Your air conditioner does two jobs: It cools down the air and it dehumidifies the air. If you live in a dry climate, you want the AC to dehumidify as little as possible because it uses extra energy and makes you spend more on lip balm and hand lotion. If you live in a humid climate, you really want it to do that second job as well as it can to keep your indoor air dry and comfortable. But where does all that condensate go? In most homes, it goes outdoors through a pipe, like the one above. Sometimes there's a little pump that pumps it out, but most often it drains by gravity alone. Occasionally that condensate line gets clogged. This happened at my condo last week. (We live in Atlanta, Georgia, a mixed-humid climate.) Gunk in the pipe built up to the point where it was barely draining. We could run the AC for a little while and then we'd have to turn it off again. This past weekend I tackled the problem. One of the best ways to do so is with good old air pressure. If you can close off all escape routes except the one in the direction of the clog, you can shoot positive pressure into the pipe near where the indoor unit is located.

That should blow the clog out the other end. In our case, that wasn't an option because our condensate line is connected to our upstairs neighbor's air conditioner, too. So I got out my little wet-dry shop vac and set it up to suck the gunk out at the end of the pipe. The photo below shows the setup. I was hoping to avoid a trip to the hardware store, so I used red duct tape to try to make an airtight connection between the shop vac hose and the condensate line. I took the shop vac hose with me to the store and bought some fittings in the plumbing department. I hooked it all up (photo above) and got a nice, airtight connection this time. With the taped connection, I got maybe half a cup of water out of the pipe. With the airtight connection, I got the bucket full of crud you see below. If you really want to see how bad it was, watch the short video below and you can see my wife pouring it out. Yes, all that gunk was in our condensate line. One problem with condensate lines is that algae can grow in them.

In our case, there's also a lot of sediment in that bucket, possibly from a corroded evaporator coil. We replaced our AC in 2009 and the condensate line hasn't been cleaned since then, so some of that crud could have been from our old unit. If you haven't thought about your condensate line lately (or ever), this would be a good time to do so. You can have your HVAC company make sure it's clean, or you can get a shop vac and do it yourself. To keep it clear, you can use an algaecide that's safe for air conditioners. Your HVAC company can recommend one for you. In hot-humid climates like Florida especially, clogged condensate lines are a frequent problem. A little preventive maintenance now could save you thousands of dollars in water damage repairs and the loss of your air conditioner when the heat really cranks up. Have You Seen What's in Your Hotel Room Air Conditioner? An Interesting Way To Freeze Your Air Conditioner Coil Do You Need an Air Filter? Do you sniffle and sneeze and wheeze your way through the year?

If you are plagued by allergies and/or asthma, you may be considering purchasing a home air filtration system. But is it worth the money? Will it actually help ease your symptoms? Not if you don't make other changes in your environment as well, say medical experts. "Buying an air cleaner is not my first suggestion," says Nathan Rabinovitch, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics at National Jewish Medical Research Center in Denver. "It's more of a backup recommendation."how much does central air conditioner unit costMinimize Exposure First Instead, minimizing your exposure to other allergens in the home is the first line of attack in reducing allergic and asthmatic reactions, says Rabinovitch, who offers these suggestions:air conditioner for a room without windows Avoid carpeting and use smooth flooring instead.central ac unit review

If you have pets, consider finding them a new home. If that's not an option, keep the pets outside. If that's not an option either, at the very least, keep them out of the bedroom, and certainly off the bed, and off as much of the other furniture in the house as possible. Use air conditioning in the warmer months to get rid of outdoor pollens or allergens. Clean all air filters, air conditioner filters, and duct filters at each change of season. Keep your windows closed (at home and in the car) and avoid spending time outdoors when your allergies are acting up. Use the hottest water possible to rid your laundry of dust mites. Avoid furnishings that gather dust. Seek an Air Filter Second If you have tried these tactics and aren't finding adequate relief, then it may be time to consider adding an air filter. Both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the American Lung Association recommend air filtration for people with allergies and asthma, but not as a solution by itself.

