Keeping Your Condensate Drain Clog-Free

January 14th, 2019 Posted in Air Conditioning Service and Repair
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One of the key elements of an air conditioner is the evaporator coil, which cools the air as it passes over or through the coils. As this occurs, condensation accumulates and needs to be drained. The condensate drain is essential for removing the moisture created in the cooling process, but it is possible for it to become clogged. If this happens, water can overflow and leak into your home, causing expensive water damage. Keeping the condensate drain clear is an important maintenance issue to protect your home and the efficiency of your AC unit.

Condensate Drain Maintenance

What clogs condensate drains in AC units? Usually clogs are due to dust, pet hair or mold that get inside the drain lines. A quality AC filter can help reduce the amount of dust and debris that can make it inside the unit, but mold is always a possibility. If you have a tune-up or annual service performed on your AC unit at least once a year, the drain should be cleaned during this service. However, you can clean the drain periodically during the cooling season to prevent clogs.

To clean the drain, using boiling water to clear the PVC or drain tubing is usually all that is needed. You can check with your HVAC service or your AC manual to see if a cleaning solution or bleach water option is recommended.

If a drain clog does occur, you want to ensure that your AC shuts off and does not overflow water into your home. Make sure to ask your HVAC service professional about installing an emergency shut-off feature, that will turn off the AC unit if the condensate drain becomes clogged to protect your home from damage.

Posted on behalf of:
ClimateSmith, LLC
1925 Lena Carter Road
Buford, GA 30519
(770) 475-9528

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5 Reasons to Call an HVAC Service for a Diagnostic

September 4th, 2018 Posted in Air Conditioning Service and Repair
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Rarely does an HVAC system stop working without giving some warning signs. Usually your HVAC system will start acting differently before it breaks down. Knowing what to look for can help you avoid a complete loss of climate control on those hot or cold days when you need it most. Here are five signs that should have you reaching for your phone to call an HVAC service for a diagnostic.

  1. Strange sounds. Often an HVAC unit will become louder or make strange noise right before it finally stops. Do not ignore odd sounds from your HVAC system; call for a diagnostic to find out what is wrong.
  2. Unpleasant odors. Do you smell burning or an electrical odor when your HVAC system is running? There may be trouble in the wiring. Not only could this impact your HVAC system, it could be a fire risk.
  3. Thermostat not working right. Does your HVAC turn on or off at the wrong temperature settings? Thermostat problems can cost you on your utility bills and eventually lead to a breakdown.
  4. Moisture. If you notice condensation on or around your unit, there could be a leak or other issue with your air conditioning.
  5. No heat or cold air. If only the fan is blowing, but no heated or cooled air, your HVAC is already in need of service and its time to call in the experts.

Save your less the time and frustration of a HVAC breakdown by proactively watching for signs of trouble. A quick diagnostic can help your HVAC professional find and fix the issue before it causes more damage to your unit and a possible shutdown.

Posted on behalf of:
ClimateSmith, LLC
3870 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. Suite 340-129
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 475-9555

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Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Water?

June 18th, 2014 Posted in HVAC Maintenance
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It’s completely normal for your air conditioner to create water through condensation when it’s working properly. But, if you are finding pools of water near your air conditioner, you may have a problem. While shutting off the unit will stop the problem for the moment, you need to address the underlying issue. Understanding why your air conditioning unit may be leaking can help you solve the problem. 

Why Air Conditioners Create Water

We have all seen what happens to a cold glass of water on a hot day. Water condenses on the outside of the glass, dripping down the sides onto the surface below. The same is true of an air conditioning unit. As refrigerant expands and cools inside the air conditioning unit’s coils, cooling the air that is pushed out of the unit, this causes condensation on the outside of the coils. This water then drips into a drain pan that should be draining the water outside. However, if this drain line becomes clogged, that water can overflow onto the floor near your air conditioner. 

This back-up of water can damage your floor and also cause problems with your air conditioning unit. If you know where your drain line is, you can attempt to remove the clog yourself. However, if you are not sure where it is or cannot access it, it’s time to call your air conditioning service company. They can perform a full inspection to make sure the unit is working properly, remove any clogs from the drain line and ensure no more damage is caused to your home or unit from the backed up water.

Posted on behalf of James Smith, ClimateSmith LLC

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