Condensate Line Issues

NJHomeowner

I had 8 indoor mitsubishi mini splits installed last year connected to two condensers. Couple different concerns in regards to my condensate lines:

1. Noticed today the plastic tube inside of a line hide was falling out of it. Tech came, pulled it out and as you can see it was duct taped on. I know the connection to the plastic tube was within the line hide and he tested it after by pouring water into the unit and it all came out to the ground. Question is, is it ok for it to drain this way or should I insist on them fixing it (along with the other 4 line hides I have as I’m sure those were duct taped too)?

2. Of my eight units, only one of them seems to have a constant flow of water coming out of it now that it’s hot and humid. Others are an occasional drip if anything. I have seen them all tested and know they drain properly. Is this normal? It’s set to 70 degrees on ac like my other units. This one connects to a different type of tube inside my home before it gets to the exterior whereas all others were installed on an exterior wall. Also does it looks like they used duct tape to connect this one too as you can see in the last picture?

Thanks for your help.

EBEBRATT-Ed

I would not accept a duct tape connection. If your set point is 70 that's a little low, hard on the equipment and it can freeze up. You should be able to get by at 74.

The amount of condensate depends on the indoor humidity

NJHomeowner

Thanks. In the last picture what is the correct way to connect the pipes?

As for connections in the line hides, how should these lines be connected from the water line to the tube from the unit?

ChrisJ

> @EBEBRATT-Ed said:
> I would not accept a duct tape connection. If your set point is 70 that's a little low, hard on the equipment and it can freeze up. You should be able to get by at 74.
>
> The amount of condensate depends on the indoor humidity

You wouldn't like how I treat my equipment.
I keep my bedrooms at 68 at night.

NJHomeowner

Hi everyone, checking back on the questions I had sent:

1. In the last picture in my original post, what is the correct way to connect the pipes?

2. As for connections in the line hides located on the exterior of my home, how should these lines be connected from the flexible water line they are using to the line from the unit?

Intplm.

@ Mschuch2581 Try using a threaded adapter connected to the solid pipe. Then, use a barbed fitting with a stainless steel hose clamp. The barbed fitting is inserted into the flex line ,and screwed into the threaded adapter. Hose clamp is then tightened around the flex and barbed fitting. This makes for a good transition between the two different types of pipe.

Ironman

This is what you need to connect the drain hose to PVC:

Kybeans403

I really do not like the denko or other overseas drain tubing most commonly used for the mini splits. I started using 1/2" seal tite years ago and have had no issues. Attached to head units drain hose with hose clamps. The seal tite doesn't kink, split or rot away . And flows just as well if not better than PVC

ChrisJ

Kybeans403 said:

I really do not like the denko or other overseas drain tubing most commonly used for the mini splits. I started using 1/2" seal tite years ago and have had no issues. Attached to head units drain hose with hose clamps. The seal tite doesn't kink, split or rot away . And flows just as well if not better than PVC

All true, except the cost difference is pretty significant, no?

NJHomeowner

Thank you! Are any of these preferable if the connection is on the exterior of my home versus interior? Another is in my foundation and of course, right now duct taped too...

One interior one is from unit to PVC.

All exterior or in foundation connections are unit to the flexible plastic hose.

Kybeans403

That tape is pretty hacky. Either is fine in my opinion
I baelieve the cost for a 100 foot roll is very close. +/- $10

ChrisJ

Kybeans403 said:

That tape is pretty hacky. Either is fine in my opinion
I baelieve the cost for a 100 foot roll is very close. +/- $10

Cheapest I've seen 1/2" sealtite for is about $0.60 per foot.

NJHomeowner

Was just given the following response from my sales rep. Does this sound right? The tech who came also left the pipe that fell. Can’t see any remnants of glue where the connection would be a duct tape is flush with the the top of the pipe at the end:

All the joints were sealed with PVC glue when the installation was done. While the glue dries, the installation manual recommends wrapping the joints with duct tape. That's why the inside is taped like that as well. That joint most likely never cured.

ChrisJ

Mschuh2581 said:

Was just given the following response from my sales rep. Does this sound right? The tech who came also left the pipe that fell. Can’t see any remnants of glue where the connection would be a duct tape is flush with the the top of the pipe at the end:



All the joints were sealed with PVC glue when the installation was done. While the glue dries, the installation manual recommends wrapping the joints with duct tape. That's why the inside is taped like that as well. That joint most likely never cured.

PVC cement isn't glue but literally welds plastic together by melting it. It's called solvent welding and typically sets up very fast. No one tapes joints together.

I think they're full of ..........stuff.

KC_Jones

Mschuh2581 said:

Was just given the following response from my sales rep. Does this sound right? The tech who came also left the pipe that fell. Can’t see any remnants of glue where the connection would be a duct tape is flush with the the top of the pipe at the end:



All the joints were sealed with PVC glue when the installation was done. While the glue dries, the installation manual recommends wrapping the joints with duct tape. That's why the inside is taped like that as well. That joint most likely never cured.

100% garbage for sure. They cheaped out and got caught. I'd be leery of everything at this point.

ChrisJ

Best I can tell the drain line is LLDPE, not PVC.

I don't think it can be glued using PVC cement, but maybe someone else here can comment on that.

NJHomeowner

He’s saying the glue is clear...no way was on this pipe but that sound right?

Maybe that’s what they did with the one pipe out of 8 they did that’s a pvc drain line? This was done more recently, they had other joints to connect for this pipe and know he was using pvc cement. See attached.