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Mobile ViewAIR CONDITIONING & HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS A/C COMPONENTS A/C DATA TAGS A/C - HEAT PUMP CRITICAL DEFECTS A/C DIAGNOSTIC FAQs A/C REFRIGERANTS A/C TYPES, ENERGY SOURCES AIR CONDITIONER BTU CHART AIR FILTERS for HVAC SYSTEMS AIR HANDLER / BLOWER UNITS DIRTY A/C BLOWERS DAMAGED COOLING COIL DIRTY COOLING COIL DIRTY COIL CLEANING PROCEDURES FROST BUILD-UP on AIR CONDITIONER COILS BLOWER FAN CONTINUOUS OPERATION BLOWER FAN OPERATION & TESTING BLOWER LEAKS, RUST & MOLD ADDING A/C: RETROFIT SIZING ANIMAL ALLERGENS / PET DANDER ANIMAL ENTRY POINTS in buildings ANIMAL ODORS IN buildings APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY RATINGS ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION IN buildings BACKUP HEAT for HEAT PUMPS BLOWER DOORS & AIR INFILTRATION BLOWER FAN CONTINUOUS OPERATION BLOWER FAN OPERATION & TESTING BOOKSTORE - Air Conditioning "How To" Books CAPACITORS for HARD STARTING MOTORS CAPILLARY TUBES CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS CIRCUIT BREAKER SIZE for A/C or HEAT PUMP CLEANING & Legionella BACTERIA Should we disinfect Wisconsin Protocol for Cleaning A/C Legionella sp. Health Concerns What are Legionella Where do Legionella sp. occur? Recommended Level for Legionella sp. How When to Test for Legionella sp. Legionnaires' Disease Information from CDC COMPRESSOR CONDENSER CONDENSATE HANDLING DRIP TRAY DEFECTS Missing Condensate Overflow Pan Improper Condensate Drain Connects Float Switch on Condensate Tray Water in Condensate Overflow Pan CONDENSATE LEAKS CONDENSATE PUMPS CONDENSATE DRAINS Locations for Condensate Disposal Plumbing Code for Condensate Drains Improper Condensate Disposal Condensate Drains Connected to Vent Pipe Condensate Spills in Crawl Spaces Condensate Leaks Onto Heat Exchangers Condensate Disposal Outdoors Condensate Drains to Hidden Location CONDENSATE DRAIN CLEAN & DE-CLOG CONDENSATE TRAY CLEANING CONTROLS & SWITCHES, A/C - HEAT PUMP COOL OFF HEAT Thermostat Switch COOLING CAPACITY, RATED COOLING COIL or EVAPORATOR COIL COOLING LOAD REDUCTION by ROOF VENTS COMBUSTION GASES & PARTICLE HAZARDS CONDENSATE HANDLING, A/C CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS DATA TAGS on AIR CONDITIONERS DEFINITION of Heating & Cooling Terms DEHUMIDIFICATION PROBLEMS DEW POINT CALCULATION for WALLS DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE DIAGNOSE & FIX AIR CONDITIONER / HEAT PUMP DUCT SYSTEM & DUCT DEFECTS DUCTS - Asbestos DUCT INSULATION, Asbestos Paper DUCT INSULATION for SOUNDPROOFING DUCT SYSTEM NOISES DUCTS, Asbestos Transite Pipe DUST CONTAMINATION FROM HVAC? ENERGY SAVINGS in buildings EVAPORATIVE COOLING SYSTEMS EVAPORATOR COIL or COOLING COIL EXPANSION VALVES, REFRIGERANT FAN, AIR HANDLER BLOWER UNIT FAN AUTO ON Thermostat Switch FAN, COMPRESSOR/CONDENSER UNIT FAN CONVECTOR HEATERS - HYDRONIC COILS FAN LIMIT SWITCH FAN NOISES FURNACES WARM AIR HEATING SYSTEMS GASES, EXPOSURE, TESTING Carbon Dioxide - CO2 Carbon Monoxide - CO METHANE GAS SOURCES GAS MEASUREMENT TOOLS GAUGE, REFRIGERATION PRESSURE TEST HEAT LOSS (or GAIN) in buildings HEAT PUMPS HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE INSPECTION LIMITATIONS LEED GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION LOST COOLING CAPACITY MANUALS & PARTS GUIDES - HVAC MOTOR OVERLOAD RESET SWITCH NOISY AIR CONDITIONER / HEAT PUMP OPERATING COST OPERATING DEFECTS OPERATING TEMPERATURES Air Conditioning System Temperatures Instruments Used to Measure A/C Temperatures Procedures for Making Temperature Measurements PORTABLE ROOM AIR CONDITIONERS PRESSURE READINGS, REFRIGERANT REPAIR GUIDE, AIR CONDITIONERS / HEAT PUMPS REPAIR & DIAGNOSTIC FAQs for A/C REFRIGERANTS GAUGE, REFRIGERATION PRESSURE TEST REFRIGERANT CHARGING PROCEDURE REFRIGERANT DRIERS & FILTERS REFRIGERANT LEAK DETECTION REFRIGERANT LEAK REPAIR REFRIGERANT METERING DEVICES TEVs REFRIGERANT METERING CAPILLARY TUBES REFRIGERANT PIPING & DISTANCES REFRIGERANT PRESSURE READINGS RETROFIT SIZING for A/C or HEAT PUMPS SEER RATINGS & OTHER DEFINITIONS SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS SPLIT SYSTEM AIR CONDITIONERS & HEAT PUMPS SWAMP COOLERS SYSTEM OPERATION OPERATING CONTROLS SAFETY CONTROLS THERMOSTATS, HEATING / COOLING THERMOSTATIC EXPANSION VALVES WATER COOLED AIR CONDITIONERS More Information |