Controlling allergy-causing pollution and ventilation are more important; there is disagreement on whether filters give much added relief from asthma in a clean and well-ventilated home. This opinion is echoed by the Institute of Medicine, which has said "air cleaners are probably helpful in some situations in reducing allergy or asthma symptoms," but that air cleaning "is not consistently and highly effective in reducing symptoms." But an air filter still might help you. There are five basic types:Mechanical filters force air through a special screen that traps particles including allergens like pollen, pet dander, and dust mites. They also capture irritant particles such as tobacco smoke. The best-known mechanical filter is the high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. HEPA (which is a type of filter, not a brand name) was developed during World War II to prevent radioactive particles from escaping from laboratories. To qualify as a true HEPA filter, a device must be able to capture at least 90% of all particles 0.3 microns or larger in diameter that enter it.

There are filters on the market that claim to be HEPAs, but may not be as efficient, so look for a system that meets true HEPA filtration standards.Electronic filters use electrical charges to attract and deposit allergens and irritants. If the device contains collecting plates, the particles are captured within the system; otherwise, they stick to room surfaces and have to be cleared away. The most efficient filters are electrostatic precipitators, and the best of those use a fan.Hybrid filters contain elements of both mechanical and electrostatic filters.Gas phase filters remove odors and non-particulate pollution such as cooking gas, gasses emitted from paint or building materials, and perfume. They do not remove allergens.Ozone generators are devices that intentionally produce ozone, which manufacturers claim cleans the air. They are not recommended by the EPA or the American Lung Association because ozone can be harmful to lungs at high concentrations. And the EPA says ozone at safe levels "have little potential to remove indoor air contaminants."

Still, if you do choose to use such a device, the American Lung Association advises "choosing one that ensures high efficiency over an extended period of time (at least several months) and does not produce ozone levels above 0.05 parts per million, either intentionally or as a by-product of its design." If your home is heated or air conditioned through ducts, it may be possible to build filters into your air handling system. A whole-house system will also save space and additional noise in your home. On the other hand, the filters may be more expensive and more difficult to handle, and they may need to be changed more often.Choosing a Device The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America suggests asking these questions before purchasing an air filter: Recommended Related to Allergies Lighten Your Child's Allergy Load Coughing, sneezing, itching, wheezing -- kids with allergies face a lot of miserable symptoms. And, your child's triggers may change over time. Sudden weather changes also can make symptoms flare.

Learn what triggers your child's allergies now, at least, and get serious about avoiding them. These tips can help you improve your child's breathing and quality of life. Learn Your Child's Allergy Triggers Write down what causes your child's symptoms: Read the Lighten Your Child's Allergy Load article > > What substances will the cleaner remove from the air in my home? What substances will it not? What is the efficiency rating of the cleaner in relation to the true HEPA standard? Will the unit clean the air in a room the size of my bedroom every four to six minutes? What is the device's clean air delivery rate (CADR)? The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers rates air cleaners according to their clean air delivery rates (CADR), which indicate how much filtered air the cleaner delivers. There are different CADRs for tobacco smoke, pollen, and dust. The higher the numbers, the faster the unit filters air. How difficult is it to change the filter?

(Ask for a demonstration.) How often does it have to be changed? How much do filters cost? Are they readily available throughout the year? How much noise does the unit make? Is it quiet enough to run while I sleep? (Turn it on and try it, even though you will probably be in a store and may not get a true sense of just how noisy it is.) Those with lung conditions such as emphysema or COPD might also consider buying an air filter, says Paul Enright, MD, research professor of medicine at the University of Arizona. But if you're a healthy individual living in a relatively unpolluted environment, there's no need to spend the money. Just remember, Enright says, that an air cleaning system is just one of the environmental changes you can make to alleviate symptoms. "There is no single appropriate answer to coping with allergies and asthma." Home Allergy Treatment Home 12 Natural Ways to Defeat Allergies Need Nasal Allergy Relief? 5 Tips to Cut Pet Allergies 10 Common Allergy Triggers