins to rise, to help prevent water damage from a clog. But, if your system doesn't have this safety switch, it will continue running with a clogged drain line.
In some cases, however, your air conditioner's drip pan may be unable to drain properly. When this happens, the water continues to rise and can quickly cause a leak from your unit.
One of the most obvious signs is a puddle of water in your AC's drain pan, which proves the water isn't draining as it should. Other signs include: Standing water near your air conditioner's condenser unit. A moldy smell around the drain or from your system's vents and registers.
Where is the Condensate Pan? An AC unit typically has two different drain pans: The primary air conditioner drain pan located underneath the indoor evaporator coils and the auxiliary or back up drain pan. The primary condensate pan is usually welded to the evaporator coil, making it harder to replace.