This air conditioning repair article discusses the inspection, diagnosis, and repair of air conditioning condensate drainage systems, including condensate leaks, condensate piping, traps, drains, condensate pumps, and the detection and hazards of air conditioning system condensate leaks in buildings. InspectAPedia offers impartial, unbiased advice without conflicts of interest. We will block advertisements which we discover or readers inform us are associated with bad business practices, false-advertising, or junk science. Our contact info is at InspectAPedia.com/Contact.htm.Condensate leak water health and safety concerns are also reviewed. This document describes the inspection of residential air conditioning systems (A/C systems) to inform home buyers, owners, and home inspectors of common cooling system defects. At AIR CONDITIONING & HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS, the major components of an air conditioning system are described, and at A/C COMPONENTS sketches and photographs are provided, and common defects for each component are listed along with visual or other clues that may suggest a problem or probable failure of A/C components. Readers who need to clean or unclog a blocked or leaky overflowing A/C or heat pump condensate drain should see CONDENSATE DRAIN CLEAN & DE-CLOG. Contact us to suggest text changes and additions and, if you wish, to receive online listing and credit for that contribution. © Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website. CONDENSATE HANDLING - Air Conditioning Condensate Handling Defects
Condensate leaks or discharge errors (such as the drips into the dog bowl and cooking pot in this attic) present several risks of ugly surprises in buildings. Here are some inspection tips that can avoid a condensate leak or even a costly mold problem in the air conditioning system air handler, duct work, or in the building itself: First locate and document where condensate discharge is carried
Look out for a missing condensate overflow pan: if there is no overflow pan under the air handler, especially in units installed on upper building floors or in an attic, when the condensate drain clogs or the condensate pump fails you can expect to have leaks into the building and possibly costly mold or water damage. Look out for an improper condensate overflow pan drain connection: a condensate pan should have its own independent drain to an approved location. Otherwise, for example if it shares the main condensate drain pipe, you have not gained much protection. An alternative to a drain on a condensate overflow pan is the installation of a Float Switch on Condensate Tray that will turn off the system if water is detected. See CONDENSATE DRAINS. Look for corrosion or water stains on floor surfaces around the equipment, at the condensate drip pan and at bottom of the "A frame" cooling coil, indicating that the drain may need cleaning and more important, indicating that the condensate is leaking out of the equipment or drains and not being carried to an acceptable disposal point. Links below continue with detailed discussions of condensate handling components, defects, cleaning, maintenance, and repairs. Periodic Inspection of the Air Conditioner Condensate Drain System - Some Suggestions
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AIR CONDITIONING & HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
A/C COMPONENTS
A/C DATA TAGS
A/C - HEAT PUMP CRITICAL DEFECTS
A/C DIAGNOSTIC FAQs
A/C REFRIGERANTS
A/C TYPES, ENERGY SOURCES
AIR CONDITIONER BTU CHART
AIR FILTERS for HVAC SYSTEMS
AIR HANDLER / BLOWER UNITS
ANIMAL ALLERGENS / PET DANDER
ANIMAL ENTRY POINTS in buildings
ANIMAL ODORS IN buildings
APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY RATINGS
ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION IN buildings
BACKUP HEAT for HEAT PUMPS
BLOWER DOORS & AIR INFILTRATION
BLOWER FAN CONTINUOUS OPERATION
BLOWER FAN OPERATION & TESTING
BOOKSTORE - Air Conditioning "How To" Books
CAPACITORS for HARD STARTING MOTORS
CAPILLARY TUBES
CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS
CIRCUIT BREAKER SIZE for A/C or HEAT PUMP
CLEANING & Legionella BACTERIA
Should we disinfect
Wisconsin Protocol for Cleaning A/C
Legionella sp. Health Concerns
What are Legionella
Where do Legionella sp. occur?
