Importance of keeping your condensate drain line clear

There are many different components in your air conditioning system. Although you may not need to know all of them, the importance of keeping your condensate drain line clear is one you should be very aware of.

Keeping your condensate drain line clear is important to get the best performance possible from  your HVAC system. If you are not familiar with this component does, or why keeping it clean is so important, this post is for you!

What does the condensate drain line do?

You obviously know how humid it can get here in South Carolina, which only makes the environment outdoors even less comfortable. Your air conditioner actually removes the humidity from the air in your house as it cools. Due to our humid environment, this can be a considerable amount of moisture.

The humidity drawn out of the air during the cooling process collects on the system's evaporator coil as condensation. It then drips off that coil and lands in the drain pan. This drain pan connects to the condensate drain line, which whisks the water out of your house. When that drain line gets backed up or clogged due to debris, algae growth or other issues, it can cause serious problems.

Keep the drain line clean!

The most immediate problem with a backed up condensate drain line is water damage. Should the drain line back up, the water can pool out around your air conditioning unit. When that happens, your floor can be damaged. If it is located in your attic, then your ceiling will also be damaged. Another problem to keep in mind is the fact that biological pollutants thrive in damp conditions, and mold can develop.

If your condensate drain line backs up, check to make sure everything is aligned properly. The pan itself may be corroded, causing the leak. Cleaning the drain pan, using a shop vac to pull out any debris, and pouring water, distilled vinegar or peroxide through the line usually solves the problem. Of course, you can call one of our expert technician's here at LHT Cooling, Heating & Refrigeration, Inc., to take care of the problem!