Air Conditioner Condensate Drain Trap

Before you switch on the unit you ll need to know the proper way to install a condensate drain line.

Air conditioner condensate drain trap.

Observations show that condensate in the drain pan becomes entrained by the entering air when its velocity reaches about 16 mph. Trap failures due to freeze up drying out breakage blockage and or improper installation can compromise the seal against air ingestion through the condensate drain line. Why it happens and how to deal. This one tells why a p trap is necessary on the air conditioner evaporator.

Leaks and overflow. That is why in the summer your car drips water. A perfect algae breeding ground is the wet warm environment of a condensate collector beneath a central air conditioner evaporator coil. Shows for a standard p trap the vertical distance required between center lines of unit connection and the center line of the bottom of the trap is 4 inches when there is a.

All air conditioners have a special drain for this condensation. Relatively small 5 to 10 ton hvac units frequently operate with internal pressures near 0 80 and greater in. This is the condensate drain which plays an important role in removing condensation produced by your air conditioner s evaporator coil if the line isn t properly cleaned algae and mold can grow inside and clog the drain causing elevated humidity musty odors and water damage inside your home. This value is exceeded in most systems operating with a dry trap.

These drain lines carry away condensation produced by the operation of the evaporator on the air conditioner unit. Once you ve completed installing a new air conditioner your work isn t quite finished. The air trap allows liquid condensate to drain from the hvac equipment and simultaneously prevents air from entering or escaping from the equipment. See when moist air hits something cold the water condenses out of the air and collects on the cold surface.

The condensate drain system can endure issues that include damaging leaks bad air quality toxic mold growth and even a complete air conditioner shutdown. A p trap serves a very important purpose on an a c unit.