Need opinions on air conditioner drain line

[Villages PL]

One day, about a year ago, I found a small puddle near my air conditioner unit in the garage. I have a patio villa. So I called my air conditioner guy and he said the drain line got clogged up which caused the water to back up in the line. He said it was likely caused by algae that builds up over a period of years. So he charged about $75 to suck it out with his shop vac.

I thought the instructions to put a 1/2 cup of vinegar in the line (once every 3 months) was supposed to keep the line clear. But it didn't. So, since that time, I have been putting a 1/2 cup every month. If that doesn't keep it clear of algae, I don't know what will.

But I got a post card in the mail (last month) saying it's time to get the line checked out or pumped out again. So, he expects me to pay $75 dollars every year now, whether it's clogged or not? What happened to the saying, "if it's not broke don't fix it?"

But then he did throw a scare into me by suggesting that it could have damaged my air conditioner if I hadn't caught it in time.

Am I the only one who has had this experience?

[Rickg]

I was told put a tablespoon of dawn in it2x per year

[ugotme]

It seems that everyone is told something different.

My A/C company down here in So. Fl. told me to put 1/4 cup of bleach down every time I change the filter. Had him out for routine maintenance and he said the line was very clean.

During our walk-through with our builder up in Hillsborough, I was told to put warm water every couple of months - and NO BLEACH !

Who the heck knows ! :confused:

[old moe]

It seems that everyone is told something different.

My A/C company down here in So. Fl. told me to put 1/4 cup of bleach down every time I change the filter. Had him out for routine maintenance and he said the line was very clean.

During our walk-through with our builder up in Hillsborough, I was told to put warm water every couple of months - and NO BLEACH !

Who the heck knows ! :confused: :highfive: aMEN TO THE bleach , using it for 12 years with NO PROBLEM!! :thumbup:

[Golfingnut]

:highfive: aMEN TO THE bleach , using it for 12 years with NO PROBLEM!! :thumbup:

Me too, Now we have had a new home every 4 to 5 years, but always used bleach with no ill effect.

[perrjojo]

It seems that everyone is told something different.

My A/C company down here in So. Fl. told me to put 1/4 cup of bleach down every time I change the filter. Had him out for routine maintenance and he said the line was very clean.

During our walk-through with our builder up in Hillsborough, I was told to put warm water every couple of months - and NO BLEACH !

Who the heck knows ! :confused:

We used bleach at our previous home and had no problems.

[keithwand]

I used vinegar every month as told to do so by Del Air.
After 8 years the coils split and I was told it was the vinegar and to only flush with warm water once a month.
I replaced the whole system which seemed pretty premature.

[gomoho]

We have our heat pump serviced 2x a year for maintenance. The line cleaning is part of the service along with checking everything else. I am a firm believer in keep it maintained so it doesn't "get broke".

[karostay]

We have our heat pump serviced 2x a year for maintenance. The line cleaning is part of the service along with checking everything else. I am a firm believer in keep it maintained so it doesn't "get broke".

:BigApplause::BigApplause::BigApplause:
Nothing beats preventive maintenance cheaper in the long run

[asianthree]

i pay the guy to come every year..i think its $45

[Gator Fan]

One day, about a year ago, I found a small puddle near my air conditioner unit in the garage. I have a patio villa. So I called my air conditioner guy and he said the drain line got clogged up which caused the water to back up in the line. He said it was likely caused by algae that builds up over a period of years. So he charged about $75 to suck it out with his shop vac.

I thought the instructions to put a 1/2 cup of vinegar in the line (once every 3 months) was supposed to keep the line clear. But it didn't. So, since that time, I have been putting a 1/2 cup every month. If that doesn't keep it clear of algae, I don't know what will.

But I got a post card in the mail (last month) saying it's time to get the line checked out or pumped out again. So, he expects me to pay $75 dollars every year now, whether it's clogged or not? What happened to the saying, "if it's not broke don't fix it?"

But then he did throw a scare into me by suggesting that it could have damaged my air conditioner if I hadn't caught it in time.

Am I the only one who has had this experience?

Patio villas are the worst for water backups because the drain line runs from the garage, under the villa, to the back which is a longer stretch. I have seen firsthand the damage that can be done if the water backs up into the unit. They can also install a sensor unit which automatically shuts the a/c down if it senses a water backup. It's worth the money and then you can continue to do your own maintenance without having them to come back.

[gjbl8114]

One day, about a year ago, I found a small puddle near my air conditioner unit in the garage. I have a patio villa. So I called my air conditioner guy and he said the drain line got clogged up which caused the water to back up in the line. He said it was likely caused by algae that builds up over a period of years. So he charged about $75 to suck it out with his shop vac.

I thought the instructions to put a 1/2 cup of vinegar in the line (once every 3 months) was supposed to keep the line clear. But it didn't. So, since that time, I have been putting a 1/2 cup every month. If that doesn't keep it clear of algae, I don't know what will.

But I got a post card in the mail (last month) saying it's time to get the line checked out or pumped out again. So, he expects me to pay $75 dollars every year now, whether it's clogged or not? What happened to the saying, "if it's not broke don't fix it?"

But then he did throw a scare into me by suggesting that it could have damaged my air conditioner if I hadn't caught it in time.

Am I the only one who has had this experience?



It appears that everyone has a different solution and all seem helpful. I was told by Del Air that even if you have regular maintenance performed on your AC unit, there is a likely possibility that you will have at some point, an issue with algae build up. Supposedly this happens during our rainy season resulting in excessive moisture buildup. The repairman suggested, as others have indicated, a 1/4 cup of vinegar mixed with a quart of warm water be poured into the pipe making sure to replace the cap on the pipe. He indicated that once every three months would be sufficient. Hope this helps.

[THE NEWCOMER]

:BigApplause::BigApplause::BigApplause:
Nothing beats preventive maintenance cheaper in the long run

I AGREE! For DIY er why can't you take a garden hose a FLUSH it out every six months? I'm on one end with the hose and my helper/or other watches for flow on the other end. It's a DRAIN LINE CORRECT? AC guy when he comes asks me to put a cup of water in the line a proceeds to suck out the line with his portable vacuum. I don't see the difference except your paying someone else for something you can do!

[T-325]

This you tube video provides all the info on how to clean out the condensate drain.

xxxx://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyvPR7yMqbk

[Rickg]

Does anyone know the filter size for a newer Patio Villa. We have a Carrier system and aren't in the Villages right now but I would like to order filters. We were told "Shortyshvac.com" has the best prices on original equipment replacements.

[Villages PL]

We have our heat pump serviced 2x a year for maintenance. The line cleaning is part of the service along with checking everything else. I am a firm believer in keep it maintained so it doesn't "get broke".

When I first moved to The Villages I bought a 12 year old manufactured home and never had the A/C serviced. I lived there for five years and never had a problem with it. How much money did I save? In my current home I did the same. It was a nearly new home when I bought it and I never had the A/C serviced. It took about seven years before I needed any servicing. I think the money I saved on servicing paid for the repairs. And the man who did the servicing didn't say that the problems were caused by lack of servicing. For the drain line I suppose you could say it was, but how much would I have paid for servicing if I had done it every year? $75 to $85 X 7 years is a lot of money.

Yearly A/C servicing is like buying an insurance contract on a new TV or microwave, in my opinion. Clark Howard, the consumer's advocate, says never buy an insurance contract on a new appliance.

[mulligan]

Be careful, because bleach will make PVC pipes brittle, and cause them to deteriorate rapidly. Use vinegar instead. Needs to be used more frequently, but won't harm the pipes.