Cleaning Out Air Conditioning Drain

Step 1 power off the air conditioning unit.

Cleaning out air conditioning drain.

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. Alternatives to vinegar include hot water peroxide or bleach. This is for the safety of the technician as well as to protect the hvac system from additional condensate related damage. Assessing the need to clean a drain a condensate drain that is working properly drips any time that an air conditioner is in use.

To clear these clogs you will need to suck them out with a wet dry vac. An absence of a slow drip probably means that the drain is blocked. This will kill any algae mold or mildew that has formed in the pipe. Usually located near the outdoor compressor and attached to the wall of a house the condensate drain pipe is either inch or inch pvc.

Some people try pouring in hot bleach or air conditioning drain line cleaner but none of that will work on a solidified clog in your pipe. You can prevent a clogged ac drain by performing routine cleaning. You will need these items to clean your a c condensate drain. How to clean your air conditioner drain.

Turn the power back on. You ll know your ac drain line is clogged if you see water pooling in the pan underneath the unit inside your home. Draino won t work boiling water won t work. If you have an indoor air handler in your attic or utility closet you ll need to find the condensate pan.

Turn off the power to your hvac system at the thermostat and at the breaker. 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. Here s a step by step guide on how to clean your drain line with vinegar and keep everything operating at peak performance. Secure the cap back on the drain pipe and turn your ac back on.

Clean out your drain line with bleach in early springtime each year to kill mold and mildew and prevent future clogs. Repeat this monthly for the best results. If the condensate drain line is clogged you will need to use a wet dry vacuum or a special pump to unclog the line. Slowly pour one cup of distilled white vinegar into the drain line s opening and let the solution sit for 30 minutes.