Leaky A/C unit how to clean drain?

Question

My a/c in the wall where the fins are drips down on the floor where the filter is. the pvc drain pipe from the unit is clear, the drain it goes into is clear- slimy coat inside of it, but no blockage. when i get down on the floor and look up at fins- they aren't very dirty, i cleaned them but they seem to be producing a slimy by-product of some sort. Also- the dripping is coming from under where the fins are and when i found a spot to stick my finger- there is slimy junk there- probably blocking the drain where i can't get to it- is there a product like bleach or something i could put in there that would clean this up and let it drain better? i don't know how to get into that area to clean.

also- where the fins are freezes up occasionally- could this be related?

Answer 1

HVAC Tech.: Funny you should ask. Just crawled out of an attic doing the drain, coil, and secondary clean up. The covers have to be removed (carefully) the drain blown out with compressed air. Then clean the coil that didn't look to dirty, I use special chemicals for this, you should use a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water. Make sure you clean the drain pan of the stuff you scrubbed off the fins with a small wire brush (using only up and down motions),so drain will remain open. Carefully replace the covers, pick up your tools and mess.  The attic I was in temperature reached 135 degrees. you can only take about 15 minuets of that at a time. Drink Lots of ice-water or Gatorade. If you don't have a heat stroke, you will have saved a few bucks.  Oh YEAH the system has to be turned off while you do all this. Be careful not to lean on any part of the unit,and definitely not on any of the air ducts.Now that you have done all that HARD work and call a CERTIFIED technician to check the refrigerant charge to determine the cause of your freeze up problem.

Answer 2

Wall units can be slid out of the case for cleaning.

On most you simply(?) remove the face plate and most have a couple of handles for pulling on it to slide it out.

The faceplates generally have a couple screws, maybe hex head, at the bottom, some have one more near the panel, and the bottom pulls out with the top held in by tabs. Some newer ones are more difficult with tabs on the sides. Since it varies brand to brand and some model to model I can't tell you exactly.  

They are VERY heavy, large ones can take two people, so I suggest you only slide it out only a little and you likely can get to the spot that is plugged.  

On most the water gets to the back through a couple small gaps on both sides of the evap coil in front and it has to get past all the insulation that separates the inside from the outside. It is likely those little channels that are plugged, draining too slowly, and holding the water in front.

But it is advisable that every few years the whole unit be pulled out of the case for a good cleaning.

Good Luck.

Answer 3

im guessing its a trane or similar thick evap coil call a tech pull the evap coil and clean it just because it looks clean dosent mean a thing either your low on refridgerant and or clogged coil or combination of both also is the coil on the bottom blower on top negative flow you need a p-trap with no airhole