Condensate Drain Pan Overflow

Venergy

Hi there, Customer has a vertical ground source heat pump with an internal drain pan under the fan and coil. Every winter, the trap (which is a formed vinyl tube integral to the unit) dries out. So when AC kicks on, condensate won't drain (due to air being pulled in the line under suction) and eventually water overflows the pan into the base of the HP and onto the floor.

A few years ago, I installed a float switch in the pan in series with the Y wire (which is also in series with the switch on the condensate receiver/pump). But the problem persists. Easy service call to mop up water every spring and prime the trap, but I want the overflow switch to work. Discovered (by plugging the drain hole and filling up the pan with a cup) that the float does't rise high enough to open the switch and stop the compressor before overflow occurs. (Switch breaks continuity when I lift the float with my finger.) Float is positioned as low as it can possibly go inside the drain pan (bottomed out).

1. Need recomendation for a different type of condensate detection (other than a float switch) that I can put in the circuit.
2. Also, is there any way to pipe condensate exterior to the HP so it will be less likely to dry out in the first place? Currently, pIping elbows down 18 in. and horizontally about 12 in. No other trap or vent — works fine once trap is primed.

BTW, home owner is elderly and can't easily open the cabinet to prime the trap annually himself. There are battery-operated water detection alarms in the base of the HP and on the floor, but he seems to forget what it means when they sound off — besides the spill over has happened by then.

Thanks for your help.

mattmia2

you could give them a tee with a plug in it before the trap that they can unscrew and pour water in the trap.

I suppose with some creativity you could put a trap primer on the outlet side with a tee above the bend to dribble water in to the trap.

pecmsg

https://www.supplyhouse.com/EZ-Trap-83113-EZT-113-Economy-Trap-Kit-without-Brush?utm_source=google_ad&utm_medium=Shopping_HVAC&utm_campaign=Shopping_X_HVAC_X_SSC_Hybrid&utm_campaignid=22357738680&utm_adgroupid=176148031665&utm_targetid=pla-2438113616355&utm_product_id=83113&utm_matchtype=&utm_keyword=&utm_adtype=pla&utm_category=HVAC&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22357738680&gbraid=0AAAAAD_WAyvl-jwGlG8l9aJWqc35V3hgO&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlqTRBhCBARIsANrkrxgLcI221c61vB5TY5gynL6h3zH-cK2sqH47O2jdrVOOpcQToAxsy8EaAi83EALw_wcB

mattmia2

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1898268#Comment_1898268

or the imitation tupperware.

mattmia2

after the first time is stops and the tsunami of condensate rushes out of the pan the trap should be primed granted it would be nice to get there without getting everything wet.

EBEBRATT-Ed

What about getting rid of the trap inside the unit and putting a real trap farther down the line?

Make the trap as deep as you like and it will not dry out over the winter. It will also make the trap accessible.