HVAC Contractors Hate Me For Sharing This Secret

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Опубликовано:

5 апр 2024

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Комментарии : 431

@michaelvittori8525 2 дня назад

A few years back my AC abruptly stopped working and I immediately called the AC repairman. He promptly showed up, connected a shopvac to my drain line, sucked out the debris, charged me $100 and left (all in ten minutes time). Needless to say, I purchased my own shopvac directly afterwords.

@USMCAllTheWay День назад

Wow, $100 is a very fair price.

@TheJorgSacul 21 день назад

I had to call for service about just this thing many years ago (2003) . The technician who came out invited me to watch every step of his process, and made sure that I understood that I could do this preventively in the future. For his hour of time he only charged me $35, which was pretty remarkable, considering he also gave me valuable training that has saved me quite a bit over the years. I was very sad when his company sold off his customer list when he retired. Now the company is one of the "advertises on the evening local news" HVAC companies, and they are in the business of selling new units at every opportunity. FORTUNATELY... I married into a family that has a relative who is co-owner of an HVAC company, and he's both young and honest. Your videos are top notch and very useful!

@TheHippieatheart63 3 дня назад

The deserve repeat business when you need them, good for you. When I change my filter, Monthly, I pour a half a cup bleach down a T that I installed at the outlet of the air handler in my house to give me access to keep my condensate line clear. I don't wait until it's clogged causing problems. It's called preventive maintenance. Shop vac is a good way too without my T solution. Both Easy Peasy.

@LunkerFishing 4 дня назад

My A/C techs years ago directed me to never use bleach as you described or even vinegar. They recommend using a shop vacuum at the drain outside and pour hot tap water in the P trap you showed in the video. I am in Central Florida and do that several times a year just to make sure, especially just before the hot season and once again in early August. I suck out nasty white goo after pouring over a gallon of how water through the system. I have done this for years and never have a problem with the drain becoming blocked.

@jorilea_jarrasept6583 2 месяца назад

I use painters tape to seal the hose end to the drain pipe to suction. I also ziptie fine mesh screen over the drain pipe end to prevent insects from entering it.

@dankelley9361 2 месяца назад

Great information, a little maintenance on this condensate line can minimize a lot of downtime on your AC unit. They always get plugged up at the worst times!

@johnduffy6546 Месяц назад

Excellent video that most people just plain don't know about. This is the kind of stuff that evrey home owner needs to know. Thank you for sharing

@Dbb27 Месяц назад

Thank you for a great video. I have 4 units and have started doing some of the cleaning myself. I really appreciate your saying not to put pressure through the lines as I was thinking why not do that instead of being on the receiving end and sucking it out. Definitely won’t do it. Really appreciate!

@karenstein8261 Месяц назад

When I ran my drain line, I used electrical PVC “sweep” elbows so I would be able, if necessary, to push a fish tape or small snake through to clear any clogs. As an alternative, I could use a vacuum to pull a string through, then use the string to pull a foam “mouse” through. So far there hasn’t been any problems with my drain. Proper planning prevents problems.

@RhettBrown 2 месяца назад

Maybe somebody said it already, but a pool noodle really helps connect the vac to the drain line.

@diyhvacguy 2 месяца назад

Nice!! Maybe I’ll try that next time!

@reelivin8112 Месяц назад

Like the content, just retired from hvac business of 40 years. Only 1 suggestion I noticed over the years, I would not use vinegar in the condensate for 2 reasons. 1 - it will eat thru the glue joints if used quarterly 2 - it acts as a solvent or etching liquid with copper piping/solder joints. Great information for the general public, I commend you for it.

@charlesterrizzi8311 Месяц назад

Vinegar cannot eat the pvc glue, neither can bleach. Hell even muriatic acid won’t touch it. These are silly myths. Condensate lines can remove 4-9 gallons of water per day in the green grass states especially. A pint of bleach a quarter won’t do much

@jimbroburrito9374 Месяц назад

Wow what an honor to be commenting to an HVAC vet! I just started my apprenticeship and ive already learned so much but ik theres still much to grasp. One question, what would be the best alternative to vinegar in a scenario where you would need to flush the pipes?

@19K7635 Месяц назад

I thought that was bleach that would eat the joints?

@ralphpagan3371 Месяц назад

Never use bleach or vinegar

@Jay-vj1km Месяц назад

Thanks for your advice. So what would you recommend? Just use plain water?

