How do I clean out my clogged home AC drain pipe and pan?

Question

My AC is leaking water all over the floor. I reside in a condo on the 2nd floor I have no idea about anything on the outside as far as the pipes go. I have read where it says to un clogg it using a shop vac. I am purchasing a 6-gallon one today. I see a L-shaped pipe to the left of the AC. Once I have detached the pipe which end do I hook the shop van to? Also am I supposed to blow the clog out or use suction with the VAC? PLEASE HELP DESPERATE SINGLE MOM!

Answer 1

i used a long piece of wire to clean my drain pipe  I purchased a better grade of filter and have not had to clean out the pipe in five years i also change the filter every three months in the summer the pipe normally runs into the gutter on outside of house

Answer 2

Use the suction on the pipe going to the AC. Use the blower on the pipe going outside.

Answer 3

Near your outside unit where the copper pipes are going into the home is a white pvc pipe air conditoner drain pan pipe. Vaccum that out. An interesting website called "How stuff works "has an article on this topic which you may want to read:

Answer 4

DO NOT run a wire in the tube,, !!!    just add bleach to kill the fungi and algea that is building up in there!!   just pour it in the standing water it will soak into the drain pipe,, then when the water leverlis down fill up the pan with bleach again and let this go down!!   it will all be gone,,, add bleach every 6 months

Answer 5

HVAC Tech>:  NEVER put bleach in your a/c drain pans!!! It will cause the galvanized pan to rust out. In the primary drain you can ask your service technician to put in a strip/chemical that only works when the system is running, at the time of your yearly service check. They are matched to your tonnage and last for a year. They will not oxidize and eat the aluminum fins like bleach, but will protect them and the steel pan the evaporator coil sets in. Hope that helpful.