Cleaning Out Air Conditioning Drain

You can prevent a clogged ac drain by performing routine cleaning.

Cleaning out air conditioning drain.

If you have an indoor air handler in your attic or utility closet you ll need to find the condensate pan. Assessing the need to clean a drain a condensate drain that is working properly drips any time that an air conditioner is in use. Step 1 power off the air conditioning unit. You ll know your ac drain line is clogged if you see water pooling in the pan underneath the unit inside your home.

Usually located near the outdoor compressor and attached to the wall of a house the condensate drain pipe is either inch or inch pvc. Just pour a cup of bleach in the drain line s access opening near the indoor air conditioning unit. Turn the power back on. There are various ways to clean out an air conditioner condensate drain and two popular methods are pouring white vinegar or bleach down the line to clear clogs.

Bleach and window units. Repeat this monthly for the best results. Slowly pour one cup of distilled white vinegar into the drain line s opening and let the solution sit for 30 minutes. Secure the cap back on the drain pipe and turn your ac back on.

An absence of a slow drip probably means that the drain is blocked. Turn off the power to your hvac system at the thermostat and at the breaker. Alternatives to vinegar include hot water peroxide or bleach. When your hvac services professional arrives to check your clogged ac drain line they will likely turn the system s power off even if it is already not running.

To clear these clogs you will need to suck them out with a wet dry vac. Clean out your drain line with bleach in early springtime each year to kill mold and mildew and prevent future clogs. This is for the safety of the technician as well as to protect the hvac system from additional condensate related damage. By pouring a cup of vinegar into your ac s drain line you will kill any mold algae mildew and other forms of bacteria or fungi preventing it from forming a buildup and causing a clog.

If the condensate drain line is clogged you will need to use a wet dry vacuum or a special pump to unclog the line. This will kill any algae mold or mildew that has formed in the pipe. How to clean your air conditioner drain. You will need these items to clean your a c condensate drain.