Hvac Condensate Drain Line Trap

Traps with insufficient height between the inlet and outlet design deficiency on draw through systems can cause the drain to back up when the fan is on possibly causing drain pan overflow or water droplet carryover into the duct system.

Hvac condensate drain line trap.

The condensate drain line connected to your ac unit plays a vital role in the effective operation of your entire system. In our opinion and as we discuss in these articles while a trap on a condensate drain line usually provided quite close to the condensate collection pan itself can reduce the chances of sewer gases backing up from a condensate drain that has been connected to the building dwv vent piping not a procedure we recommend a conventional p trap in the condensate drain will not protect against all sewer gas backup possibilities. The imc states that condensate drains should be trapped according to manufactures specs however wording was added in imc 307 2 4 1 that states that ductless systems must either have a check valve or a trap in the condensate line. Trap failures due to freeze up drying out breakage blockage and or improper installation can compromise the seal against air ingestion through the condensate drain line.

The only code requirements for drain lines removing condensate from hvac equipment are. If the condensate drain line is clogged you will need to use a wet dry vacuum or a special pump to unclog the line. Ultimately your condensate line is responsible for removing the condensation that s produced by the evaporator coil draining it from the air handler to the outside of your house. A p trap serves a very important purpose on an a c unit.

See when moist air hits something cold the water condenses out of the air and collects on the cold surface. A central air system routes condensation through a u shaped trap located in the drain line just outside the air handler. While most manufacturers don t specify this on this gravity ductless drains it is something to look out for. B that the drain lines slope toward the final drainage point at a rate of 1 8 inch per foot.

The drip pan connects to the condensate drain line which carries water out of the home. Air conditioning units pull a lot of water out of the air. Just pour a cup of bleach in the drain line s access opening near the indoor air conditioning unit. When the drip pan becomes full or clogged or the condensate line is clogged water can spill over the drip pan s edges onto the floor surrounding the unit.

It s similar to the trap under your kitchen or bathroom sink. This will kill any algae mold or mildew that has formed in the pipe. All air conditioners have a special drain for this condensation.