Posted: 6/2/2014 4:00:14 PM EDT
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I came home to a leaking ceiling today. Thankfully, not much water had leaked through.
At the coil, I noticed a cap on this leaking pipe end. I unscrewed it and it started flowing water into the overflow. See pic: 
The overflow tray/drain system does not seem to be clogged. The overflow switch works and will cut the system off. So, my question is, is it okay to leave this cap off and let it drain to the overflow? It's not very obvious where the evaporator drains to. Obviously, I'll get my AC guy here tomorrow, but for now....? |
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It's not gonna hurt anything draining into and out of the overflow pan. The only problem with leaving the cap off is the evaporator drain pan will not drain properly when the fan is running. It needs to be trapped or the fan will suck air in and prevent water from draining properly.
Anyway, you need to find where the primary evaporator drain line is. It's most likely plugged. |
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The plug will likely be in the trap for the drain, a blast of compressed air or a shop vac is the cleanest way to blow the line out. Find termination point, either use a shop vac to suck the clog out or use a blast of compressed air to unplug it.
I use cO2 cartridges at work but there isn't any need to buy the tool for your own A/C drain line. |
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Quoted:
I came home to a leaking ceiling today. Thankfully, not much water had leaked through. At the coil, I noticed a cap on this leaking pipe end. I unscrewed it and it started flowing water into the overflow. See pic: http://i60.tinypic.com/xbb5p4.jpg The overflow tray/drain system does not seem to be clogged. The overflow switch works and will cut the system off. So, my question is, is it okay to leave this cap off and let it drain to the overflow? It's not very obvious where the evaporator drains to. Obviously, I'll get my AC guy here tomorrow, but for now....? For a day it's probably fine. 99% chance the overflow drains to an open pipe on the outside exterior wall of the house nearest the condensor. The primary drain is plugged. Compressed air will fix it usually. Pour bleach in it every 3 months of operation to avoid the problem. |
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The emergency metal pan looks rusty like the air handler has been leaking a while.
Best to open it up and check the catch pan inside. It may be rusted out or if plastic cracked. I like having a float switch in drain pipe or pan to shut down the system if clogged. |
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water should never be in the overflow pan. But if it was to overflow, a sensor or float switch will shut off the unit so ceilings don't get wet.
Piss poor install. Contact the installer and sue them, thats what his general liability insurance is for. Unless you used the cheap guy... |
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Quoted:
water should never be in the overflow pan. But if it was to overflow, a sensor or float switch will shut off the unit so ceilings don't get wet. Piss poor install. Contact the installer and sue them, thats what his general liability insurance is for. Unless you used the cheap guy... The rust is most likely from a long time ago before I had a new coil installed. There is never water there, but has been for the last day or so. I noticed it coming out of the eave drain (and noted it), but didn't check it quick enough. I have the drain line identified and will flush it out with one of those drain bladders that goes on to the end of the garden hose--expands and flushes water through the lines. This fixed another problem I had, so hopefully it will work here. |