Clearing AC condensation drains

[miketyler]

My new place has attic-installed air handlers. The primary drains go right from the unit to the drain system. Both units TEE into the same drain line. The main unit drain gets clogged and then it starts filling the pan and draining thru the secondary drain and exits off the side of the house to the guttering.

I got one of the C02 blow guns designed just for this. It worked last year but isnt working this time. I am forcing air down the vent pipe which is only a couple of feet from the air handler. I dont think I'm getting all the pressure directed to the far end of the drain. I disassembled the unit so to try and block off thjat end but access was poor.

I guess I am going to have to cut the PVC pipe so I can get air down stream of the pee trap. Is this normal? I need to establish a way to service this so I dont have to keep cutting and joining each time I need to clear the line. Anyone done this before?

[bard]

I cut my line and forced water from a garden hose down it to clear the clog over 10 years ago. I didn't glue it back up. I greased a coupling with vaseline and wrapped the connection with duct tape to make sure it didn't slide apart. I check under it every time I'm up to change the filter. No leaks so far. You could probably do the same thing with a couple of worm clamps and a rubber hose for a more secure connection.

[doopie]

I cut mine apart and added PVC Valves and a garden hose connection to it so I could clear drains and redirect as needed. IT was quite the work of art of plumbing and worked well.

I would pour bleach down annually in the spring to get it cleared and then run the garden hose through it for ten minutes. Would make a mess in the sink downstairs due to the pressure but never had any issues with it using the telltale drain anymore

[miketyler]

Wow - some good ideas there. I don't have a good way to get the water hose up into my attic but an open/close valve inline would help.

[Dacotua]

put a cup of 50/50 mix bleach water into the Tee every yearh. This will keep your drain unplugged.

[jyro]

Those condensate drains sometimes dump in there. Usually it's on a hose with 2 clamps and it's kinked, or when they installed the drain they didn't cut the stright piece enough from the p- trap to allow it to drain freely. Check under the sinks and clean the drain there if you find one. Those guys putting a garden hose in their attic to force it out are just asking for a real mess.

Don't let any bleach get into your condensate drain at the coil, it will eat all the galvanizing off the coil and turn it into a leaking rust bucket.