@peckerpeter2078 2 месяца назад

Older units don’t have an easy access panel to condensation coils or the pan. Taking P-trap cap off using funnel best option on longer runs pouring a warm mixed bleach gallon of water and then running a shop vac at the other end is best. My home 28 years old at the time was clogged very bad. What you just showed in video most never clean ever, it’s a good idea to do yearly.. Along with cleaning dryer vents with shop vac especially if you have long runs. Can use shop vac at exhaust end, and blower or air nozzle from inside dryer side running at the same time . That gets rid of a lot of blockage. People don’t realize if you don’t clean out your dryer vents the lint that gets caught in there (mainly because they screwed it together , and the screws are sticking so far in the vent it catches the lint )is a major cause of fires Over time. A good indication is it’s taking way too long to dry your clothes then it was taken before.

@irmafacundo7107 2 месяца назад

Thank you just appreciate your honesty and making our HVAC more efficiently n helping my budget as a 75 year woman.thxs

@mattsanchez4893 22 дня назад

My condensate line drains into my washer drain inside my house so luckily I never have to worry about this, nor a messy puddle next to my outside unit.

@williamd8886 Месяц назад

I have two units in the attic and I am a senior citizen. Today I bought a shop vac and there were some fine particles of yellow dust when I checked. Your video has convinced me that by doing this once a year will keep me from climbing ladders. Thank you!

@diyhvacguy Месяц назад

Yes it will!!

@dgiacco Месяц назад

Yes it will but do it about 3 times a year!! Also use algae tabs. I'm the president of my HOA here in SE Florida and I send out emails reminding all of my homeowners about this issue at the end of April.

@williamd8886 Месяц назад

I live in Phoenix AZ and in August is the worst time of the year for us. Easy home project with the shop vac

@bethhayes1 Месяц назад

Yes! Here in FL. My son uses a shop vac to regularly suction out the condensate drain. Fixes it every time!

@roamiblu1833 Месяц назад

My dad has a shop vac! Thanks for this!

@derekholdt9707 29 дней назад

Suction is not a verb.

@roamiblu1833 29 дней назад

@@derekholdt9707 It can be used as both.

@jakemccoy 28 дней назад

@@derekholdt9707”Suction” can be a verb. Look it up.

@NotSoSimple741 2 месяца назад

Here in the Midwest where we have basements, our AC condensate tube runs to the sump basin and eventually gets pumped outside the house. And my gravity fed tube actually backed up a few years ago causing water to pool on the floor. So it's always a good idea to periodically inspect that tube for proper drainage.

@munozinni 2 месяца назад

6:09 Hola 👋 señor Dave I’m glad you made this video cause one big problem that I noticed when I was working in remodeling was that the drain pan in the attic the pvc pipe got clogged with some debris and the drain pan started collecting the water that can’t drain out and then the pan started dripping onto the ceiling and then water damage and then chaos 😫I had to go in the attic remove all the wet insulation and work around the AC guys then cut out the sheet rock ceiling dry out all the joists and put new insulation and install new Sheetrock tape and bed texture and paint and “ just like nothing ever happened “👀😳I hope your followers will check this to avoid the problem of a huge problem…Gracias!!! for helping us with your knowledge I hope you have a great day and a great weekend…Saludos!!!👋😃👋

@thisisyourcaptainspeaking2259 2 месяца назад

This is a very big problem, it's caused by the condensate drain getting clogged. Configuration of the drain system and regular maintenance are crutial.

@whochecksthis 2 месяца назад

It is CRUCIAL that you have water safety switches in the pan and on the drain lines. Water damage is a huge mess.

@Readerb86g Месяц назад

I'm in Florida and had this issue about 3 years ago. Contractor came out and I saw the method first hand and no more than 3 months later, same issue. My AC is located with the pan about 4 feet above the ground level outside but the original install had the PVC pipe of about 4 feet horizontal before it angled down to the garage floor and then beneath the floor to the outside. Gravity had bowed the horizontal portion at least to the diameter of the pipe. I replaced the pipe just outside of the pan with a 90-degree elbow down, then some clear tubing to two 45's to horizontal. Then a tee with the ability to drain down as well as across to the original pipe near the floor. A valve beneath the tee, when open, causes the condensate to drop down from the tee and travel to a series of 5 gallon buckets in the garage. I get easily (during humid times) 50 gallons over about 2+ to 3 days. If I need to bug out for a few days I close the valve and that diverts the flow to the outside. A rare occasion. 750 gallons a month for plants and I have not had an issue since. Special case though since the pan elevation has to be high enough to allow for the water to drain by gravity into your buckets.

