Your air conditioner’s condensate line — also known as an AC drain line — carries off the water collected during your AC system’s operation. It is deposited safely outside your Northshore, LA home where it won’t cause damage. During your air conditioning’s operation, this water runs into the AC’s drain pan and enters the drain line by gravity, preventing the water from building up in the drain pan. Here are a few reasons why this drain line is important and why you should check it regularly for obstructions:
Protects Your Air Conditioning System
Your AC system’s drain line is designed to remove the condensate that could otherwise interfere with the proper operation of your air conditioner. A large amount of condensate buildup can compromise various parts of your AC system, causing them to work less efficiently, wear out faster and potentially contribute to a system breakdown.
Prevents Water Damage to Your Home
When your AC drain line becomes completely clogged, the water in the drain pan has nowhere to go. Eventually, the pain will overflow, depositing potentially large amounts of water inside your home. This water can damage your attic, ceilings, flooring or drywall, and the damage can be costly to fix.
Protects Your Family from Unhealthy Standing Water
The humid summers we experience in our area can add greatly to the amount of moisture that your system’s condensate line must deal with. Your AC system removes this humidity from the air and sends it to the drain pan for disposal. When the drain line is clogged, the standing water can allow harmful contaminants to build up, compromising indoor air quality and creating an unhealthy environment for your family.
Prevents Problems Before They Start
You should periodically check the condensate line where it empties outside of your home. As long as it’s dripping water, you’ll know the drain line isn’t clogged. However, if you should discover that there’s no water running out of the drain line outside your home or see a buildup of liquid in the drain pan that isn’t draining, turn off your air conditioning. You can usually dislodge the obstruction by using a shop vac from the outside of your home to suck out the obstruction. If that doesn’t work, call Caribbean Breeze Heating & Cooling right away. We’re always here to help.