Recommended Level for Legionella sp.
How When to Test for Legionella sp.
Legionnaires' Disease Information from CDC
COMPRESSOR CONDENSER
CONDENSATE HANDLING
DRIP TRAY DEFECTS
Missing Condensate Overflow Pan
Improper Condensate Drain Connects
Float Switch on Condensate Tray
Water in Condensate Overflow Pan
CONDENSATE LEAKS
CONDENSATE PUMPS
CONDENSATE DRAINS
Locations for Condensate Disposal
Plumbing Code for Condensate Drains
Improper Condensate Disposal
Condensate Drains Connected to Vent Pipe
Condensate Spills in Crawl Spaces
Condensate Leaks Onto Heat Exchangers
Condensate Disposal Outdoors
Condensate Drains to Hidden Location
CONDENSATE DRAIN CLEAN & DE-CLOG
CONDENSATE TRAY CLEANING
CONTROLS & SWITCHES, A/C - HEAT PUMP
COOL OFF HEAT Thermostat Switch
COOLING CAPACITY, RATED
COOLING COIL or EVAPORATOR COIL
COOLING LOAD REDUCTION by ROOF VENTS
COMBUSTION GASES & PARTICLE HAZARDS
CONDENSATE HANDLING, A/C
CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS
DATA TAGS on AIR CONDITIONERS
DEFINITION of Heating & Cooling Terms
DEHUMIDIFICATION PROBLEMS
DEW POINT CALCULATION for WALLS
DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE
DIAGNOSE & FIX AIR CONDITIONER / HEAT PUMP
DUCT SYSTEM & DUCT DEFECTS
DUCTS - Asbestos
DUCT INSULATION, Asbestos Paper
DUCT INSULATION for SOUNDPROOFING
DUCT SYSTEM NOISES
DUCTS, Asbestos Transite Pipe
DUST CONTAMINATION FROM HVAC?
EDUCATION, HVAC SCHOOLS
ELECTRIC MOTOR DIAGNOSTIC GUIDE
ELECTRIC MOTOR OVERLOAD RESET SWITCH
ELECTRICAL POWER SWITCH FOR HEAT
ENERGY SAVINGS in buildings
EVAPORATIVE COOLING SYSTEMS
EVAPORATOR COIL or COOLING COIL
EXPANSION VALVES, REFRIGERANT
FAN, AIR HANDLER BLOWER UNIT
FAN AUTO ON Thermostat Switch
FAN, COMPRESSOR/CONDENSER UNIT
FAN CONVECTOR HEATERS - HYDRONIC COILS
FAN LIMIT SWITCH
FAN NOISES
FURNACES WARM AIR HEATING SYSTEMS
GASES, EXPOSURE, TESTING
Carbon Dioxide - CO2
Carbon Monoxide - CO
METHANE GAS SOURCES
GAS MEASUREMENT TOOLS
GAUGE, REFRIGERATION PRESSURE TEST
HEAT LOSS (or GAIN) in buildings
HEAT PUMPS
HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET
INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE
INSPECTION LIMITATIONS
LEED GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION
LOST COOLING CAPACITY
MANUALS & PARTS GUIDES - HVAC
MOTOR OVERLOAD RESET SWITCH
NOISY AIR CONDITIONER / HEAT PUMP
NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE
Air Leak Noises
AIR CONDITIONING & HEAT PUMP NOISES
OPERATING COST
OPERATING DEFECTS
OPERATING TEMPERATURES
PORTABLE ROOM AIR CONDITIONERS
PRESSURE READINGS, REFRIGERANT
REPAIR GUIDE, AIR CONDITIONERS / HEAT PUMPS
REPAIR & DIAGNOSTIC FAQs for A/C
REFRIGERANTS
GAUGE, REFRIGERATION PRESSURE TEST
REFRIGERANT CHARGING PROCEDURE
REFRIGERANT DRIERS & FILTERS
REFRIGERANT LEAK DETECTION
REFRIGERANT LEAK REPAIR
REFRIGERANT METERING DEVICES TEVs
REFRIGERANT METERING CAPILLARY TUBES
REFRIGERANT PIPING & DISTANCES
REFRIGERANT PRESSURE READINGS
RETROFIT SIZING for A/C or HEAT PUMPS
SEER RATINGS & OTHER DEFINITIONS
SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
SPLIT SYSTEM AIR CONDITIONERS & HEAT PUMPS
SWAMP COOLERS
SYSTEM OPERATION
THERMOSTATS, HEATING / COOLING
THERMOSTATIC EXPANSION VALVES
CRITICAL A/C or HEAT PUMP DEFECTS
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