HELP with air handler
 

In The Villages-Path to Becoming a Villager (light reading on a Wed night) is a reference to the air handler that states:

Next to your air handler, located in either your utility room or garage, there is a white condensation line with a PVC cap. Twice a year you should pour one cup of 50/50 white vinegar and water solution down into the line to keep it free from algae, mold etc.

Is this my condensation line and is this SOP for this equipment?

Thanks friends!

http://s3d3.turboimagehost.com/t/162...tion_line.jpeg

Sunshine Air told us to do this once a month.

yes that pic is it, once a year, not a month

Lots of different opinions on this. Two years ago, it was hot water only. Before that it was vinegar chased by a cup of hot water. Before that, it was vinegar or bleach, no chaser.

I've talked to a couple of A/C guys that I trust. Their opinion is a cup of vinegar every 6 months followed by 2 cups of very hot water. That's the method I use.

Love it - so many opinions! Who knows.

My guy told me 1/4 or so cup of bleach every month when I change the filter will keep it free and clean.

:confused:

Initially they told me to use a solution of bleach, then changed to a vinegar solution, then to a solution of Dawn and water, now either the Vinegar or Dawn, but NEVER use bleach.

All it is is a PVC line that leads directly outside. IMO, it doesn't really matter what you use, bleach, hot water, vinegar... It's just a solution to prevent the build up of mold. Also, unless you use your cooling in the winter, there's no need as there is no condensation. A couple applications during summer will do just fine.

I thought it was a gallon, not a cup, of hot water every month.

A previous poster said to flush the line once a year. I have to respectfully disagree. Flush a minimum of twice a year. I use at least a cup of vinegar followed by up to a gallon of water.
Spiders and other insects enter the pipe from the outside and have been known to block the pipe at the outside trap...the more water to flush the better!

My neighbor has a set-up identical to yours with the pvc cap on a 45 degree fitting. Mine is similar but the cap is actually a float switch on a vertical fitting. The float valve shuts the HVAC system down in case the condensation line becomes clogged. If you ever have someone out to look at your system you might want to ask them if there a float switch installed and whether one should be installed. There may be one there but I couldn't find it.

Even with the float switch, you have a line with a cap to flush with. Lots of opinions on what to use. The concern with vinegar is the reaction with copper which is what your service lines are made of. If the vinegar never comes in contact with them there is no problem. Hot water is safe, but your a/c and your choice.

On mine the cap is the float switch.
Comes right off for servicing.

I think bleach was the old way and vinegar is the new. I think the vinegar is easier on the metal parts. I was told once a month by my builder. Do not mix with water as you are pouring it into a pan of water in the air handler. I think bleach was mixed with water and maybe that is where the 50/50 that was mentioned came from.
I was also told to set the humanist no higher than 60% and AC no higher than 80 degrees when leaving the home for a few weeks. The home is new so these settings might be for the first year as water evaporates from the new building material.

It just seems to me that pouring something thru a plastic pipe is not going to make a heck of a lot of difference. Maybe if you could plug up the end and let it sit awhile that would have some effect but just running thru? What about the stuff that would want to grow on the pipe above the stream of liquid?

you're supposed to look or catch the output to check it?????