@Jim-fe2xz 21 день назад

When they built my house the hvac guy ran the drain down to the slab and cut it off flush with the outside wall before they stuccoed it. We were in the desert an it was usually dry but one August it was humid, the water backed up an shorted out the blower motor. I was able to measure carefully, chiseled out the stucco and found the pipe first try. A coupler & short piece of pipe plus a small piece of screen to keep the bugs out and all was good.

@kenth.832 2 месяца назад

Thank you the valuable info. I’ll be checking mine out soon. Thanks again!!

@Ratlins9 2 месяца назад

Thanks!, you’ve helped me so many times. My only regret is I don’t have an HVAC in town with your honesty.

@diyhvacguy 2 месяца назад

Thanks so much!! I truly appreciate followers like yourself. Where are you located? I’m always looking for trustworthy hvac contractors in different cities.

@Ratlins9 2 месяца назад

@@diyhvacguy Milford,Pennsylvania

@CC-hv5hk 2 месяца назад

Well go to the next town chep o.

@MarieJackson-sp3be 2 месяца назад

Thank you. I'm going to change my air filter right now.

@LeftCoastConservative 2 месяца назад

Very nice service recommendations, appreciate your feedback each year Thank you.

@gened9632 20 дней назад

There may be comments covering this, but I would also notify the uninitiated about their secondary line. It's rare that I run across someone who actually knows why that PVC is sticking out over their kitchen window. If they do proper maintenance on their primary drain, they'll never know what it's for. But once they see that dripping...

@esarlls3 Месяц назад

Here in Houston, the condenser is in the attic and the main condensation drain line runs into the top of a vent stack. You might hear it dripping in the plumbing inside the wall while it's running but it won't be visible outside. If the main line is obstructed, the overflow pan will start filling. This typically drains out under the eave. If you see water dripping from a pipe under the eave it's time to check for obstructions upstairs.

@frankiec5570 6 дней назад

The condenser is in the attic!? Or the coil? I’ve never heard of a condenser being installed in an attic.

@Chris-ik5ue 2 дня назад

@@frankiec5570More than likely it's the condenser, not the compressor. Air handlers are often put up in attics. When placed in the attic there should be a main condensate line plus an auxiliary line that drips in an area that is noticeable (over a doorway is a good place because you will see it coming in or out of your house. The convenience of seeing the supplemental line dripping outweighs the aesthetics of a condensate line coming out of soffit). The second line is only there if the first line fails so water will only come out if the main condensate line has a problem. The secondary condensate line won't drip unless the main one has a problem so you don't have to worry about water always coming out. And always have an alarm on the pan that is hooked up to the air handler. The alarm float will turn the air handler off so if both lines are clogged there won't be water damage. I can't tell you how many houses I go in and see the top floor ceiling with a water stain from HVAC systems condensate lines clogging in the attic. One other thing I've seen that causes the secondary condensate line to clog is when people go in the attic and accidentally kick - spill attic insulation into the pan. If the main line gets clogged it drips into the pan. Once the pan fills up enough the attic insulation will float to the entrance of the secondary condensate line and clog it up. That's why an alarm with float is a solid way to protect yourself.

@cu0ngpitt 2 месяца назад

i had a clogged condensate drain with a lot of bends for my drain pipe and the vacuum method only got some of the gunk out. it was still clogged and my drain pan continued to overflow. i got the idea of pouring some chlorine into the pan and it started foaming a lot. after letting it sit for about 15 min, i came back and there was lots of gunk floating in the pan. i continued to wait and the clog eventually cleared itself. i now use those tabs you recommend and hope to never have to deal with a clogged condensate drain again.

@stevenjakowski5585 Месяц назад

FYI, new systems have all aluminum evaporator coils. And if you use bleach (which is corrosive) you can damage it. This especially on electric air handlers because instead of pushing air through the evaporator coil on a gas furnace, the air is pulled through the evaporator coil. Which could potentially pull the bleach into the evaporator coil area. Best to use white vinegar only. Also you can disassemble your condensation pump for better cleaning. On this type of pump there's a clip on the side to remove the tray.

