AIR CONDITIONING UNITS IN THE SOUTH VS UP NORTH - A RUDE AWAKENING

[glenwolde]

I don't profess to be a AC expert - I am just a very handy homeowner that does the work myself. I have been told by one of my good friends (his business is HVAC) as well as other professional HVAC guys NOT to use vinegar or bleach to clean out drip lines. I know some say they have been using one or the other for decades with no issues, but at least read the article I linked below. Not telling anyone what to do - just repeating what I have been told by Pro's.

I was told to use a chemical specifically for AC drip lines and coils which is what I do. I get it in 1 gallon concentrated jugs and dilute it 1:10 for the evaporator coils and 1:6 for the condenser coils. While the stuff does not require rinsing, it was suggested to do so after the required dwell time and the chemical will go through the drip like and clean that out as well. After the chemical runs through the drip line, I use my air compressor and blow the line out also. I installed a hose connection and an inline shutoff valve just outside the drip pan on the main unit. This allows me to close the valve (preventing back-flo into the pan), attach a garden hose and open the petcock which flushed out the drip line with 65psi. It always amazes me as to what gook comes out!! IMHO this method works so much better than using a shop-vac AND there is no disgusting slime to clean out of the vacuum.

The chemical runs around $20 bucks a gallon and should last several years for 2 units. The concentrate makes about 8 gallons of usable flush. Works well - as long as I remember to do it!

Pictured below is flush valve and hose connection I installed. Sorry about the orientation of the pic's - one day I'll figure out how to rotate them here.

AC Drain Line Clogged? Don’t Use Bleach Or Vinegar Until You Read This

He makes a valid point, if you're pouring the stuff in the pan I guess. Every system I've had (which is not many) was equipped with an access point somewhat removed from the air handler. It has a cap. I've always used vinegar or a bleach solution down the access point and don't see how it could have corroded anything in the air handler.

This does remind me to go check on mine. We moved into this place last September. I have to say Houston is as hot and humid as anyplace else and I've only had a clog once in decades, and it was the one in our first house, where I learned about drain lines clogging.

I only treat once a year. I think the treatment may be important even if you use your shop vac or air compressor to clear the line. The treatment kills the stuff that makes it grow back. Just sucking it out leaves a lot of live bacteria in there which grows back fast.

Exterior drain lines aren't used here anymore. They've all been tied into the house drain lines. There's no "end" to access. That might be the current code. I don't know.

 

[jeffrefrig]

The HVACR venders sell many different types of "pills" one can put in the drain pan that helps alleviate the drain slime that clogs up everything. I put a union on my drain pan outlet and put a couple in there, just put the pill in the pipe and flick it into the pan or push it in with a piece of wire. A couple more I leave in the union outlet and they will take care of the trap. Everything drains into a condensate pump that I'll throw a few in, also. I've never had an issue since 2004 when I installed it. It's also a good idea to add a UV lamp in the return air before the filter. I guess they kill micro-organisms in the air. So far, so good. (Being retired from the trade, mine is the only system I'll ever work on.)
Glad I saw this thread. I have a new air filter to put in and need to throw some PanTreat tablets in the drain.

 

[ladder13]

Parents had no money for fans, they kept all the windows open letting in all the bugs. That is until the city trucks came with DDT and created clouds of it.

This was our cooling off in the Johnny Pump during the day.

Until the cops came and shut the water off. When they left, an adult would come with a wrench and open it again, and the cycle continued all day.

And at night we slept on the fire escape. The world was much safer back then.

 

[chief38]

I am as nostalgic as anyone, but when folks start talking about the good—ol’—days I know they have never lived in the south, w/o air, in the summertime.

A few years ago I was helping clear some ground. We had a big dozer, track hoe and big skid steer. All closed cab with air conditioning units where we could hang meat in any of the cabs.

I told the young men I was working with, “just think, our grandfathers use to do this with mules and draft horses. And that’s after they had used picks, shovel's, black powder and dynamite to pretty much dig the stump out.”

