Home A/C problem, need help

[Deers & Beers]

Well, two problems... I'm A/C stupid (that's why I'm asking!)

There's a pvc pipe coming out of the underside of the roof of the 2nd story which I'm assuming is the drain for the a/c pan. For the last month it's been dripping alot. Like, way more than usual. It's formed about a 6' permanent mud puddle. I was hoping it was temporary but hasn't gone away.

I just went up in the attic and checked it out again. The pan has some sitting water in it (not a ton) and the water is right at the level of the sensor so the a/c has clicked off.

So my first guess is that the pipe to the outside is clogged causing the water to back up BUT it's dripping pretty good from the outside. Like, too much. So I'm kind of baffled. Also, nothing was leaking or dripping into the pan from the a/c for the 5 or so minutes I watched it.

Any ideas?

*Lastly, I think there's more than one pipe that goes from the a/c to the outside. Maybe the pan drain is clogged but the other is the one dripping too much, which could mean a different problem???

[JEG8233]

Could be either your main condensate drain line is clogged or system maybe freezing up. Hard to tell over the net.

[bloodtrail]

Your main ac drain is stopped up. The line draining outside is your emergency drain it is telling you that you have a problem.

[texan16]

The pipe outside is the emergency drain. When water comes out of it that means the main drain is clogged. You are correct, there are 2 pipes. Get a snake and run it through the "other" pipe to clear the clog and you should be good to go.

[pafdrn]

Just pour a cup of bleach in the main drain... it is clogged with algae; the one dripping at the eave is secondary drain

[Monark]

The pan has some sitting water in it (not a ton) and the water is right at the level of the sensor so the a/c has clicked off. You have a good system. That sensor is supposed to shut the AC down so you don't get a leak down through your ceiling. As others mentioned, there is a primary drain from your evaporator that is probably piped to a toilet vent pipe or somewhere else. Do you have a short vertical piece of PVC close to the evaporator that maybe you could blow through or pour bleach in? Hard to describe. Maybe this pic will help. The cap on the vertical piece should only be hand tight so you can pull if off. Make sure the primary drain is not clogged.

[NTex]

Go to the sink in the restroom near the AC unit on the first floor. If you look at the drain from the sink you will see an extra line going into the wall and up to your AC unit. This is your primary drain. Might be a little different in your house but close. Pull the line apart and clean it out. Then go up to the AC unit and pour bleach water down the drain.

[porkrind]

If you have a shop vac, put it on the drain outside and suck the water out.

[Meatcutter]

Just pour a cup of bleach in the main drain... it is clogged with algae; the one dripping at the eave is secondary drain

X2

[Deers & Beers]

Awesome guys. After reading all your comments and watching some youtube videos I'm going to try pouring some bleach down the primary drain and see what happens. It doesn't even have a cap on it so I'll just stick a funnel on it, pour the bleach, and hope it clears up. I guess if not I'll have to snake it out somehow.

I now also have a much better understanding of the draining system..

Thanks again!

[Charles]

Awesome guys. After reading all your comments and watching some youtube videos I'm going to try pouring some bleach down the primary drain and see what happens. It doesn't even have a cap on it so I'll just stick a funnel on it, pour the bleach, and hope it clears up. I guess if not I'll have to snake it out somehow.

I now also have a much better understanding of the draining system..

Thanks again!

If a snake doesn't work you can try blowing compressed air through the line.

Once you get it cleared pour some bleach in the line every time you change your air filters.

[justintyme8303]

Did you find the Y under the sink? Thats where mine was clogged right at the Y had to clean out by hand bleach didn't work for me.

[Deers & Beers]

Did you find the Y under the sink? Thats where mine was clogged right at the Y had to clean out by hand bleach didn't work for me.

I'm going to try that as well when I get home

[Deers & Beers]

UPDATE:

Pouring half a bottle of bleach down the line seems to have cleared it up. There is no longer standing water under the cap. The pan is empty and the emergency line isn't dripping. I even took apart the line under the sink but it was completely clear.

REMAINING PROBLEM:

A/C won't turn on lol. The thermostat clicks then nothing. I was hoping it was because the sensor on the pan was turning it off since the water level was right about where it's at, but maybe not. Could having the line clogged for a few weeks have caused another problem? I checked the breaker and it's fine. Not even sure where to start now...

[thegrouse]

Did you pull any of the panels off the indoor unit? Some of them have switches if the panels are not on tight it will not run.