@lgrantnelson2863 2 месяца назад

Reminds me of a company where I did facility maintenance. Twice I got a call saying it was raining in the computer room. Both times I ascertained it was the HVAC unit. I grabbed a portable air bottle and blew the line out. I got four hours for twenty minutes of work. They finally got the HVAC guys to regularly clean the drain.

@mikemcdermott1026 Месяц назад

I was a painter in florida hospital 40 yrs i worked weekends in the ER THE same room would get flooded every so often ,tv every thing soaked the air handler the next floor would shut down and dump out water, when they had power bumps

@zatomb2574 29 дней назад

Great vid. My basement ac is different but the basics still apply. Here are some differences. The p trap is the worst area 4 me imcluding buildup of dead bugs and wasps, probably comimg in via the furmace vent that doesn't have a screen yet. I pour diluted bleach there into the transparent p trap. Evidently this is a common spot to clog since the installers put in access for a u shaped brush to clean out the trap. Mine drains into the basement drain probably because of.cold winters and high efficiency furnace condensate.

@quarklan 2 месяца назад

Great info, going to try those PurCool tablets this spring and summer.

@Ronaldl2350 2 месяца назад

Thanks for another great tip. I use my shop vac to clean the drain on a regular basis.

@para1324 Месяц назад

A professionals advice. Thank you very much. Respect sent. 🇺🇸

@jorgeposadas1192 Месяц назад

Thankyou, very informative, now I got work to do.

@princessalaina4589 2 месяца назад

I always use a shop vac connrcted to my a/c discharge pipe and run it for about 10 minutes, once a month. I also add 8 oz of NuLine condensate drain cleaner to the air handler every two months.

@FinickyGreek 5 дней назад

Priceless info. Thanks for the free education.

@USNveteran 2 месяца назад

Thanks for the tip. I do the bleach thing every year both upstairs & downstairs a few ounces of bleach in a gallon of water in both drains. My reminder to do this is every year when I clean my electronic air cleaners I do this, never had a problem with my drains. FLY NAVY!!!

@poolahpot 2 месяца назад

what is a "few"??

@USNveteran 2 месяца назад

@@poolahpot I guess you are asking for my interpretation rather than asking google (a small number) so here's my take. One ounce is one, a couple is two, a few is three. Are you a lawyer or just planning to go to law school? FLY NAVY!!!

@c50ge 2 месяца назад

I agree with your method, straight bleach can be tough on the pump. By putting 1/2 gallon through the system treats the pump and all of the pipes

@chuckbolik7060 2 месяца назад

Hoo-yah !

@frankiec5570 6 дней назад

The bleach vapors can wreck havoc on your evap coil. Would not recommended bleach. Any hvac manufacturer would say the same. You’re risking serious damage to the evap coil. This tech should know this. I question his actual real life experience

@MaMa-qh4dy 2 месяца назад

GREAT advice. Many thanks!!!

@jeffreyplumber1975 Месяц назад

Great Vid! I already kinew this but its a reminder to do mine again . So Cal 90 percent of homes drain into a wye branch tail piece at a sink , then we dump secondary over a window. Im in plumbing but facinated with hvac as well. I use warm water and bleach

@frankiec5570 6 дней назад

Don’t ever use bleach. It will destroy evap coils. Even the vapors will do damage.

@vics945 2 месяца назад

Ty for the info… be blessed.

@hitekrednek66 2 месяца назад

Great info sir. The a coil tab was something new to me and I like it. Gonna give that try. Great content my friend.

@diyhvacguy 2 месяца назад

Thanks sir! Thank you for your loyal support 👊🏼

@debk6161 7 дней назад

Thank you so much for helping people! 🏆

@chrisknight3681 27 дней назад

In south Texas the condensate runs into the house plumbing. No outside unless the drain pan gets full then it flows out near the front door. So vacuum won’t work here.

@jbussell9 Месяц назад

I’ve found it easier to link a water hose, stick the end in the outside fitting of the condensate line, unkink the hose for about 2 seconds, pull it out and let the suction to the work. So easy anyone can do it and everyone has a hose but not everyone has a shop vac. Just be careful not to use too much water or you’ll overflow the line.

@rncine 29 дней назад

I could have used you last week. Here in Florida they put the units up in the attic and the condensers outside. 3 wks ago had my air guy check my units and change the filters, everything was fine. Then a week later my ceiling was leaking, seems this guy dislodged something in 1 of the units when changing the filter and caused a backup of the condensation overflowing in the pan and leaking into all the attic and ceiling! Now caused thousands of dollars of damage, he is fired.

