If you’ve ever held a glass of ice water in your hand in a room temperature area you will notice that water collects on the outside of the glass. This is condensation.

In an air conditioning unit the same phenomena occurs. Condensated water collects inside an A/C unit. This water needs to drain out of the unit. Underneath where the condensation occurs there is a pan into which the condensate drains. This is the primary pan and will be piped via a pitched PVC pipe into the drainage system of the home. One way this is done is by using a tee fitting on the drain line under the bathroom or a “hole-in-the-head” fitting behind a bath tub drain.

In case that drain line ever backs up or doesn’t drain for some reason there is a secondary drip pan underneath the primary. This is piped separately to the exterior of the home allowing the homeowner to see if there is a wet spot under the eave and know if something needs to be addressed. It is piped out to be visible.

As a homeowner you should occasionally walk around the perimeter of your home so you can locate the pipes and know where they are. The A/C condensate drain pipe will be:

• Sticking out of the eave a couple of inches directly down so it will drip onto the ground below.
• Out of the wall (In this case there will be a 90 degree ell pointing down with a short length of pipe so that it drips lower.)

When you do your routine walk-around outside of your home and notice any condensation contact us. We will come out and make sure your primary drain pipe is cleared so that your secondary drain pipe won’t be dripping water into your yard, or worse, through your ceiling.

The older the system is, the more common it is to see these lines backed up. Over time all kinds of muck accumulates and has to be blown out. If you notice wet spots in your ceiling they really need to be checked out before they get worse. Call us today, 972-424-6479.