Is anyone using the iFLO Smart Automated AC Drain Line Cleaning System?

[PKDAD1]

Is anyone using the iFLO Smart Automated AC Drain Line Cleaning System? I currently maintain the lines by pouring some warm water with some Dawn in it down them occasionally. I also have a service contract. This does intrigue me though and I'm curious if anyone has tried it and what your experience has been. iFLO(R) Smart Automated AC Drain Line Cleaner (https://iflo.com/)

[retiredguy123]

Munn's recommends that you use warm water only. I have not used the iFLO system, but it looks like a complete waste of money.

[CarlR33]

Have someone stand outside and watch the amount of water being expelled out of the line when you’re flushing it. If you do this once in a while you should be fine. No need for fancy stuff.

[Bill14564]

Straight hot water, water with 1/4 cup vinegar, water with Dawn.... Just pour a gallon down the AC drain line once a month and you shouldn't have any problems. No need to pay money for a unit and then purchase refills four times per year.

Never had to run water through the drain line in my old house - different configuration.

Went three years here without any cleaning - then it clogged. Pain in the neck to have to clear the drain at 3AM. One gallon at the beginning of the month takes less than five minutes.

[RICH1]

water & vinegar ... I was an HVAC guy ..anything else is a sales gimmick .. save your money and take your lady to dinner

[Altavia]

The iFlow device id intended to supress the growth of mold in the AC pan.

Sunshine Air adds a few tablets to the pan to control mold during service.

https://a.co/d/h2E2WNF

Here's the theory of operation for the chemicals used in the iFlow product to inhibit slime mold from growing in the system.


What is Zooglea?
– iFLO (https://iflo.com/blogs/ac-education/what-is-zooglea)

What is Zooglea?

White Slime, Snot, Mucus, whatever you call the stuff clogging in your HVAC's condensate drain pan and drain lines... it's probably ZOOGLEA!

Zooglea is a bacteria that causes clogs which can lead to A/C shut downs, overflows, and eventually ceiling and wall damage. While air handlers have had coils made out of copper for decades, the industry recently chose to switch to aluminum coils in order to save on manufacturing cost.

This has led to an influx of zooglea growth since aluminum does not contain the same antimicrobial properties as copper. The importance of zooglea education is critical now more than ever!


...

[retiredguy123]

The iFlow device id intended to supress the growth of mold in the AC pan.

Sunshine Air adds a few tablets to the pan to control mold during service.

https://a.co/d/h2E2WNF

Here's the theory of operation for the chemicals used in the iFlow product to inhibit slime mold from growing in the system.


What is Zooglea?
– iFLO (https://iflo.com/blogs/ac-education/what-is-zooglea)

What is Zooglea?

White Slime, Snot, Mucus, whatever you call the stuff clogging in your HVAC's condensate drain pan and drain lines... it's probably ZOOGLEA!

Zooglea is a bacteria that causes clogs which can lead to A/C shut downs, overflows, and eventually ceiling and wall damage. While air handlers have had coils made out of copper for decades, the industry recently chose to switch to aluminum coils in order to save on manufacturing cost.

This has led to an influx of zooglea growth since aluminum does not contain the same antimicrobial properties as copper. The importance of zooglea education is critical now more than ever!


...
Note that the iFLO diagram shows the iFLO chemical injected into a horizontal drain pipe run and depends on the water backing up into the drain pan before it can even enter the drain pan which is upstream from the drain line. In The Villages, with slab-on-grade construction, there is no horizontal drain pipe run. The condensate drain pipe is vertical and drains the condensate water vertically downward for a few feet until it gets below the concrete floor slab. I don't understand how the chemical could ever back up into the drain pan.

[rjm1cc]

No experience. Used water and vinegar once a month for 10 years and no problem. However I could tell the drain line seemed a little slow but was working. Next month also slow so I had the line professionally cleaned. Hopefully I can report back in another 10 years.

[Berwin]

I clean my drain line in conjunction with my coffee pot. Once a month, I run a pot of water with vinegar through the coffee maker and then pour it down the HVAC drain.

[john352]

The monthly cleaning of the coffee maker and then the AC drain line with vinegar and water is an excellent idea.

[PKDAD1]

I was thinking the same thing!

[retiredguy123]

The monthly cleaning of the coffee maker and then the AC drain line with vinegar and water is an excellent idea.
Munn's used to recommend water and vinegar in the drain line, but they changed their recommendation to water only. I asked them about this, and they told me that Carrier does not recommend pouring vinegar in the condensate drain. Bleach is also not recommended.

[JRcorvette]

Never had a line clog but we did have the overflow pump fail and the return air box below the condenser unit filled with a lot of water. The only way to fix it was to remove the condenser unit and rebuild and reinsulate the box. We decided to get a new AC system at that time.

[Topspinmo]

I have new carrier unit so far my only complaint is no easy way to get panel off to access A coil and drain pan how mine set up. My old Trane unit had excess panel (wasn’t easy but accessible) that was accessible. The guy came for my free maintenance (for year) gave up. So I didn’t get the tablet installed. I’m eventually going to have to figure it out so I can inspect and clean A coils and pan cause crap will eventually build up.

[DrHitch]

Has anyone hooked up a line from hot water supply to "blast" clean that AC condensate line?