@shauste 2 месяца назад

I just tried this and it worked for me. Nice tip!

@diyhvacguy 2 месяца назад

Awesome!!

@colettejaques2559 Месяц назад

Excellent video!! Im doing that now....thank you

@all4onejerzyd.344 Месяц назад

THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS VIDEO, AND ALL YOUR OTHER VIDEOS THEY HELPED TREMENDOUSLY... I just wanted to say if I knew this 2 years ago it would have been so much easier for me, because my unit is in the attic and I have a tight attic but it we had a leak up there and we thought it was the attic fan or something else , anyway I started to have a leak upstairs from the unit in the attic to the upstairs was coming down from the upstairs hallway ceiling and ruining one of the walls so I call someone I know, he got up in the attic and he used a air gun or some type of pressure gun I don't know what it's called in the plumbing industry?? But he told me to go out back to where all the gun comes out through the condescending pipe I guess and once he blew that are gun into the PVC pipe or the pipe in the attic I should have had a mark which pipe it was, but needless to say a bunch of Gunk came out from that pipe out back, the league stopped immediately. So thank you for making this video and all the videos you make keep making the great content.. IF YOU OR ANYBODY READING THE COMMENTS KNOW WHAT THAT AIR OR PRESSURE GUN THAT GOES IN THE PVC PIPE AND GET THE GUNK OUT IF ANYONE KNOWS WHAT THAT'S CALLED PLEASE LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS THANK YOU DIY HVAC GUY APPRECIATE ALL THE VIDEOS...

@MrRight-MAGA 2 месяца назад

Good info brother. Going to subscribe to those filters.

@Lepek29 2 месяца назад

Thanks a lot for these tips.

@marsoelflaco5722 2 месяца назад

The right tools and a little know-how makes all the difference.✌🏾

@henrymartin420 3 дня назад

All of which you don’t have lol have at it

@petem5904 Месяц назад

I couldn't fully clear my condensate line by vacuuming, blowing, flushung etc. Always backed up and shut the system down. Came across a link to pour muriatic acid in the condensate line, let it sit for 30 minutes, then flush it out with hot water, cleared the line perfectly. I was told condensate from your ac is not only water but a mixture of pollution it's discharging called Sima. It's like a film similar to a snake skin that was shed.

@munozinni 2 месяца назад

9:17 Wow We might try that my wife keeps the house clean and smelling good with esencial oil diffuser 😊…see you in the next video 👋😃👋

@MarkSmith-js2pu Месяц назад

When 8 was an insurance adjuster, I’d get at least 1 claim a week from clogged ac lines. Many of the leaks started AFTER servicing.

@charlespaine987 2 месяца назад

I did HVAC in an industrial facility (About 8 million sq feet or A/C floor space ,hundreds of units)every year we fought that battle. In machining areas oils and chemicals were troublesome. We were prohibited from using any of common evaporator tabs(air chemical contamination). Condensate pumps failed regularly .

@joesmith7427 Месяц назад

I like an electric air cleaner and UV-C lights in the duct work. Change the tubs 1x per yr. Keep the outside coil clean. For the cost of service, it pays to use a good a/c man. And he can add freon if u need it( this is very important- too little and the unit will never shut off!! 😊 the outside unit should be in the shade not the sun!! Just stand in the sun for 10 minutes and see how hot is?? Real hot!! Thats why u hire the a/c man to do the work!

@NathanHarrison7 2 месяца назад

Great video. Thank you so much. Subscribed.

@scottmactavish9716 2 месяца назад

4:59 "That's...impressive". In south Florida, it's "was ALL THAT in the pipes??" You can't comprehend how quickly "snot" builds up in HVAC drain lines.

@Dbb27 Месяц назад

Lol exactly what I was thinking. I get big lumps like elephants snot coming out!

@wayneG68 26 дней назад

Wow! I cannot tell you how many times we've had this issue and the cost involved in a downed AC. What I've done is pushed my hose pipe up the pvc pipe and flushed the pipe on the outside.

@frankiec5570 6 дней назад

Why would you do this? You’re literally spraying water the opposite direction of the drain, and risking flooding the evap coil which would leak out into your blower and electrical components in the FAU, or leak out into your home/attic. Not a good idea to spray water up through the drain.

@thomasdarwin6174 2 дня назад

A plumber had to snake mine out last year and he recommended using Pine-Sol to maintain it. Check it every year. I had water all over my garage from the AC closet in a manner of minutes.

