How To Clean and Flush out your AC Condensate Drain Line

How To Clean and Flush out your AC Condensate Drain Line

[@darladesautel]

love love love your videos, very good explanations, best teacher EVER

[@NickWaldie]

Purchased: August 2022 - still works GREAT! kzbin.infoUgkxxsUnXhGsSJLim_XnMHyQK0u3XVaW-CGn I live in a studio and during the summer it gets scorching hot - really old building with no ac units. I can’t express how EASY it was to install.This unit has been a life savior during the summer and some days during other seasons where it can still be a bit warm at night. In this small place is my friend, a husky, poodle mix and myself. We need AC - lolI don’t use the dehumidifier option - I’m not sure if it will leak in my house, since I did not install the small draining hose that came with it. May look into it late but I don’t worry about much humidity in the apartment.I don’t understand why the negative reviews since all things mentioned, I personally did not find issues with. Definitely worth it!

[@ilonafrissina5617]

Thank you so much-- I am so happy to have found you on You Tube-- I usually clean the the drip pan and it would work--I think this time I didn' t clean it as I should have-- and frozen solid in the pan. But I still learned more from the video. After this I will flush out the PVC out side. Thanks.for sharing my house right now is 82 degrees and climbing. Florida has been so hot-- you have to have air. I have already made a promise in Dec all duct work will be replaced it is 40yrs old. Condenser and air handler is 32 yrs old it a Heil. I have to say I am very fortunate all these yrs.

[@funnyfarm5555]

Make a pvc pipe with 90 degree fitting to push up inside glued 90 then vacuum. Another option is to heat the glued 90 and take it off.

[@davidratcliffe1]

exactly

[@gmssails]

You could have taken a piece of pvc with an elbow and attached it to the drain so you'd have horizontal access.

[@Jorge-le5hv]

Any more Stationary Engineer videos coming? I'm a Stationary Engineer and enjoy those training videos a whole lot.

[@KenTraining]

What content would you like training on? Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing?

[@Jorge-le5hv]

@@KenTraining I loved your Engineering videos from years ago. I'm open to any but preferably Mechanical and Electrical. I love your videos and thank you for this great information.

[@thisisudax]

This explained things well. Follow up question, I know you recommended bleach, but what about a combination of baking soda, 5% vinegar, hot water, and some dish soap? Why or why not?

[@KenTraining]

yes on baking soda / vinegar combination and I would stay away from dish soap as dish soap can collect and hold onto dirt which will cause a clog. If you are maintaining and cleaning out annually, you will be good to go.

[@thisisudax]

@@KenTraining Meant to respond sooner but thanks so much for getting back to me. I did end up using soap too and noticed that some bubbles leaking out into the drip pan below. It scared me lol and I used a s few small towels to soak up the liquid as to not trigger the float switch that is nearby. I'm guessing that's not normal so I'll just stick to vinegar and baking soda next time :)

[@damselspiritualart481]

My ac line is leaking and I can’t find the outside line from the outside to suck it out. I can, however, pull apart a big section of the PVC and clean it out. This helps the water not back up as much but still would love to get it all. My pvc line runs under the slab and I’m guessing that’s why I can’t find it. The underbrush is so thick next to my AC outside that I can’t dig to find the outtake.

[@KenTraining]

That is a challenge.

[@bryandoyle6865]

I have seen other videos and articles that raise concerns about bleach and/or vinegar being corrosive to metal. They raise concerns that using these product may damage the internal parts if you pour it into the pan. My installer also told me to use bleach but I am concerned about proceeding.

[@KenTraining]

I have not had an issue with a bleach and water solution.

[@damselspiritualart481]

It’s not pure bleach, 3/1 solution is very minimal

[@harleyquinn8202]

@@KenTraining It makes people repair or replace their air conditioners faster, money is good 🙂

[@KenTraining]

Bleach will kill mold. you can use it and then flush with clean water to remove the bleach.

[@panamarubia1283]

They mean bleach alone. This is a bleach and water solution with very minimal bleach and mainly water. The bleach is to kill the gunk in the pipes.

[@garybarton7262]

Why don't you just take a 90° PVC elbow put it on the bottom of the drain elbow to make an adapter to hook your shop vac too you don't have to glue it in just use it when you need it

[@KenTraining]

You are right! That is a great option. I did not have one with me but if I did this all the time, I would have one.

[@madisonschilling8249]

THANK YOU!

[@gaylefriedman3773]

Been doing this subject everytime I change A/C Filter. I change my A/C Filter every Month! Due to constant usage of A/C, I keep changing my A/C Filter Monthly. I now have from above Condenser, Compressor, "Evaporator Coil LEAK!"😮 Why did this happen from above? Was this a physical person tampering with my Unit? I had a person on my Rooftop drilling, hammering, banging. I thought I lost my ceiling. This is when all hell broke loose. Thank You!🤬

[@maryland8532]

Too helpful! Thanks sir!

[@crand20033]

I took my air handler apart and found large chunks of scum in the pan. Cleaned it out.

[@pnkpanther509]

Hi Ken, What can you use in a household that cannot have bleach due to asthma?

[@KenTraining]

even hot water is good. you can use joy dish soap and water and then flush with hot water. You just want to keep it clean.

[@TheDerrogative]

How often should it be flushed?

[@christopherrajkumar]

My furnace is in my basement. Where would the AC drain line be located? Will it still be outside or does it drain into the basement drain itself?

[@KenTraining]

It depends. if your basement drain is a wet drain or a dry drain. My dad has furnace in basement and the condensate goes to a condensate pump and then is pumped to a wet trap in the basement.

[@kissthisujerk]

So you turned the AC unit on when you were using the shop vac as well?

[@KenTraining]

AC unit was off at the time of the cleaning.

[@charliematt4808]

Will the bleach rust the pan?

[@KenTraining]

no it will not BUT flush with clean water after your bleach treatment.

[@asoulalignedhowgodhealshis6682]

Why didn't you just cut the pipe outside and add an elbow so that you could have a straight shot to the pipe?

[@KenTraining]

your right, I could have done that. It was not my house.

[@asoulalignedhowgodhealshis6682]

@@KenTraining As a home owner, if someone installed something incorrectly, I would want the person I hired to fix it

[@Spartan-sq4ke]

why didn’t you use duct tape instead of your hand for the shop vac part

[@KenTraining]

I did not think that was necessary and I wanted to be quick.

[@Ojeramup12]

NEVER put CLORAX and water together on a bottle like this. Someone might drink from it. I happened to my second cousin 40 years ago and he still has issues.

[@KenTraining]

good tip, Thank You! Sorry about your cousin.

[@ehbenson2948]

Cousins reply : nfnisslksjdgb,akjyrbvb.AYKWRV.asiryvb.

[@oceansack]

Why is your second cousin drinking random water bottles lol

[@Ojeramup12]

@@oceansack When one is three they don't know any better.

[@klforrest573]

They make sanitizing pills now that you can just drop down in your drain pan/line.

[@KenTraining]

they help but doing a flush is the best.

[@klforrest573]

@@KenTraining I figure a homeowner with a new system could probably start using these tablets and probably help eliminate a lot of headache down the road -

[@Phone-sh7jg]

Use chlorine

[@RadioRich100]

What a bad idea, somebody could drink from that bottle, it should be labeled! Also you dont need to use bleach which can harm the pipe over time. The more accepted practice is to use vinegar which would not hurt anybody in your soda bottle.