Condensation line is cleared but water stops 3 inches in

alexr94 · August 16

my split unit started leaking a few days ago. I took it apart cleaned the drain pan, used a shop vac on the outside drain line and the one inside multiple times, ran a thick cable thru 3 feet of the condensation drain hose and flushed 15 times with hot soapy water and vinegar. Only to pour water into the condensation drain hose attached to the unit inside. And the water just sits there. Even if I hold the hose up it doesn’t drain down. Is there a mechanism in the beginning of the hose that can allow a cable to pass thru but not water? And does the msz-gl09na have a condensation pump? Please help.

neilc · August 16

post a picture of the trap, or drain coming from the pan,

alexr94 · August 16

I removed the drain pan. This is the hose that goes into the back of it. I poured water in it and hold the hose up and it just sits there. Doesn’t drain at all.

alexr94 · August 16

I did test it with it running and off. No difference.

109A_5 · August 16

" ran a thick cable thru 3 feet of the condensation drain hose and flushed 15 times with hot soapy water and vinegar. "

Often spiders and critters get in from the outside and the debris in the drain pan washes down.

Was the thick cable you used longer than the drain hose ?

When you flushed it with the hot soapy water and vinegar, did it drain then ?

I would say you need a thick cable (or the like) that is longer than the whole drain hose and work out the blockage from both ends. Spinning the 'Snake' may also help dislodge the blockage so it can be flushed out.

Once you get it running flush it good.

HVACNUT · August 16

When you lift the hose, its kinking? Have you tried putting it back together and testing? Pour water on the coil.

alexr94 · August 16

no the cable did not make it all the way thru. It was an instrument cable. lol all I had. And no, water only came out when I used the air compressor from the inside. But without that, nothing. And yes I assumed I might be kinking the hose so I did put everything back together and let it run. Made no difference. Started leaking after an hour of running. If it’s a clog I’m assuming it’s closer to inside than out due to how fast it takes to fill up.

HVACNUT · August 16

I had one yesterday where the vinyl hose used to extend the drain came disconnected from the drain hose. The vinyl hose was clear, but the factory hose was clogged. Some stable genius thought a hose clamp on soft tubing is a good idea.

alexr94 · August 16

what’s the difference between the two hoses? Does that sound like what I’m expecting? Like which is the one sticking out that connects to the drain pan? Also water and air go thru the hose when I use the air gun inside and vacuum outside. But not without.

alexr94 · August 16

is there a mechanism in the unit that acts as a vacuum or something to pull water from the drain pan into the hose? Or is it based on gravity?

109A_5 · August 16

The ones I have worked on it is just gravity drain and you have to get the junk out of the hose, which may take some agitation of the junk to dislodge it. Just poking through the junk (if that even happened), it may re-seal. Also if you don't completely drain the hose it will fill up quickly even if the blockage is close to the far (exit) end.

Did you poke the "instrument cable" from the outside too. Curious is the "instrument cable" a thin guitar string or a low E string from a Bass or the cable going to an Amp ?

alexr94 · August 16

ok got it. I’m thinking the clog is closer to the indoor unit itself because when I pour water into the condensation hose it just sits there. And I love that you know that! lol. It’s the cable that goes into the amp

alexr94 · August 16

and yes I did from both sides. The out side drain is pretty close to the indoor unit itself. The cable was maybe 2 feet. I definitely didn’t get all the way through though.

mattmia2 · August 16

Some bleach in the hose might help break down the mold, just be careful not to spray bleach on yourself.

alexr94 · August 16

nothing will go in the condensation hose. It just sits there hold the hose up all different ways and it still doesn’t drain

109A_5 · August 16

You need something like 1/4" wire rope or the outer sheathing of a bicycle hand brake cable that is longer than the drain hose for a sanity check that it will pass all the way through. Can the drain hose be easily removed from the building to force water through it with a garden hose ?

mattmia2 · August 16

or put a barb fitting and valve of some sort on a garden hose and flush it through with the hose.

neilc · August 17

did we try the wet vac on the hose?

use a rag to "seal" between the vac hose and the con hose,

alexr94 · August 17

I did that multiple times on both ends.

HVACNUT · August 17

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1862677#Comment_1862677

The factory drain hose jist stubs outside. They're sometimes extended with field supplied drain hose. If there is and extension, have you checked to see if the connection came apart?

neilc · August 17

how bout a more distant picture, the unit with wall surrounding it,

It's level, correct?

alexr94 · August 17

I gave in a just called Bolton. Thanks for everyone’s help and suggestions!!

pedmec · August 17

Make sure the unit is pitching the correct way

mattmia2 · August 17

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1862700#Comment_1862700

or actually level in both directions. if there is a built in trap too much pitch could cause it to get airbound depending on how it is arranged

pecmsg · August 17

minis do not get traps.

alexr94 · August 18

so in case anyone runs into this anomaly. There was negative pressure in the hose within the first 2 feet. Cut it there and spliced pvc pipe for the remainder

109A_5 · August 21

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1862774#Comment_1862774

So it would suck stuff in from either end ? What was the source of the negative pressure ?

Condensation line is cleared but water stops 3 inches in

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