@cocoabiscuits 2 месяца назад

very good information! Thank you

@zacattack4029 2 месяца назад

Great info thank you for your help.

@loum.4377 2 месяца назад

What a great channel You are an excellent teacher.

@diyhvacguy 2 месяца назад

Thank you so much

@dgapp76 2 месяца назад

I use a cheap hand held Harbor Freight transfer pump with hose connected to a rubber wedge to seal to the PVC pipe. You can push air and pull air. Very effective without using high pressure compressed air. Many homes I come across have what I call a "plumbers special" under the sink where the condensate tees into the sink drain before the trap. Many plumbers use a tee fitting where the sink drain tailpipe extends down thru the tee, restricting the flow of AC condensate. The trick is to cut that tailpipe back where both the sink drain and condensate drain have full flow. Then I connect the condensate drain back with a rubber coupling (if it's rigid PVC) for easier future accessibility. Also, using a quarter turn ball valve at the evaporator with a tee right after enables you to clear the drain line without cutting the pipe in the future.

@mrBDeye 2 месяца назад

Shop Vac works

@colettejaques2559 Месяц назад

His way is easy....I can do it.

@anthonygrasso8620 Месяц назад

I used 2 shop vacs and I melted the plastic. One sucking and one blowing. Wasn’t working. My best approach that worked was a water hose. In Florida what came out was the same mineral deposits as what you would expect from a water heater. Which confused me. Cause I was like this is condensate not Florida hard water Great video…. For men. This will happen when you’re out of town and your lady calls you freaking out that water is all in the garage and you can’t immediately solve the problem.

@brianzachary5618 Месяц назад

I like to block the vent pipe. Usually I use a piece of duct tape. Often the clog is upstream of the vent and the pipe at that point may remain clogged if the vent is open. Many units have a trap. I see the clog occur in the trap very often. The trap is upstream of the vent.

@barrygrant2907 2 месяца назад

I vacuum out the drain about twice a year here in S. FL. Nasty stuff always comes out.

@MatthewSmith-cp3hu 2 месяца назад

i flush monthly even during the winter easier to just keep up the habit monthly i use gallon hot water and a few drops of dawn

@Iamllumash 28 дней назад

Thanks Brother..Very helpful

@ljprep6250 2 месяца назад

Just had the HVAC tuneup 4 months ago and I got a cup of water and some slime out of the drain pipe. Deep sigh... I was very unhappy half a dozen years ago when the A/C stopped working on a 113F day. And I was very happy the next day when I ran across an HVAC guy at my chiro's office and bought a $15 cap from him which fixed my unit.

@markme4 Месяц назад

A/C tune up ? All new spark plugs ?

@JRNipper Месяц назад

@@markme4 Plugs were fine, it was the points that were shot😊

@markme4 Месяц назад

@@JRNipper Mine had a cracked distributor cap 😆

@meatball6930 Месяц назад

Only one cup? In Florida if your pipe is clogged it will fill his shop vac with water and 2 cups of slime on a new unit after a year. You have to suck the line out twice a year in Florida and you will fill half a five gallon bucket.

@a.r.r.5626 28 дней назад

Brilliant...thank you very much!

@onetrickpony4179 3 дня назад

In the South, these are notorious for being clogged by dirt dauber wasps. The water will back up and overflow the pan. It can be a disaster for hardwood floors. Algae buildup is a pain too.

@ptech88 Месяц назад

Man your right. I cant tell you how many hvac contractors have told me they hate you.

@frankiec5570 6 дней назад

Not me. He can keep recommending bleach into your drain pump. Can’t wait for the calls about pump failure or the evap coil being destroyed. He’s not even aware that the bleach vapors alone are enough to damage the coil. This is why every single manufacturer will say don’t use bleach on or near your system. Just like he recommends everybody installing a 5” Honeywell media cleaner. Those are great, when the system is designed for them. When they aren’t, which is the vast majority, those media cleaners create so much positive static pressure that blower motors and condenser fan motors burn out at an extremely high rate due to the added stress. Not to mention the compressors. Any real tech knows this.

@jcmsu2002 Месяц назад

Thank you for this excellent video. Thank you thank you

@willythehero88 2 месяца назад

I got a new HVAC system installed approx. five years ago and the contractor specified that I pour a cup of bleach into the condensate drain upon each air filter change, which I do quarterly. Great video! Thanks.

