If you notice water dripping from your indoor ductless AC unit or notice any kind of water damage on the wall or floor underneath your indoor unit, you’re likely dealing with a clogged condensate drain line.
Don’t worry, usually, this problem has a fairly easy fix that you can either attempt to do yourself or have a professional do for you.
In this blog, we’ll take a look at:
- What a condensate drain line is (and how it can become clogged)
- How you can unclog your ductless AC’s condensate drain line
- How to prevent a clogged line in the future
What is a condensate drain line and why is it clogged?
Your ductless AC system has two main jobs:
- To cool your space
- To dehumidify your space
Cooling your space:
Your ductless AC cools the room it’s in by drawing in warm air, stripping that air of heat and then blowing the cool air back into the room.
Your AC strips the air of heat by blowing the warm air over something called an evaporator coil. This coil is filled with a substance called refrigerant, which absorbs the heat from the air and carries that heat outside where it’s released into the air at the outdoor unit.
Dehumidifying your space:
When the warm air comes into contact with the evaporator coil, it’s not only stripped of heat, but it’s also dehumidified. The moisture from the air gathers on the evaporator coil and is piped out of your home via a condensate drain line.
But, sometimes this drain line can become clogged, which can cause it to leak. Typically, a clogged condensate drain line is just the result of debris backing up the line.
Another reason your ductless AC unit may be leaking if it’s not properly mounted on the wall. If it’s not completely balanced on the brackets, it can cause the tray that collects the condensate to overflow and leak. If you recently had your ductless AC worked on or it got bumped, this could be your issue. Our suggestion would be to ensure it’s mounted properly. If it is, you likely have a clogged drain line and you’ll want to read the next section.
How can I unclog my ductless AC’s condensate drain line?
If your ductless AC’s condensate drain line is leaking, our suggestion would be to contact a professional. While you can unclog your AC’s drain line yourself, it requires you to take apart your indoor unit, which can be confusing and technically challenging.
Some homeowners also struggle with putting the unit back together properly, which not only wastes your time but means that whatever room your AC unit is in is not getting cool air during that time.
However, if you want to attempt to unclog your ductless AC’s condensate drain line yourself, you can follow these steps…
Step 1: Start by turning your ductless AC off.
Step 2: Open the front of the indoor unit and remove the filters.
Step 3: Unscrew the casing and remove the casing and set it gently on the ground.
Step 4: Unscrew the screw holding the water line in place (this is usually located at the bottom of the unit.
Step 5: Pull the waterline down a little bit and remove any tape or other adhesive holding it together.
Step 6: Dump the contents of the line into a bucket or trash can.
Step 7: Using a shop vac, carefully vacuum out each end of the line.
Step 8: Tape the line back together and reassemble your indoor unit.
As we mentioned above, if you don’t feel comfortable dismantling your AC unit and unclogging the drain yourself, we’d be happy to do it for you. Just contact us!
How can I prevent a clogged drain line in the future?
The best way to prevent having a clogged drain line in the future is to schedule annual maintenance with a professional.
During a maintenance visit, a pro will take the time to clean and check many parts of your ductless AC system, like your condensate drain line. Essentially, when you get regular maintenance, you can typically catch potential issues rather than dealing with them after they’ve become a problem.
Need help unclogging your ductless AC drain line? Air Experts is here to help
We have over 26 years of experience serving NJ homeowners, so we’ve seen it all. No matter what’s going on with your ductless AC system, our experienced professionals can accurately diagnose it and find a solution that works for you.