In addition to cooling your home, an air conditioner removes moisture from the air to lower the humidity level inside your house. This excess condensed water is removed from the AC unit through a small drain pipe and deposited outside on the ground. Over time algae, mold, and mildew can build up inside the condensation drain line and form a clog, causing water to back up and overflow inside the air conditioner unit. To prevent this from happening, pour a cup of bleach in the access opening in the drain line near the AC unit to kill any algae, mold, or mildew that has formed in the pipe. If the condensation line is clogged, you will need to use a shop vac or special pump to remove the clog from the line. AC Drain Clean Out (video) How to Clean Baseboards with Fabric Softener Tip for Moving Heavy Furniture in Your Home Big Changes in Store for the Kuppersmith Project HouseAir Conditioner Condensation Drain Line Cleaning Air Conditioner Condensation Drain Line Cleaning

Learn how to clean your air conditioner condensation drain line. TranscriptHi, I’m Lance with Invitation Homes. And today we’re going to talk about monitoring and cleaning your air conditioner condensation drain line. A clogged condensation drain line can cause a huge costly mess in your home, but this can be easily avoided by following a few simple steps. First, locate the air conditioning air handler unit inside your home. There are many brands, but it might look something like this. You might find it in a closet, garage, your basement, or even your attic. You’ll notice a drain line, usually a white PVC pipe exiting the unit similar to this one. This line carries the water created by condensation from the AC unit to the outside of your home. If this line becomes clogged, the overflow water will end up draining into your home which could potentially cause damage to your possessions. Most condensation drain lines have an opening that allows access to the line. Over time this line can become clogged, but you can usually clear the line with a straightened clothes hanger or by vacuuming the line with a wet/dry vacuum.

Once the line is clear, you can maintain the open line by pouring a half to a full cup of vinegar in the access opening of the line every six months. If your drain line is clogged and you can’t get it to clear, turn off your air conditioner to prevent water damage. Back to Video GalleryIt’s simple, it’s quick, it’s easy, and best of all it is effective. Cleaning your air conditioner will take you little time and effort, and produce significant results! All you have to do is roll your sleeves up and get to work. This blog will show you why your air conditioner should be clean, and help you turn that notion into a reality. A clean air conditioner functions at a higher level than a dirty one, so it seems like common sense that your AC should always be clean. Unfortunately, the AC unit in your backyard often goes neglected and as a result your in-home comfort can suffer. A clean AC will boost your HVAC’s efficiency by up to 30%, and that will be evident when you get your monthly energy bill.

Combine the benefits of a clean air conditioner with the fact that you can do it yourself without spending any money, and there’s no denying what you should do!home ac unit not blowing heat The first thing you must do, above all else, is turn off your AC. inside ac unit won turn onWe can't stress this enough. window ac units tipsYou don’t want the unit starting while you’re working, so you have to go directly to its power source at the breaker box. Flip the switch on your power box, or just unplug the unit entirely; either way, just make sure you shut off your AC. Now you can get started. If your HVAC does not have trees or bushes surrounding it, then you may not need to open it up and remove the debris, but it’s important that you check.

You can easily use a screwdriver to open the grate over the fins and remove anything inside your unit. Leaves and twigs inside your air conditioner can cause damage and create inefficiency. You can eliminate those problems by removing the sources: leaves, twigs, and other debris.You can easily wash away all the dirt and debris caked on your filter fins with a hose. Also, make sure you utilize a brush get rid of the stuff that is hard to remove. It’s important that when you wash your AC, the water flows from the inside to the outside. It will make sure that you are actually cleaning your AC, instead of placing the dirt and dust particles back in the cycle. Find kinks or bends in the fins and straighten them out. It’s important you don’t break the fins while you’re straightening them. Use a thin object, like a butter knife or a paint scraper; even a heavy-duty wire brush will do, and slide the object between the fins to straighten them. Don't bend too hard or overcorrect and create another kink, just slide the tool you use up and down until the kinks have straightened.

Straight fins help the AC breathe and are harder to clog with dust and dirt. Overgrown grass or weeds can be a real problem for AC units trying to keep you cool so clean the area around your AC. Remove weeds, long grass, overgrown bushes, and fallen branches and consider creating a barrier around the AC, like a small fence to protect it from further problems down the road. These are the things that lead to pollen and dirt being a problem for your AC later on, so make sure your AC is clear of any hindrances. Go into your home and change your filters. You can save 15% of your energy by replacing an old, dirty filter with a newer, clean one. The act of changing your filter will complement the work you’ve done outside by catching any remaining dust particles circulating from your AC to your ducts. This act finalizes the DIY session with your outdoor unit, but it doesn’t sum up everything else you can do. There’s still so much you can do to improve your AC’s efficiency and indoor air quality, but that’s a blog for next time.