A/C Drain Line
 

Handicapped homeowner trying to clean our Condensation drain line on Central
home A/C. I've tried the distilled Vinegar and still over runs.

Anyone suggest an A/C company the want rip you off. Thanks

A shop vac outside trying to draw the water and blockage out of the line is what the A/C company is likely to use. I don't have one but maybe one of your neighbors does.

There are attachments for a garden hose that will try to push water through the line to clear a blockage. I don't like this idea since a hard blockage could cause water to go places it shouldn't, but others have had luck with these.

The hot water or vinegar will keep a line from clogging but won"t help much once it has clogged.

We like Munn's but I've seen other companies mentioned too.

Need to do search (A/C condensation drain line, or A/C drain line clogged) or look through “do it yourself”, this has been brought up several times with lots of good ideas.

It’s a monthly routine I have to add cleaner to condensate drain line. Once line gets clogged you may need to add more vinegar with an assist of shop vac to clean or resort to handyman or A/c service.
There is a product that can be connected to drain line that automatically adds chemical to resolve drain line algae
Amazon.com

Interesting.


A video explaining zooglea ( drain snot) and methods to mitigate it's growth.

https://youtu.be/5VOffWjmWkk?si=f2BzL_50sLbAgtlj

In my opinion, the chemical product sold on Amazon is a waste of money. It adds cost and maintenance that is not needed. I pour a gallon of hot water down the drain every month or so and verify that the water is draining properly. Some people recommend using vinegar, but I just use a lot of water. Occasionally, I will flush the line with a garden hose and a product called the Drain King.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...e?ie=UTF8&th=1

use your leaf blower
 

use a leaf blower, adapt to fit opening with a funnel

I just loaned my air compressor with air nozzle to my neighbor. Told him to place nozzle in the clean out and seal with a towel or rag or some sort and let er blow! It cleared out the blockage!

We neglected to add hot water one year....resulted in the AC shutting down in July when we had company. Called out Munn's who figured this out quickly and got AC working again. Whichever approach you take, don't delay for your own comfort and safety.

If you still need help, send me a private message with your contact info and I’ll come by and fix it for you for free.

Trap prime
 

Good luck with finding an honest ac guy.
But, check that the trap is primed. If you hear bubbling, the trap needs to be primed. Block the drain and see if it will prime itself. An unprimed trap will prevent water from flowing out and overflow the evaporator pan.
Shopvac trick is great but you need to follow up with priming the trap and bleach or vinegar at least quarterly.

New home owner here (not a newly built home) -- so just open the cap on the PVC attached to the HVAC, and pour in warm water? Recommended amount? Thanks.

I've heard one gallon recommended and I have a one-gallon pitcher handy so that's what I use.

I use the hottest water I can get from the tap. Some suggest adding white vinegar but I don't.

A funnel is handy to avoid spilling. I pour as fast as the funnel will take it. If water started backing up in the line and spilling out I would be concerned - so far that hasn't happened.

Monthly. Hot water is good. I catch it in a second gallon jug at the outlet to be sure that it is clean and clear. Then pour the clean water into storm drain.

Adding vinegar would lower the pH. I don't think there is any benefit to that.

I agree that using a garden hose to unclog a blockage is not a good idea. But, using a garden hose to flush the line that is not blocked will do a good job at removing gunk and debris from the pipe. My drain seems to accumulate a white chalky substance.