When humidity soars in summer, your air conditioning unit releases quite a lot of steam into your indoor air. A functional system uses a drip pan to collect the steam as it condenses and drains it from your AC. However, if the condensate drain system malfunctions, water can spill into your home and cause significant damage.

Here are a few common condensate drain system issues and how to resolve them.  

Dry Drain Trap

A drain trap is a U-shaped trap in your PVC drain pipe that looks like the trap under your kitchen sink. Since the condensate drain usually connects to your sewer line, the drain trap contains some water that averts sewer gas backups.

Unfortunately, once your AC sits dormant for a prolonged period over the winter season, the drain trap can dry up, and you will notice a pungent sewer gas odor when you turn on your AC. 

To replenish the drain trap, pour some water into your system's drain pan, and you will keep off the sewer odors. Also, the drain trap can block and impede proper water flow. This situation creates an environment for fungus, mold, and mildew to thrive. So, have your drain trap inspected and maintained routinely to eliminate these issues. 

Full Pan or Standing Water

A little water in the drip pan isn't a cause for concern. But standing water and a constantly full condensate pan can be a sign of trouble. Standing or overflowing water occurs when algae or mold clog the condensate drain line. Eventually, water fills the drain pan and overflows. 

If you don't notice the overflowing water in good time, the flooding can severely ruin your drywall, flooring, and AC equipment. Regular AC maintenance is key to preventing clogs that leads to overflow issues. Additionally, an HVAC professional can install an AC float switch that shuts down your unit before the drain pan overflows. 

Coil Icing and Faulty Drip Pan

The buildup of debris on the evaporator coils obstructs the heat exchange process. Consequently, the dirty evaporator coils can't absorb indoor heat properly, so condensate becomes cold and freezes.

When you turn off the system, the coil ice block melts rapidly, and water begins to drip on the surface. To resolve coil icing issues, you should hire a professional to check whether reduced refrigerant levels or insufficient airflow are to blame. 

The drip pan collects the water that drips from the evaporator coils. Sadly, plastic drip pans split and leak over time, and you will notice water pooling on the floor. Your technician can replace the broken drip pan. 

If you experience any of these problems with your condensate drain system, reach out to a qualified air conditioning expert for help. Also, keep up with regular AC maintenance to ensure your system stays efficient the entire summer.   

Contact a local air conditioning service for more information. 

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