What happens if your AC drain is clogged?

When your drain line clogs, the water that your air conditioner produces has nowhere to go. Likewise, sitting water or water vapor around your air conditioning unit could result in further corrosion or rust of metal parts that make contact with the water or are located near it.

What’s the best way to unclog an AC drain?

Use a wet/dry vacuum to remove the clog. If you don’t have a wet/dry vacuum, skip to the next step. If you do have a wet/dry vacuum, you can try removing the clog by attaching the wet/dry vacuum to the end of the AC drain line. Turn on the vacuum for about a minute to suck out the clog and excess water in the line.

What happens if your air conditioner drain line is clogged?

A clogged air conditioner drain line will result in water overflowing in the condensate pan, which can then damage your AC and even your home. Your AC’s drain line is a good breeding ground for molds to thrive. Without regular maintenance, sludge, bacteria and algae will accumulate inside.

Where is the drain line in an AC unit?

Find your AC drain line. Most AC drain lines are located outside, near the condenser unit. Push the stiff, thin brush into the end of the drain line. This might clear any clogs located near the end of the drain line. In most cases, the AC drain line clog will occur farther down and you’ll need to do a little more work.

What should I do if my AC unit is clogged?

If you are unable to clear the clog this way after a full minute, then you may need to call an HVAC company to come inspect your unit. You can make sure you cleared the clog by pouring some water into the drain line’s access hole, located inside your home where the drain line comes out of the unit, and watching to see if it runs out the other end.

What causes your air conditioning drain line to clog?

Over time, sludge and buildup form in your condensate drain line. This debris can include mold and mildew, algae, bacteria, fungus and even small plants. Once enough buildup accrues, the blockage will become too large and create a clog in the line, causing water to back up into the AC drain pan.

How do you clean air conditioner drain lines?

How to Clean Air Conditioner Drain Line With Vinegar in 6 Steps | Drain Line Cleaning. You can prevent a clogged AC drain by performing routine cleaning. By pouring a ¼ cup of vinegar into your AC’s drain line, you will kill any mold, algae, mildew, and other forms of bacteria or fungi, preventing it from forming a buildup and causing a clog.

How do you unclog the AC drain line?

For that reason, we’re detailing two methods for unclogging your AC drain line — one for small clogs and one for large. Step 1. Turn off your HVAC system. Step 3. Remove the cleaning port cap. Step 4. Assess the clog. Step 8. Turn your HVAC system back on. Step 1. Turn off your HVAC system. Step 3. Remove the cleaning port cap.

How do you blow out a condensate line?

Another way that you can clean out a condensate line is by using a type of air gun, also known as a gallow gun. What it is basically is a gun that you load up with c02 cartridges, you cut the pvc line and insert the gun into the line and blow away. This usually does a fairly good job of cleaning the line out.