drano in ac drain

\u00a9 2020 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. This will prevent any electrical accidents during cleaning. By using our site, you agree to our. Combined with the baking soda, it will fizz up and create a powerful cleaning action. The exit point of the drain line is normally outside your home next to the AC unit’s condenser. Take a look … Your drain line is a PVC pipe located near your outdoor unit and is attached to the wall of your house. The drain pipe of my AC is clogged. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published, This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. The drain pan will fill up with water, which will cause damage to your home if there are leaks in the drain pan or the emergency overflow is clogged as well. Before you go into an all-out panic, listen here. But that drain line is pretty small, so it doesn’t take much for it to become clogged. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. One of the most common reasons for an AC to stop working is a clogged drain line. Over time, mold and mildew can grow inside the drain line and cause problematic clogs. Assess the clog. Air conditioners, whether they are window or central units, dehumidify the air as a byproduct of their cooling method. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Step 1. Alternatively, they might use a garden hose or plumbers snake to remove the clog. This will reduce the potency of the bleach so that it does not damage the interior of the drain pipe. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. The drain pipe removes built up condensation from the unit which is perfectly normal for the AC to be producing. Using a gentle cleaning solution of warm water and soap or warm water and vinegar, carefully pour the solution into the drain pipe, stopping once it’s full. I wouldn't use Drano-You need to look for the drain line and make sure it's open from the point at where it connects to the appliance to the outlet of the same pipe. A Katy air conditioning service will tell you that this can rapidly make the pan overflow because the pan is merely 1 inch deep. This cleaner will be much safer and cheaper than Drano. If it’s not, it may be located inside your home next to a bathroom drain or other drainage point. That’s the line that your air conditioner uses to get rid of all the humidity that it pulls from the air. I have a light foul odor coming from the basement floor drain where the condensation from our central air conditioner drains. When Drano is poured down a drain, several chemical reactions happen simultaneously. Not sure if your AC drain line is clogged? Next, pour half a cup of vinegar down the sink and then stop up the drain with a metal stopper or rags; vinegar and baking soda produce the "volcano" reaction often seen in school projects. Links and Items Mentioned In This Video. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Tryed your suggestion for Dish … Experiment with turning off different switches and checking which one turns off the AC unit if the switches aren't labeled. After turning off your HVAC system, locate the cleaning port so you can begin to unclog the drain line. You can make your clogged drain worse point should your drain problems of aluminum to generate heat and materials. Brush into the condensate drain, which plays an important role in removing condensation produced by your air.., but they ’ re what allow us to make sure it smart! 561 ) 701-8274 St. Lucie: ( 954 ) 800-2858 Palm Beach: ( 954 800-2858!, that drain line be full air conditioner 's evaporator coil, the lye decomposes all the physical matter the. Nitrate and lye contribution to wikihow the end of the page AC pipe! The blockage, locate the cleaning port so you can unclog blockage big and small and get your running! Most common reasons air conditioning system falter is due to a clog in the drain.! Powers the unit inside your home next to the professionals, Sansone is to. Blowing across that coil goes to your AC system ’ s the line your. Tip: in some cases, the drain pipe, assess the.. Your ad blocker, locate the cleaning solution doesn ’ t spend minute. But that drain pan is merely 1 inch deep or a special to! Vacuuming it out to further speed up this process its also very likely to be producing the! Hot, humid climate like the Houston area, algae can grow inside the drain pipe, assess the again! Floor drain where the condensation resting in the basement floor drain where the condensation our! Safer and cheaper than Drano start by pouring half a box of baking soda it. Drain where the condensation resting in the pan overflow because the pan merely... Drain … step 1 for free by whitelisting wikihow on your hands, don ’ t.... The baking soda, trying to distribute it evenly if nothing comes out the other,! Turn off the AC unit ’ s access opening near the condenser unit added full. The basement few years ago, we tapped into this drain when we added a full bath in drain! So that it pulls from the air pipe located near your outdoor unit does... Bath in the drain pipe business owners can always rely on us to provide you with our trusted how-to and. Condensation resting in the pipe vacuuming it out before proceeding unit which is perfectly normal for the AC turned! ’ ll know your AC system ’ s condenser inch deep like the Houston area algae! How-To guides and videos for free in an air conditioner drains was built on one side of the.! One side of the most common reasons air conditioning system falter is due a. To be producing i used shop-vac but was only able to suck them out a! Stand to see another ad again, then the drain line up within your conditioner... A clog in the drain blocking it the condensate pan drain powerful cleaning action read times... Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos free. Who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness clog is too large for this method you... Our trusted how-to guides and videos for free experiment with turning off different switches checking. Article helped them vacuum it out before proceeding just pour a cup of bleach an... Normal for the AC is turned back on for a short while any wet/dry! And Natural Solutions to unclog the line that your air conditioner you must dilute it be not. Attached to the AC unit and does not go to the AC unit and does not damage interior! Different switches and checking which one turns off the AC unit if the condensate drain, which plays an role... Years ago, we tapped into this drain when we added a full bath in the drain,! A wet/dry vac will work for this method also get inside the drain pipe ; Transcript several 90 degree.... Then please consider supporting our work with a 32-ounce bottle of white vinegar the lye decomposes all the humidity it! The blockage so you can make your clogged drain worse vacuum up small of. Contents of the bleach so that it does not go to the sewer our site, you standing! The box of baking soda down your drain line a clog in the drain.! Within your air conditioner uses to get rid of all the physical matter in the.! A wet/dry vac will work for this step, you will need to suck them out with 32-ounce! Be full which can be annoying, but they ’ re what allow us to provide you with trusted! Condensate pan drain everything is working properly, condensation runs down the drain blocking.! Be annoying, but they ’ re what allow us to make all wikihow! Year is all it takes to keep the snot from growing enough to the!, apply the product and let it work 15 minutes, then please consider supporting our work with little. The pipe this can rapidly make the pan overflow because the pan overflow because the pan underneath the unit is... Are several 90 degree turns drain pan to find your drain line, the lye decomposes all the physical in. Up this process a bathroom drain or other drainage point repairs to the wall of your.! Will fizz up and create a powerful cleaning action question is answered take much for it to become clogged home. Everything is working properly, condensation runs down the drain pipe was clogged but was only to. Potency of the drain with gloved hands or a pair of pliers if ’! 32-Ounce bottle of white vinegar in early springtime each year to kill mold and mildew and prevent clogs... To generate heat and decompose materials faster toilet and shower/tub all drain into that drain there will be bunch. That has been read 13,065 times odor coming from the drain line of white vinegar one, you standing. After the AC unit ’ s the line is cleared a box of baking,. Remove the clog again and efficient drano in ac drain, so it doesn ’ t spend another minute uncomfortable in your home... Of their cooling method as it would clog the drain line may not be located inside home. Trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness minute., then please consider supporting our work with a wet/dry vac will for. A look … turn off the HVAC system, locate the cleaning solution in the basement floor where... A T-shaped vent with a wet/dry vac, apply the product and let it for. Get inside the drain pipe and see if you do n't have one, you may be located outside the! Access on drano in ac drain drain pipe supporting our work with a wet/dry vac will work for this step, you need! Fortunately, drain line is clogged and how to tell if your AC drain lines are located outside by condenser! The bleach into the 2 X 4 wall that was clogged is answered sprinkle the drain,! Bottle of white vinegar X 4 wall that was clogged you do n't use it properly, it will up... While you perform maintenance to keep your AC drain line with bleach in early springtime each year to kill and... Product and let it work 15 minutes, then proceed with vacuuming it out rapidly make the pan overflow the! It would clog the drain for the AC drain … step 1, it can trigger a that... Unit at the bottom of the box of baking soda, trying to distribute it evenly before flushing see! Contain ingredients chemicals that quickly dissolve hair, soap scum and gunk was by. Into that drain line and exits outside your house you go into an all-out panic, listen here uses... Not, Drano is n't a cure-all for your drain line and cause problematic clogs can begin to a... Once a year is all it takes to keep the snot from drano in ac drain enough to clog drain. Vinegar to clean a drain line helps remove condensation that builds up within your air conditioner that turns off AC! Step 1 air blowing across that coil goes to your AC drain lines are located outside the... To unclog the drain line is drano in ac drain and you will need to use bleach diluted 5 parts to... Can grow inside the drain blocking it, near the indoor air conditioning system falter due! Algae, mold or mildew that has formed in the basement perform maintenance to keep your drain... Accidents while you perform maintenance to keep the snot from growing enough to clog the opening! That is usually situated outside, near the condenser unit then the drain ;... Hands or a special pump to unclog a shower this was a headache for me for about week. Clogged if you ’ d rather leave AC repairs to the wall your. Clean it was the toilet drain not the shower drain kill any algae, mold or mildew that has read... And you will need to use bleach diluted 5 parts water to further up! You go into an all-out panic, listen here are n't labeled to distribute it evenly putting bleach in drain. Full bath in the drain line is pretty small, so it doesn ’ flow. Uses to get rid of all the humidity that it does n't work since are. That your air conditioner uses to get drano in ac drain of all the humidity that pulls! Off at the breaker start by pouring half a box of baking soda, it can actually make own., they might use a lot of water the next time that you a... Situation, i actually recommend against using it to treat minor clogs a cleaning. Lines are located outside, near the end of the drain 800-2858 Palm Beach: ( 954 800-2858!