They uniformly said, “anyone who calls those the good ol days much have a bad memory!”

Unless one is born raised in FL 's summer heat (numb to it), the climate is prohibitive for Northerners, IMO. Prior to air conditioning, FL was a lot less populated. Just one of the reasons that over the last few decades FL has become such a popular place to move to.

The very very first thing we did the day after closing on this house was to get a 22K back up Generac installed. AC can't work without electricity and since this is now our permanent residence, we need to be able to live here.

BTW, just incase someone says, "so why live in FL"? OK, fair question. FL is absolutely gorgeous over half the year! FL is a much more relaxing State than I have ever experienced. FL is a law & order State. FL is a "free" State. Remember...., there is NO perfect place to live! Every location has something negative like Hurricanes, Tornadoes, Earthquakes, Blizzards, Volcanos, droughts, intense cold or heat, left wing politics, corruption beyond belief, extremely high crime, etc. etc. More importantly...... most have people down here! Family and friends are 100% ESSENTIAL for a happy life - at least to us. I'll deal with the heat and Alligators over the 2 legged animals anytime!

 

[chief38]

He makes a valid point, if you're pouring the stuff in the pan I guess. Every system I've had (which is not many) was equipped with an access point somewhat removed from the air handler. It has a cap. I've always used vinegar or a bleach solution down the access point and don't see how it could have corroded anything in the air handler.

This does remind me to go check on mine. We moved into this place last September. I have to say Houston is as hot and humid as anyplace else and I've only had a clog once in decades, and it was the one in our first house, where I learned about drain lines clogging.

I only treat once a year. I think the treatment may be important even if you use your shop vac or air compressor to clear the line. The treatment kills the stuff that makes it grow back. Just sucking it out leaves a lot of live bacteria in there which grows back fast.

Exterior drain lines aren't used here anymore. They've all been tied into the house drain lines. There's no "end" to access. That might be the current code. I don't know.

At $20+ bucks to make 8 gallons (probably a 4-5 year supply) I feel way better about using a specific purpose product over something else. If you are adding bleach or vinegar directly to a plastic line and can insure none backs up into the pan, I suppose you might be OK - as you have experienced. But again, for the very low cost and easy availability in any Home Store, I don't see the risk being worth saving a few bucks. A new unit costs way more - lol.

Some guys use less expensive automotive & other products on guns and think I am a fool for spending more money on gun specific products. Well, I am not a chemical engineer and can't properly analyze the chemical make-up, so I use what makes me sleep better at night. A few bucks one way or the other will not change most peoples lives.

 

[mtgianni]

The question I have is the same I've had for years trying to find the correct cooling and heating for my home. Where does the heat it pulls from the air conditioned environment go?

It is the unmentioned contributor to global warming.

 

[jeffrefrig]

This has always been good to me.

 

[pasound]

I knew the answer to my question, but this seemed like the right place to stir the discussion a bit.

Growing up in the late 50's and 60's, we used a single casement fan in a basement window which pulled air through the entire house and kept it noticably cooler. I lived in the basement during the summers.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Most of my life I thought air conditioning was for rich people, not us poor working stiffs.

My outlook has changed! Central heating and AC started having hiccups occasionally a few years ago so I called our service guy and had him schedule replacement. That way I only had to cry one time, while writing the check.

By the way, the new system costs about 25% less to run than the old one, winter or summer. Also much quieter, hardly hear the AC compressor unless I'm outdoors. Service calls are less expensive, now that the old Freon machine is gone.

Don't wait for the hottest or coldest times of the year, when the HVAC guys are so busy they can't help for days or weeks. Get it done.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

1980'swas service tech helper and installation crewman for small family owed HVAC company . During the summer months we humped it with service techs ,it is hard work . The hardest was apartment complexes some was in very bad neighborhoods. Thankfully they all liked the AC guys

Late 70's HVAC service tech helper-ditto here 22 was the go to blow out used. We called the stuff snot and in the gig chill water towers used for office buildings downtown we kept the water flowing with bleach.
When I was with the installation crew I learned to hate rigid wall duct pipe and pink fiberglass wrap. And why did my boss always seem to take jobs running 12" round duct through a crawl space averaging 12 inches from top to bottom. Remember it all with a smile as it paid for college and law school-had no idea that those WERE the good times! No responsibilities-no kids no wife, just me and my money.