@markj9544 2 месяца назад

I pour a cup of bleach in mine as well about once a month and then make sure I run it a few minutes later so it mixes with the water. Never a problem in five years.

@scottmactavish9716 2 месяца назад

That's ok, but bleach may cause issues with the PVC pipes and joints. My HVAC installer suggested white vinegar. It's just as acidic, and doesn't contain chlorine, the third letter in PVC. (Chloride)

@jetah50 2 месяца назад

odd. bleach usually corrodes the coils.

@barrygrant2907 2 месяца назад

Chlorine fumes can get to the coils and cause corrosion.

@dgiacco Месяц назад

Use algae tablets. Not BLEACH OR VINEGAR

@gahvno 4 дня назад

Out here on the West Coast we just put in an inexpensive condensation collector next to the HVAC unit inside that has a reservoir that collects the condensation and then when it reaches about an inch and a half deep it automatically activates the pump and it blows it out through a copper pipe into the garden. This is inexpensive and works a heck of a lot better than depending upon gravity.

@danielholland4385 2 дня назад

Ive NEVER hear anyone say gravity isn’t dependable… Hahaha

@Chris-ik5ue 2 дня назад

Been in residential construction for over 30 years. Never rely on a mechanical item (pumps) if a simpler way is available. And a 3/4" line should only have an issue a the trap that is easy to clear with brushes made for that or a coat hanger in a pinch. Filling the trap with bleach at the beginning of the cooling season or filling with hot water as mentioned by others. If a condensate pump has to be used it is highly recommended it come with a float plus shut off valve to turn the unit off and alarm the homeowner. And in the Mid-Atlantic area the main unit is in the basement where the condensate line goes to a floor drain. That line needs to be maintained as well.

@fergferguson7370 Месяц назад

That house is hammered

@joemartino6976 Месяц назад

Good stuff. Thank you!

@genemyersmyers6710 2 месяца назад

All your videos are fantastic.

@diyhvacguy 2 месяца назад

Thank you so much 🙏🏻

@ThomasKuhar 2 месяца назад

Instead of a rag, you can use a small plastic funnel to accommodate different size dameters.

@dean8395 17 дней назад

So for those that are able to access their air handler you should have a trap/access point installed in the drain line coming out of the air handler. Pour a 50/50 mixture of vinegar/water in once a month in hotter climates and once every couple months in more moderate climate. This will help the drain line to stay clean and not allow the build up of guck inside. If you are unable to do this then the shop vac is going to be your best option. Also never use those "special" filters and always get the one month throw away filters. The thicker filters "Choke" the air handler down making it a lot harder on the unit. Also make sure the coils of the units are kept clean, both the indoor and outdoor coils. Some will be able to do this on their own but I would suggest getting someone skilled in maintenance to clean them for you so you don't accidently bend the fins of your coil.

@georgechilders4297 29 дней назад

How about this, make sure your filtration doesn’t allow any bypass, check the return duct for leakage, check the cabinet for bypass. Do this and you will never have another clog. After all, the condensate is pretty much distilled water. However, for the most part this is good homeowner info.

@lpconserv6074 7 дней назад

There is a more permanent preventative solution available. The slime is either an algae or mold slime. Both of these are completely able to be controlled with either copper ions or zinc ions. Since zinc is also soluble and dissolves and needs replacement, copper does have the benefit of being needed in micro amounts and about 1 ounce of cut bare copper wire I use 14 ga snips about an inch long. Place them just as you did the green disk. That disk likely is also copper. I have this issue as I am in a tropical environment. My drain now stays algae and mold free. So far going on 7 years. Of course, you need to clean it prior to putting the bare copper in it, but once you do no more algae can grow as both copper and zinc are toxic to mold and algae, and of course as you deal with copper daily, you can see that it is NON toxic to people.

@quintkemph973 Месяц назад

If your condensate drain plugs up your filter is bypassing air. Should have a space guard filter installed on your system. Dirt on the coil is dirt and dander and hair that your filter missed.

@gregorymark6014 Месяц назад

Live in Houston area. Main A/C drain(s) frequently goes to just above the trap of a bathroom sink(s). I use the shop vac there, its often a pain to pull the drain hose off of the plumbing. Outside is the secondary drain(s). If dripping, primary is clogged. Ideally, if the primary drain and secondary drain are clogged, there is a switch on the pan that senses the water filling the pan and tells the A/C not to turn on at all. Secondary note: I have seen where the trap in the bathroom gets clogged with hair and gunk. The A/C drain is working properly and is draining to the sink trap. With the trap clogged the condensate can't get through the trap and backs-up into the sink and eventually the sink overflows from the condensate. Code shouldn't allow this design in my opinion.

