If your AC’s drain line clogs, it’s most likely because mold and mildew is growing inside the drain.
And, depending on the type of AC you have, a clogged drain line will either:
- Shut off your AC completely (to prevent flooding)
- Overflow and cause water damage
And because neither situation is ideal, we’ll give you step-by-step instructions on how to clear your condensate drain line and how to prevent this problem from happening again.
Even if your condensate line is blocked, fixing the problem is easy. All you need are few extra minutes, a little grease and some distilled vinegar.
Pouring a cup of vinegar down your drain line each month is a great way to prevent clogs and blockages from occurring in the first place. Just remove the PVC cap on the top of the pipe and slowly pour the vinegar down. You can even pour another cup into your drain pan as an added preventive measure.
If your drain line has already become clogged, vinegar likely won’t be able to unclog it all its own. However, once you’ve used a flexible wire brush to clean out the pipe, you can use vinegar to eliminate the leftover debris that you were not able to reach with the brush. Vinegar’s acidic properties will prevent new bacteria and algae from growing in the future.
Step 1. Locate the drain line (look for a PVC pipe).
Step 2. Remove the drain line plug (the cover of the drain line) and pour in ¼ cup of distilled vinegar. The acidity in vinegar kills algae and bacteria, but keep in mind that it may take a few hours to remove the clog if it is severe.
Step 3. Repeat the process until the drain is clear.
Step 4. Check and clean your drain lines once a month to keep your condensate line free of algae buildup.
Follow the step-by-step directions above and do not hesitate to contact us if your condensate drain is still clogged after trying this method.