Talk of The Villages Florida - View Single Post - AC Line and Tray cleaning - best process?
View Single Post
 
Old 06-26-2025, 03:19 PM
jrref jrref is offline
Gold member
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 1,460
Thanks: 487
Thanked 872 Times in 469 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by HJBeck View Post
Once a year I open up the unit to get to the condensor and if I see any small mold spots inside the area or the condensor coils I use a mild bleach solution to spray the coils and sides, let that sit for 15-20 minutes to kill the mold, then spray with fresh tap water (don't use too much). I do this after I turn off the A/C at the breaker box. Close the unit back up and wait 1 hr before turning the A/c back on. I'll use warm water to flush the condensate drain all the way out the side yard. If I see white gunk in what comes out the condensate drain in the side yard I know that there is stuff growing in the condensate line that will not be killed by warm or hot water. Suck out the line with a shop vac, then fill condensate pipe with mild bleach water (2 quarts) , let it sit for 1/2 hour to kill what ever is growing, suck it out again and flush with clean water. PVC pipe does not like bleach so don't leave in the pipe too long. If one is very concerned about damaging one's PVC drain pipe, then I suggest using "bromine" which is just as effective (obtained from just about any pool store.
Just remember most of our condensate lines are buried in the concrete slab so be careful not to damage it with chemicals as you started.