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 Mobile ViewAIR CONDITIONING & HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS AIR CONDITIONER COMPONENT PARTS A/C - HEAT PUMP CONTROLS & SWITCHES 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 CLEANING & Legionella BACTERIA CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS COMBUSTION GASES & PARTICLE HAZARDS COMPRESSOR & CONDENSING COIL, A/C CONDENSATE HANDLING, A/C 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 COOL OFF HEAT Thermostat Switch 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 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 MOLD in AIR HANDLERS & DUCT WORK ODORS in AIR HANDLERS & DUCT WORK OPERATING COST OPERATING DEFECTS OPERATING TEMPERATURES NOISY AIR CONDITIONER / HEAT PUMP NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE Air Leak Noises AIR CONDITIONING & HEAT PUMP NOISES PORTABLE ROOM AIR CONDITIONERS PRESSURE READINGS, REFRIGERANT REPAIR GUIDE, AIR CONDITIONERS / HEAT PUMPS REPAIR & DIAGNOSTIC FAQs for A/C REFRIGERANTS RETROFIT SIZING for A/C or HEAT PUMPS SEER RATINGS & OTHER DEFINITIONS SEER RATING HISTORY 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 problems and hazards caused by leaky air conditioner or heat pump condensate drip trays and overflow pans. We address the inspection of air conditioning condensate systems, including air conditioning condensate leaks, health hazards from air conditioner leaks, the related mold risk, and condensate leak repairs, as well as 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.Air conditioner or heat pump condensate leak health and safety concerns are reviewed. See our complete list of air conditioning and heat pump condensate handling system inspection, diagnosis, and repair articles beginning at CONDENSATE HANDLING, A/C. 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 LEAKS - Air Conditioning System / Heat Pump Condensate Leaks
This sequence of photos shows of an attic air conditioning condensate line what happens when an amateur rigs up a condensate drain in an attic without proper glue, support, and slope. The plastic piping was not securely supported and when touched, fell apart to spill condensate into the attic floor and into the ceilings below. Condensate leaks into an attic ceiling risk not only damage to the building but a hidden mold reservoir in the building insulation or on the attic side of the ceiling drywall below. Since this air conditioning attic system was the same one which showed the dog bowl and kitchen pot in use to catch condensate drips at the air handler unit, the inspector was not remiss in checking the remainder of the condensate drain line rather aggressively.
Condensate leaks from the air handler's internal drip tray (below the evaporator coil) occur if the internal drain is clogged. When condensate wets the insulation on the interior of the blower compartment there is risk of problematic mold growth in the system. In warm humid climates such as the Southern U.S.,
high levels of condensate production in the air handler unit can also result in movement of condensate
downstream into the supply duct, forced there by the blower itself. [Example air conditioning inspection report language]: We did not see a trap on the condensate line itself - usually installed as good practice - ask your HVAC service person about this detail. It could be required for sanitary or other reasons. CONDENSATE TRAPS have several function including avoiding possible draw of unsanitary air or bacteria back into the building air supply. 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. Condensate Pump Leaks & Drain Clog Can Turn off the Air Conditioner
We suspect that due to the clogged condensate drain line on Mr. Behrends' cooling system, A/C condensate was overflowing into a condensate overflow pan that used a sensor switch that responds to water in the overflow pan by turning off the A/C system. This design is intended to prevent condensate from overflowing the pan and flooding the building - a possible source of mold or other damage - DF Also see CONDENSATE DRAIN CLEAN & DE-CLOG and CONDENSATE TRAY CLEANING. Questions & Answers regarding this articleQuestions & answers about the hazards associated with air conditioner or heat pump condensate drip tray or overflow tray leaks Ask a Question or Search InspectAPediaHTML Comment Box is loading comments...
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