[ctmurray]

Just last night I discovered that drain tube had backed up and was leaking water on the garage floor. The tech came out and cleaned it out. He said a fungus had grown in the tube and this results in a swollen organic plug. His suggestion was 1x per week for 4 weeks to have me pour in a 50/50 solution of bleach and water. The goal is to kill all the fungus still in the tube. We to had the system tested 2x per year and they clean out the tube at that time, but just with a water flush. So it appears this tube requires more than the 2x visits per year.

[Sunflower33]

I was told it was warm or hot however I did this every month and my tube still clogged and the valve on the front of the unit malfunctioned and hence the air kept running and 40 gallons came in my garage and inside laundry

[camaguey48]

Originally Posted by JGVillages

Use about a cup of white vinegar once a month

That is correct.

[willieboy2110]

bleach or pool chlorine or attach a vacuum to the far end out side

[camaguey48]

Originally Posted by Sunflower33

I was told it was warm or hot however I did this every month and my tube still clogged and the valve on the front of the unit malfunctioned and hence the air kept running and 40 gallons came in my garage and inside laundry

Most a/c systems have an overflow valve that shuts off the system when the line is clogged and fills with water. Check the other end of the pipe and check for moisture on the ground. If none is present, obviously there is an obstruction. Call the a/c tech and he'll flush the line. It happened to me and I called my tech (that's me. I'm a DIY guy). Be aware of any upselling. Use a cup of white vinegar once a month and periodically check that water is coming out of the tube by the unit outside.

[chrissy2231]

One half cup of bleach is better.

[Kgcetm]

You should certainly do this. We recently experienced a leak as the result of the shut off valve which is supposed to shut our system down failed. Like you we had twice yearly inspections and poured hot water down the drain twice a year. No one thought to inspect the shut off valve (installed by the AC company) failed. The result was 40 gallons of water collecting in the box beneath the unit. A restoration company was called and they removed the water and dried the flooring, box and woodwork over a 3-dad period. Now we have to have the box restored and the woodwork rebuilt that was removed by the restoration company. Insurance company has bee great. We are now two weeks into the process and waiting for the AC company to restore some instillation and replace the filter. When thats completed we will need a carpenter to repair the woodwork. It’s a pain in the neck. So yes, flush the line and check the shutoo valve too.

[mbb11803]

my service guy does it when he services the unit 2x's a year and says i don't need to do it more often

[rmd2]

Originally Posted by mixsonci

I've lived here for 6 years and have had my A/C maintained twice a year and never has it been mentioned to me that I need to add a gallon of water into the little tube on the unit inside the garage until now?

My last cleaning last month the technician told me I should do this? A whole gallon down that little tube?? Do any of you do this and is it correct? Does it matter if it's hot, warm or cold water?

Hot water with 2 drops of dish soap twice a year.

[Bridget Staunton]

Originally Posted by mixsonci

I've lived here for 6 years and have had my A/C maintained twice a year and never has it been mentioned to me that I need to add a gallon of water into the little tube on the unit inside the garage until now?

My last cleaning last month the technician told me I should do this? A whole gallon down that little tube?? Do any of you do this and is it correct? Does it matter if it's hot, warm or cold water?

My hubby worked as a sales engineer as well as Pipefitters in Chicago for 40 years said add a little bleach to the gallon of water he does that regularly in our home

[Labanz]

Nice to read all of the comments everyone has posted on this subject. As an Air Conditioning contractor I want to first state that maintenance on your system only needs to be done once a year if the system is completely cleaned and checked properly. It usually takes me 2 hours to complete. For those that do not do maintenance, if you have an air handler with heat pump if you were to see what has accumulated inside your air handler you would probably change your mind.
As for the drain line cleaning, a cup of bleach down the line and 1/2 hour later followed in a 1/2 or 1 gallon with hot (not boiling) water was what I recommended for almost 40 years. Now, dur to environmental concerns we have changed to vinegar. I recommended to do every time the filter is changed. Here in the villages with the large media filters, it’s normal for every 3 to 6 months.
When I do a maintenance cleaning for my customers I also add a safe cleaner to the line and at the end of the service I pressurize the drain with nitrogen and blow out. I then add a gallon of water to the line.
For the rest of you doing something else, at least you are doing something to help keep it flowing.
Techs will many times say and do something they feel is better than what their companies have told them. Just realize it’s their opinion and not the companies recommendation.
I suggest you get involved and watch what you tech does while he is at your house. Be sure he is taking steps to properly clean the check that drain line to prevent water damage or the ac to stop.

[rmagee]

Originally Posted by mixsonci

I've lived here for 6 years and have had my A/C maintained twice a year and never has it been mentioned to me that I need to add a gallon of water into the little tube on the unit inside the garage until now?

My last cleaning last month the technician told me I should do this? A whole gallon down that little tube?? Do any of you do this and is it correct? Does it matter if it's hot, warm or cold water?

We have been here 2 1/2 years. Our A/C wasn't doing a good job so we brought in a contractor. He cleaned out the drain line (which I didn't even know existed) and showed us the junk/algae that exited the line behind the condenser. The A/C is working beautifully again. He suggested a 1/2 cup of diluted bleach down the line once/month. I am planning on running water through it weekly. Enjoy!

[phansen2246]

I use a wet vac and flush with water then add a cup of vinegar.

[meridian5850]

Originally Posted by mixsonci

I've lived here for 6 years and have had my A/C maintained twice a year and never has it been mentioned to me that I need to add a gallon of water into the little tube on the unit inside the garage until now?

My last cleaning last month the technician told me I should do this? A whole gallon down that little tube?? Do any of you do this and is it correct? Does it matter if it's hot, warm or cold water?

If you're paying for service twice a year, that is something the tech should be doing when he's there.

[Down Sized]

Originally Posted by JGVillages

Use about a cup of white vinegar once a month

Each month for eight years I pour:
1. I put about a 1/2 cup of vinegar into a gallon of hot water.
2. Also l pour 1 gallon hot water with 2 tablespoons of Dawn dish soap.
This has kept the line clean so for.