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Where to drain 2nd floor Unico AC?..
wcweaver3
Member Posts: 51
Hello Again!
Thank you for your recent assistance in getting a P-trap to work in my second floor Unico AC system. Here is another issue...
1) Because my AC condensate line failed, I had gallons of water surge out from my living room ceiling causing I don't know how many tens of thousands of dollars damage to remedicate (which is now occuring). As the current line runs behind a knee wall on the second floor, there was no easy way to tell that it failed. I've redirected the condensate to a bucket so it works until I can get everything connected up again.
2) As you can see from the photo, the lines (one primary from the coil and one secondary from the fan box) go through a knee wall and continue for about 2 feet where they mate up right about where the front roof is. The single line then takes a right angle turn and runs about 18 feet to the side of the house where it exits to the outside.
3) The pipe appears to be supported properly with hangers and does have an appropriate slope.
4) Part of this 18' run is accessible by an access door into a crawl space area behind the knee wall. However, the pipe continues into an area that isn't accessible unless you rip out part of a wall, which is a problem. Of course, there is insulation in this area all over the place.
5) My concern - if I hook up the AC to the existing condensate line(s) then a) there may be another break in the line that I can't see and b) I won't be able to tell if there is a break in the future. This makes we want to find some other solution.
6) It's been suggested that I use a heat strip, but that's an issue because I can't access part of the line and I've read that using heat strips might be a fire hazard if they are placed on pipes behind walls and/or above ceilings. Which in my case, it's both.
7) Right where the lines mate (about 2 feet into the knee wall) they butt up against the roof and take a right angle turn. That area is easily viewable and accessable. My thought is that if I angle the lines down and out, I can drain them directly into the rain gutter.
8) Some thoughts - this is an AC unit only, not a heating unit. Therefore, I think the condensate isn't acidic. Additionally, the rain gutter drains into a downspout which drains into an underground rain conduit which drains into the street in front of the house. BTW, my home was built in 1940, so that's why is has a Unico system.
9) I think my only other option is rather than drain into the rain gutter is to run the line down the front the house and into the front a bit. That will probably look pretty bad as it's right next to the front door.
10) Are there any other options other than draining the line into the front of the house (and of course a bit away so there is no foundation issue) or draining it into the rain gutter? I don't even know if draining the line into a rain gutter is allowed by code.
Any guidance is most appreciated!!!
Thank you!
Thank you for your recent assistance in getting a P-trap to work in my second floor Unico AC system. Here is another issue...
1) Because my AC condensate line failed, I had gallons of water surge out from my living room ceiling causing I don't know how many tens of thousands of dollars damage to remedicate (which is now occuring). As the current line runs behind a knee wall on the second floor, there was no easy way to tell that it failed. I've redirected the condensate to a bucket so it works until I can get everything connected up again.
2) As you can see from the photo, the lines (one primary from the coil and one secondary from the fan box) go through a knee wall and continue for about 2 feet where they mate up right about where the front roof is. The single line then takes a right angle turn and runs about 18 feet to the side of the house where it exits to the outside.
3) The pipe appears to be supported properly with hangers and does have an appropriate slope.
4) Part of this 18' run is accessible by an access door into a crawl space area behind the knee wall. However, the pipe continues into an area that isn't accessible unless you rip out part of a wall, which is a problem. Of course, there is insulation in this area all over the place.
5) My concern - if I hook up the AC to the existing condensate line(s) then a) there may be another break in the line that I can't see and b) I won't be able to tell if there is a break in the future. This makes we want to find some other solution.
6) It's been suggested that I use a heat strip, but that's an issue because I can't access part of the line and I've read that using heat strips might be a fire hazard if they are placed on pipes behind walls and/or above ceilings. Which in my case, it's both.
7) Right where the lines mate (about 2 feet into the knee wall) they butt up against the roof and take a right angle turn. That area is easily viewable and accessable. My thought is that if I angle the lines down and out, I can drain them directly into the rain gutter.
8) Some thoughts - this is an AC unit only, not a heating unit. Therefore, I think the condensate isn't acidic. Additionally, the rain gutter drains into a downspout which drains into an underground rain conduit which drains into the street in front of the house. BTW, my home was built in 1940, so that's why is has a Unico system.
9) I think my only other option is rather than drain into the rain gutter is to run the line down the front the house and into the front a bit. That will probably look pretty bad as it's right next to the front door.
10) Are there any other options other than draining the line into the front of the house (and of course a bit away so there is no foundation issue) or draining it into the rain gutter? I don't even know if draining the line into a rain gutter is allowed by code.
Any guidance is most appreciated!!!
Thank you!
0
Comments
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Unfortunately, condensate line are important and can cause a lot of damage as you found out. If you trap them right and vent them so they can drain freely and have plenty of pitch on the pipe there is usually no issue. Keeping the filters clean helps as well as it keeps dirt that collects on the coil from being washed down the drain.
You can always a condensate pump as well although it adds a maintenance issue.
The other option would be to come down through a first-floor closet to get to a basement drain or washing machine stand pipe0 -
Edward Young Retired
After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?
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Do you have more options if you pipe the drains to a condensate pump. A 3/8 ID vinyl discharge hose can be run just about anywhere.0
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Hi - video was funny, thank you for sharing! I am certainly open to a condensate pump, but where to drain it is still an issue. Any thoughts about draining it through the roof and then into the rain gutter?0
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After having a line for my AC split from freezing in the attic, I now run antifreeze through it at the end of the season. It gives me a bit more peace of mind and only takes a couple of minutes to do.0
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If you go the condensate pump route, you might be able to pull the ⅜" vinyl tube through the existing ¾" PVC pipe. Since it's flexible, freezing isn't quite the concern. Also, many pumps have float switches to turn off the system if it fails to empty the reservoir in a timely manner.0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-g_i7NGDSoY
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