Yes, would require a backflow shutoff valve and a bit of plumbing. Surprised that AC installers haven't suggested this method ...but, agree that the monthly manual flush works just fine!

[retiredguy123]

Has anyone hooked up a line from hot water supply to "blast" clean that AC condensate line?

Yes, would require a backflow shutoff valve and a bit of plumbing. Surprised that AC installers haven't suggested this method ...but, agree that the monthly manual flush works just fine!
The easiest way to accomplish what you suggest is to buy one of these from Amazon.

Amazon.com (https://www.amazon.com/Drain-King-345-Bathroom-Condensation/dp/B001ATBS4W/ref=sr_1_8?crid=2CPQVB9W1OGUQ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.8h2np0snq2Lml5waxWhffqxukbEu6HmGV xPWKnr9tET6g1b4BI7pmWIW5nYQ-upYaHX6KV9BKUv_W6LZtPhJH_8pQwvFMMYMcr1Mar9pOqscapd GnCD52XpPAoiNjE1i78U6CiWpM_ECn2FX_n784lf3nMMtfi523-pkzZotg7o-RgMubq4VxTN5RlMLgUIantY1-vFjcbXJsqq4sUYfzRx_uXFbFG9k1fF1TnZRlZs6iiUus8fQbUJ rlVrtAFeYKWiQniCPPQTjTPAvj1-u3Xu0yvU_EC9ekMHfMBb7MQVCZp_z7D9XqpX77ikWLD7PVMY3Z 9W2dntWDcyO04Yl-d3p3NsbvR7yFeTFP9SD0iVHu9F8v9ZFW-B0EH7OBKi-gvwmKnldVUBYH1sHDQKflizyHP4wNoCNOoT3B8UNvY-rHAQ_z21LIOvXAZEYJ7Aa.tFDUsv-_0Ia_OTrvJMASifHwog5Od58MQH5bUvo6Yhg&dib_tag=se&keywords=Drain%2Bking&qid=1737470586&sprefix=drain%2Bking%2Caps%2C146&sr=8-8&th=1)

It just connects to a garden hose and no backflow preventer is needed. I have one and it works well, but you do need a second person to make sure the device stays inside the pipe.

[Iowatransplant]

Hook a garden hose to the sink in the garage (some models may not have a garage sink) and attach a laundry washing machine hose with one end cut off. (the washing machine hose is smaller diameter and fits in the condensate line. Turn on the hot water and let run for a couple of minutes. Does a great job of cleaning out the line!

[retiredguy123]

Hook a garden hose to the sink in the garage (some models may not have a garage sink) and attach a laundry washing machine hose with one end cut off. (the washing machine hose is smaller diameter and fits in the condensate line. Turn on the hot water and let run for a couple of minutes. Does a great job of cleaning out the line!
The device in Post No. 16 is easier to use, and it seals the condensate pipe to the device, so there is no backflow. You just stick the rubber part into the condensate drain pipe and turn on the hose. Note that, by code, there is no garden hose connection to the laundry sink faucet, so you would need to rig up a connection adapter. In my opinion, cold water from an outside hose bibb works just as well as hot water, and there is no risk of contaminating your potable water system with a backflow into your house.

I will add that it is never a good idea to connect a hose to an inside faucet because there is no vacuum breaker to prevent backflow. That is why inside faucets do not have hose connections. Outside hose bibbs have a vacuum breaker to prevent backflow.

[lauron57]

Has anyone hooked up a line from hot water supply to "blast" clean that AC condensate line?

Yes, would require a backflow shutoff valve and a bit of plumbing. Surprised that AC installers haven't suggested this method ...but, agree that the monthly manual flush works just fine!

It's NOT recommended to flush the drain pipe with any method that could pressurize it because the drain pipe joints may not have gotten glued 100% and it could be forced apart underground or even under the concrete somewhere. The recommended method is to vacuum from the outside. That being said, I keep mine clean with this method, which should have minimal risk because of the frequency I do it. At the first of every month I connect a short hose from my hot water tank drain and run some through it. This accomplishes two things, regular flushing the AC drain and the water heater. I also put a bucket under the outside drain to monitor the deposits coming out of water tank. I use that to determine how much water to run through it.

[NoMoSno]

Has anyone hooked up a line from hot water supply to "blast" clean that AC condensate line?

Yes, would require a backflow shutoff valve and a bit of plumbing. Surprised that AC installers haven't suggested this method ...but, agree that the monthly manual flush works just fine!
If I did a new build that is exactly what I'd do. Would just need two regular ball valves. Much easier than dragging a hose out with the rubber bladder. The advantage would be a hot water flush by just closing one valve and opening another.

[Michael G.]

Would a couple drops of dawn dishwashing soap added to hot water help lube the cleaning process?

[collie1228]

Has anyone hooked up a line from hot water supply to "blast" clean that AC condensate line?

Yes, would require a backflow shutoff valve and a bit of plumbing. Surprised that AC installers haven't suggested this method ...but, agree that the monthly manual flush works just fine!

I have been using white vinegar in my drain line every time I change the filter, which is 2-3 times a year. Last year the line plugged, so I hooked up a hose to the line (cold water) and ran it for a minute or two. You wouldn't believe the pile of nasty grey matter that came out at the end of the drain. It was disgusting. Now, once each summer, I will run water through it along with the vinegar treatment.