Clogged condensation lines for Air conditioning system, how do I unclog?

Question

Condensation is backing up into the heat exchange area and leaving moisture in the cabinet which holds the air intake. I need to find the drain line and unplug it.

Answer 1

i have used a clothes hanger and if you have a air compressor, blow out the line with compressed air. i have heard that people use bleach to clean out the line. sorry, but i have no idea where your primary drain is located.

Answer 2

well if it was installed correctly there should be a cleanout to clean it out. if not try a metal coat hanger or even a shop vac.

Answer 3

Open the cover and look.  

Those have a contured catch/drain area, so it should be easy to find it.  Once you find the drain, you might be able to snake it with a small plumbers drain snake.  Use a little bleach and water to help disolve the gunk.  If you are lucky, (and have access to a pressure tank) you can blow it out.  Regular flushing with bleach water will keep it clear in the future.

Answer 4

HVAC Tech.: You can use compressed air "from a portable tank" The pressure will clear the clog. DO NOT put bleach in the drain pans. Chlorine speeds up rust out of the pan and eats up the aluminum fins of the coil. There are strips one can put into the pan under the coil to stop nasties from growing and stopping up drains. Most A/C supply stores carry them, they are only a few dollars,sized for each unit, and easy to install. There are also "pills" that do the same thing, they don't last as long but are available from same source.

Answer 5

Get some condensate drain pan pills from the HVAC place.

Pro-Treat 161 Pills prevents odors & buildup in humidifiers resevoir & Drain Pans.

Answer 6

First of all this needs to be rectified right away.  That condinsation will overflow inside on the coil and drip down onto the heat exchanger of the furnace causing you problems come winter.  

What we do is unhook the line and blow on it to try and unplug it.  If that doesnt work you may have no choice but to replace the line.  However 4 out of 5 times that works no problem.  

If they installed it using hard cpvc and its all glued together go buy a cpvc coupling and some cpvc glue.  Go home and cut the line with a hack saw right next to the furnace.  Blow on it, then once it clears glue it back together using the coupling.