 

[djohns6]

I've used Clorox bleach in the condensate drain line since I bought my first house in 1982 . Zero issues . I don't do it as often as I should so I have had the line plug up occasionally . I installed a " Jones Valve " on the drain line so I can attach my air hose to it and blow it out in a matter of seconds .

 

[glenwolde]

At $20+ bucks to make 8 gallons (probably a 4-5 year supply) I feel way better about using a specific purpose product over something else. If you are adding bleach or vinegar directly to a plastic line and can insure none backs up into the pan, I suppose you might be OK - as you have experienced. But again, for the very low cost and easy availability in any Home Store, I don't see the risk being worth saving a few bucks. A new unit costs way more - lol.

Some guys use less expensive automotive & other products on guns and think I am a fool for spending more money on gun specific products. Well, I am not a chemical engineer and can't properly analyze the chemical make-up, so I use what makes me sleep better at night. A few bucks one way or the other will not change most peoples lives.

You're not wrong.

I do dilute it. I put a cup of bleach in a gallon of water. Once a year. Never had a clog if I did it.

I've never had an overflow when filling it because the idea is to treat it before there's a clog. I use a funnel to keep from spilling.

 

[Rule3]

I got tired of doing it myself. I signed up for a yearly contract. Tech comes twice a year and does it. It's not expensive plus it gets me on the preferred list, so any time I have a issue (weekends) the still come and do not charge extra.


All the years I have lived here and had probably 4 AC units I may have had 3 slime,.snot build ups. Either use the shop vac, blast a garden hose up the drain for a few seconds, now have a Jones valve, Still a million degrees in the attic and I don't want to crawl up there anymore!



Pouring bleach or vinegar in the overflow pan does nothing. The pan should be bone dry. It's there for when the system backs up and the condensation goes in the pan and out the overflow drain pipe and out the side of the house,

 

[djohns6]

Pouring bleach or vinegar in the overflow pan does nothing. The pan should be bone dry. It's there for when the system backs up and the condensation goes in the pan and out the overflow drain pipe and out the side of the house,

I've never seen a pan with a drain it . My unit has a float switch in the pan .

 

[oldbrownhat]

For those who were interested in the Wyss Institute low-energy AC unit, I emailed Wyss as follows:

...I am curious to know what progress has been made in bringing this technology to market. I would hope that an established US or perhaps Japanese-US company (ie not based in mainland China) such as Carrier, Trane, Mitsubishi or Bosch might be interested in licensing the technology, as I doubt that Harvard itself is in a position to go into manufacturing.
​

and got this reply this morning:

Thanks for your interest! cSNAP technology is now part of Trellis Air. Feel free to sign up to hear about the latest.
Trellis Air — Low-energy Dehumidification

Best,
Ally

[FONT=&quot]Ally Chang, PhD, MBA[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Business Development Director - Entrepreneurship[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]201 Brookline Ave, Boston MA 02115[/FONT]
​

No info on Trellis Air, looks to be set up as part of Harvard Innovation Labs specifically for this technology. But I'm going to sign up because, as they say, "enquiring minds want to know"

 

[Rule3]

I've never seen a pan with a drain it . My unit has a float switch in the pan .

Yes, the float switch goes up to the top of the overflow pan and then there is a drain/pipe there also.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Oddly enough, I have one of those under my recliner.

 

[oldbrownhat]

Oddly enough, I have one of those under my recliner.

Ummm... "thanks for sharing". (But if you get to "The Soldier in White" condition, please just keep the details to yourself )

 

[dockmurgw]

You guys dont just open the windows on a nice 75 degree summer day?

 

[Rustyt1953]

My first walk today it was 80° w/92% humidity.

Upon my return I built a shrine to Willis Carrier.