Like with any building codes, check with your local building department if any or all of the following requirements apply in your jurisdiction. Even if you don’t like rules, make that attic air conditioner drip pan installation a part of your warm season house maintenance procedures before it will start leaking, and damage the ceiling. The following industry standards apply to locations where accumulating / not draining properly condensate would damage building components, and the attic air conditioner drip pan installation fits right under those standards. The rules listed below are based on 2006 IRC – International Residential Code [….], and 2006 UMC – Uniform Mechanical Code{….}: Protection is required if condensate stoppage would damage building components[IRC] {UMC} : • Secondary AC condensate drain to a conspicuous point of disposal – you need to have a main drain from the coil catch pan located inside the coil compartment and a secondary drain in case the first one gets clogged [IRC] {UMC}.

Both AC condensate drains should discharge in different locations and that secondary drain to some easily accessible / conspicuous location so you can monitor it (code requirement). If you notice condensate dripping from the secondary discharge pipe, it means that the main condensate drain pipe stopped functioning for some reason. The attic air conditioner drip pan installation installers are sometimes tying together both – the primary and the secondary drains, which installation negates the secondary drain purpose. Just think for a moment, if the primary and the secondary pipe discharges in the attic, will you ever go there and check on them? The areas that people install AC condensate secondary discharge pipe: above the kitchen window / through the roof soffit (not over or into the public way), sinks, toilet bowls (if you have some pictures and don’t mind emailing me them for posting online, please let me know). This particular requirement also applies to the down-flow type units (blower motor installed on top / blowing down) with no secondary drain and no means of installing auxiliary drip pan

A central air conditioner condensate trap purpose is to prevent air from being discharged from or sucked back into the “A” coil compartment or air handler during system operation. For the attic air conditioner drip pan installation, a missing trap on the primary AC condensate discharge pipe compromises system’s efficiency. It may also be responsible for condensate drainage problems, internal leaks, mold contamination of the coil compartment wall liner. The next step in the attic air conditioner drip pan installation is to find a place to drain the primary discharge line and the secondary drip pan under the coil. jeep wrangler ac compressor clutchThis is often a challenge for HVAC contractors, especially when dealing with remodeling projects, additions, alterations of the existing property.mcquay hvac units

There are a few, constantly broken rules that apply to the attic air conditioner drip pan installation and the condensate discharge pipe / its terminations in general; There are two very important concerns associated with a direct connection of the attic air conditioner’s condensate discharge pipe to the plumbing system waste or vent pipe; AC condensate might drain indirectly into the waste pipe – an example would be the tub overflow, the sink tailpiece, laundry drain. However, in all those examples, discharge pipe must be connected above the p-trap on the sink side, bathtub overflow side, laundry machine discharge pipe connection side – such connection is called “indirect” waste pipe connection.jual ac portable duduk Here are some of the other locations the AC condensate can discharge to, but under one condition – the lowest point of the condensation drain line must remain at least 2″ above the highest flood level rim of the indirect waste receptor;

What is that “indirect liquid waste receptor” – it is a plumbing fixture (like a sink) with a p-trap installed on its drain line that separates it from the sewer / waste system, and makes the connection indirect. With the attic air conditioner drip pan installation you can try to use the plumbing vent chase or other vertical space between the attic and the lowest level to drop the condensate carrying drain pipes down and discharge them to any of the listed locations. Just make sure that you seal the penetrations on both ends – at the attic floor and at the bottom – for example basement ceiling. Very bad choices for the attic air conditioner drip pan installation and and any other central AC systems condensate discharge pipe terminations;What is a condensate drain line in central air units? A condensate drain is just a pipe that removes water from the evaporator coils. The drain pan or the evaporator pan is located underneath the evaporator coil. Should you install a trap in your condensate drain line?

Yes, installing a p-trap to your condensate drain allows the condensate water to flow freely. Without the p- trap installs, the air handler negative pressure will pull in the positive pressure air, this prevents condensate water from flowing. There is two or one condensate drain pan in central air unitsThe number of drain pan in central air units are depending on the location of the air handler unit. Air handler unit in the ATTICWhen the evaporator coil and drain are located in the attic, it is recommended or required by local code to have two condensate drains. The first drain pan is the known as primary drain pan and the secondary drain pan is known as the auxiliary drain pan. The primary drain pan is within the air handler; it is underneath the evaporator coil. The secondary drain pan is located beneath the air handler; it is not within the close compartment. It purposes is to tell you the first primary drain pan is clog and you need to fix it. It will be drain in a place that is visual;

it is a sign of warning to the homeowner. When an air handler in the basement; it does not required to have an auxiliary drain pan. Where is the condensate drain line on the furnace? A package unit on top of the roof needs to be drain purposely if it is outside; it is not a big deal. In split central air conditioner, the drain line is in the basement or in the attic. Look for a tube that travels from the air handler to outside. The tube could be white colored PVC pipe with P-trap. Some air handler unit will have a condensate pump to help move the water if gravity does not apply. How to install a condensate drain in central air units? Condensate Drain Pump in Furnace UnitDo I need condensate drain pump?If the condensate needs to pump a drain at higher level, it needs the condensate pump. Condensate pump is useful when gravity is useless.Condensate pump will have a float to turn the pump on and some pump will have second float and safety switch to turn the central air units off, if the first float fails.

How much water does a central ac unit produce?Each ton of central air conditioning in a climate with average humidity will produce 48 ounce of liquid (3 pints) per hour of operation. A 4 ton central air conditioner unit will condense about 64 ounce of liquid (12 pints) per hour of operation. The evaporator is removing more than a gallon of moisture per hour. Here is another way to determine how much water your central air units are producing, place a measurable container underneath the condensate outlet of your furnace and see how much it fill the container. Should I drink the condensate water?You should not drink the condensate water; however, it is useful for your garden or grass. What causes condensate water to leak? Leaks will occur when the evaporator coil drain line becomes clog. Some central air unit will not have float switch at the pan to tell the central ac unit when the evaporator pan overflow with condensate water. That is when the leak becomes visual. Clogs condensate line can be caused by attic insulator, insect and airborne particle, such a pollen and dust.

Algae build up in the lines, trap, and pans will clog the drain line. Drain pan can fails – overprotects it by Air handler does have secondary drain pan to protect the sheetrock. The primary and secondary drain line could clog and it will cause mess. The best solution is to install drain pan switch to turn off the condenser unit, whenever the secondary pan water level rises. It low voltage and expensive safety switch connection. The drain pan switch will be wire through the condenser unit. Ask hvac technicians to install it, if you have air handler in the attic. Condensate drain line needs maintenanceThe drain line needs periodic flushing to prevent algae build up and other growth substance. The Ac maintenance should be done by you or by your service HVAC company during annual maintenance or system tune up. If you evaporator coil is in the attic, do not put this off. Flushing the drain line is serious work and it need to be done annual or you face financial problem. You can pour 1/2 cup of bleach into the condensate line once or twice a years.