@newmonengineering Месяц назад

So the hvac drain is connected to the plumbing sink drain? I have never heard of that situation. I would think that would not be allowed at all to be honest. The hvac drain is a slow drip vs the sink drain is a large volume of water flushing out. That would be concerning to me as well. If there is no code against that there should be for sure!

@gregorymark6014 Месяц назад

I replied to this, did it not "take?" Search "ac drain under sink" and you should see a video the shows the plumbing.

@PhatBoyiee 2 месяца назад

I had my ac guy tell me to pour cleaning vinegar down the pipe. Also to use compress air. On my pancake air compressor you can control the pressure so i set it to low.

@crackerjack010101 2 месяца назад

Bought a home where they’d used compressed air to blow a line out and blew out the vent in the attic, particulate and moisture all over the place, cost me a new blower motor and it randomly blew a fuse that “these never blow, that’s weird” sooo…I’d recommend against it. Blower motors in the units made these days have a computer on board and they run shy of $2k so not the old cheap fix it was at one time.

@davidlatino6163 2 месяца назад

Good information thanks

@piman2boek364 18 дней назад

The condensate drains into my main house drain and there is no way to put a vacuum pump on it. At the outlet from the coil I installed a shutoff valve followed by a tee. I live in a very humid climate and the drain goes for straight for at 4 to 6 feet before dropping down into the house drain. I added a shutoff valve at the exit to the AC unit and installed a tee. That way I can add liquid to the drain pipe without it getting into the AC unit. On a couple of worse case times I have had to use liquid Draino (not gel) and wait for awhile. Then I poured water down to flush out the Draino. A couple of times I have had to resort to air pressure pulses to clear the line (using a snake didn't work). As long as I pour bleach down the drain line once a month during the spring to fall the drain line doesn't get clogged. (lesson learned)

@scoh840 5 дней назад

Here in southern Florida the a.c. runs 365 days a year. It would clog every couple of months. I would poor vinegar down the drain line. It would help a little. Now i pour a few ounces of Clorox turbo pro every few weeks. Problem solved. I still own the wet vac but don't need to use it anymore.

@altennent156 2 месяца назад

Thanks! Mine runs to my sump pump in the basement.

@brucesimpson8579 2 месяца назад

Same here.

@Yamigata 6 дней назад

You could probably remove the attachment from the end of the Vac hose and then make the hose fit that elbow. Also, remember if you're sucking out a P-trap, put some water back in there or else there can be a vacuum created and the water in the primary pan won't drain out. As for the bleach in the pump, how hard is the bleach on that rubber drain hose? Also, I'd stick to the vinegar as that bleach is eventually going to be shot out into your yard and even just a little is going to harm something, whether it be plants or animals.

@diversity2739 2 месяца назад

Thanks

@DeepSound_Music Месяц назад

Thx for the tip!

@PhD777 2 месяца назад

Excellent informative video! 👍🏻🎅👍🏻

@samkitty5894 2 месяца назад

Few years ago I bought a new house. HVAC was in the crawl space. Couple of days after running A/C I noticed something wasn't right. Went into the crawl space and found HVAC flooded. When they installed the condensate line they didn't bother making sure it was plumbed correctly on the way out through the foundation. Instead of the line gradually sloping down, it was actually pointing up, causing water to flow backwards into the HVAC. Yes, I couldn't believe the stupidity...

@diyhvacguy 2 месяца назад

Wow, it doesn’t surprise me

@curtislaketek2822 16 дней назад

I was told not to use bleach but vinegar. The bleach fumes may cause corrosion on the coils.

@mikejordan6036 29 дней назад

Im a Milwaukee Man and have the Same Shop vac. Best 100 dollars I ever spent.

@garyblackwell3643 Месяц назад

thanks for the information

@ps603 Месяц назад

My HVAC people told me how to do this. They're good guys..

@JS-vj1jw Месяц назад

Appreciate the video. My AC drainage drips into a hole that goes under a slab foundation. Would dropping these tablets help keeping that line clean? Deal with a back-up every May when we start the use the AC again. I've been told it's because of the build-up of condensation gunk when the AC units is not in use.

@joesmith7427 Месяц назад

He'll be back!!