Nothing will ruin your day faster than finding out your HVAC system has caused major water damage to your attic, ceiling, or other parts of your home. Luckily, understanding how this can happen makes prevention a simple task.

Water damage from your HVAC system is usually the culprit of a clogged condensate drain. To understand the purpose of this drain, picture a glass of iced tea on a hot day. As warm air hits the cold glass, it cools slightly. This causes drops of water, or condensation, to form on the side of the glass.

How Your Condensate Drain Works

The same thing happens as your A/C is cooling air. When warm air blows over the cold evaporator coils, the air cools and condensation forms. This water goes into a drip pan that opens into a pipe called a condensate drain. The drain allows the water to flow out of your house without doing any damage.

Drain Clogs

The problem occurs when the drain gets clogged. This typically happens for one of two reasons. First, the wet conditions inside the drain and trap are a great environment for mildew and mold. Over time, these growths can cause clogs.

The second reason you might have a clog is when debris builds up in the trap or drain. Debris comes from loose particles in the air such as dust and pollen. Just like mold, debris can build up over time and create clogs.

Solutions to Clogged Drain Problems

Keeping the air clean in your HVAC system helps cut down on debris buildup. This can be as simple as changing your air filter every 30 to 90 days. For higher air quality, you can also consider installing a whole-home filter or air cleaners.

Even more important is a regular cleaning of your drip pan and condensate drain. Yearly HVAC maintenance agreements include an inspection and cleaning of the condensate line in addition to the upkeep on the rest of your system.

Need help with your clogged condensate drain or other HVAC maintenance concerns in the Peachtree City area? Contact Powers Heating & Air today.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Peachtree City, Georgia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 770-487-2040.

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