Talk of The Villages Florida - Air Conditioner Question

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Quote:

Originally Posted by retiredguy123 (Post 1831394)

I was using vinegar regularly for several years. But, when I flushed out the line with a garden hose using the device described in Post No. 5, I got many large chunks of white deposits (calcium?) flowing out of the outside pipe. I don't think you can really know if you are cleaning the pipe unless you flush it out occasionally.

Your a/c tech should be doing this
( blow out) when he does the six month maintenance call.
If not, then get a better company!
One cup of white vinegar monthly definitely should be poured down in addition ! Stay cool !

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scorpyo (Post 1831399)

Just what I was looking for. Thanks

Pouring a cup of white vinegar monthly down the spout is so much easier.
The a/c tech SHOULD be doing the blow out every six months when he dies the maintenance call.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sherrilee (Post 1831334)

We have never done this either. Ours working fine — was told it wasn’t always necessary.

You will eventually have a flood with water entering the garage and/or air return duct. Then black mold will grow in the duct and you will blow that through the entire house where mold will start to grow in every room in your house. Eventually you will get sick from it and will have to decontaminate the house.

Our drain line has a sensor that shuts off the A/C if the line gets plugged up and prevents flooding. I insisted this to be added when we got a new A/C.

Cleaning out the drain line is a MUST. Once a year is recommended. More often if you are worried about this.

Skip

Quote:

Originally Posted by diane reynolds (Post 1831378)

I was told a cup of vinegar once a month---it cuts mold I think.

DEFINITELY YES. ONE CUP. WHITE VINEGAR. MONTHLY.
ABSOLUTELY !
See my others posts about this here!

Quote:

Originally Posted by JGVillages (Post 1831030)

Use about a cup of white vinegar once a month

Our AC guy said to be sure to mix vinegar with equal parts of warm water when flushing because when you just use vinegar it can leave a residue that accumulates and can cause a blockage.

I was using Sunshine twice a year until my last service call when they told me they were cutting service to once a year, but they only reduced my charge modestly. I asked why after four years my need for service magically dropped from twice a year to once a year. I learned that with all the new homes south of 44, it is more profitable for them to do more homes and service them only once a year. I switched to Munn's A/C, and I'm paying less for twice a year service than Sunshine was going to charge me for once a year.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip (Post 1831403)

Those sensors often FAIL. TERRIBLE!
Yes, happened to me.
Monthly white vinegar pour is so proactive & preventative.
Keeps drain line clear.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eileenrush (Post 1831407)

Our AC guy said to be sure to mix vinegar with equal parts of warm water when flushing because when you just use vinegar it can leave a residue that accumulates and can cause a blockage.

Nah! Cup of white vinegar monthly. If it makes you feel better, follow with very warm water.
OPINIONS. Every tech has a different remedy. YOU decide what’s best.
UTUBE & GOOGLE it. Excellent information there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickwoolf (Post 1831408)

Yes. Twice a year DEFINITELY.
Better to be safe than sorry.
MUNNS is terrific.
Read all of the good opinions on here. Then YOU decide.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KRM0614 (Post 1831376)

How much does it cost for a house ? Not a villa but 1900 sq ft ? I know none of this ! Please someone reply

PLEASE read all of these great opinions on here. You’ll do fine. Soooo easy to do white vinegar pour.
A/C tech should be doing the rest twice yearly. A MUST in FL.
See my notes added in here. 50 years in the business. Now retired. But I know something about this!!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctmurray (Post 1831224)

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.

See my posts below, please!

Quote:

Originally Posted by emtacba (Post 1831421)

See my posts below, please!

My posts above. Please see them.
Thanks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunflower33 (Post 1831227)

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

Yes. Those valves can malfunction. It happens.
Try the monthly white vinegar pour to minimize a clogged line!

Quote:

Originally Posted by mixsonci (Post 1831013)

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?

READ ALL OF THESE EXCELLENT SUGGESTIONS. VERY EASY TO DO.
WHITE VINEGAR is BEST.
See my notes. Stay cool !

Quote:

Originally Posted by retiredguy123 (Post 1831063)

Here is a link to the Drain King 345, on Amazon for $12. You stick the rubber end into the condensate drain line and connect a garden hose to it. It will flush out your condensate line way better then bleach or vinegar, and you can see the water coming out the other end.

Robot Check

I really appreciated your response above. Besides being very informative it validated an opinion I have. I’ve seen many posts where responders criticized the OP by saying they should have done their own research. I personally think most of the TOTV posts have better information than you can get through your own research. Your response is such. Let me explain. I wanted to clean out my a/c drain pipe so I did my own research. I googled cleaning a/c drain pipe (and other versions). I never saw the item you suggested. Here’s some of what I got. Get a shop wet vac. Get the attachment to fit into the drain pipe. Vac - $40 to $120. Attachment - $12 (I think). Next alternative. Use a compressor and make an attachment to fit into the compressor accessories. Compressor - $40 (Harbor Freight), Accessories - $20 (or more). Also, you better use it correctly or you could damage the pipe and that will really cost you. Next one I liked the best. Make your own PVC tool. Get PVC connector for garden hose; get ¾ PVC pipe to connect to PVC garden hose connector. Of course they don’t sell it by the foot and they’re out of 10’. So get a 20’. Now you have to reduce the 3/4” to ½” so get another ¾” to ½” connector and another 20’ ½” PVC pipe (again they’re out of 10’). Oh yeah, you need the tool to cut the PVC and the glue. Don’t forget the duct tape to put around the ½” PVC so that it’s snug in the drain pipe. All done. Only a couple of trips to Lowe’s, a bunch of money spent, a bunch of time putting it together and of course 2 - 19’ PVC pipes to throw away. This was after doing all the research. One post on TOTV like yours and all this research would have been eliminated. Thanks again.