Routine Maintenance to avoid an ac leak in attic

6/10/2019 (Permalink)

Water damage to ceiling from ac drip pan that is overflowing.

What’s the best way to avoid an air conditioner leak? Routine Maintenance.

When the air conditioning system runs, it not only cools the temperature of the air in your home, but it also removes humidity out of the air within your home and collects this moisture in a large drain pan inside your AC system below the system's evaporator coil.  In a very humid climate, air conditioning systems remove 20-30 gallons of water a day from the air within your home and all this water has to drain somewhere.

Unfortunately, sometimes condensate drain pans and lines can get damaged or clogged. Overflowing drip pans are a serious hazard that homeowners need to be aware of. The excess water can saturate your home’s ceiling, causing mildew, mold and eventually rot.  In fact most homeowners fail to realize there is a problem with their ac unit until the attic is saturated with water

Regular maintenance for your HVAC unit will keep your condensate line from clogging in the first place. Getting into the habit of inspecting your attic on a regular basis for signs of moisture and the ac drip pan can reduce the chances of a major catastrophe and damage to your home.

The following tips can be used for reducing the chances of water damages:

• Ensure that the central AC system is installed using a secondary drain line, more so if the unit is in the attic.
• Have drain pan shutoff switch installed, and equip it with a float.
• Ensure AC unit is installed with a safety pan to catch overflow.
• Regularly clean HVAC filter or change it out.
• Ensure correctly insulated duct work.
• Regularly check on AC refrigerant levels.
• Use a 50/50 solution of water and bleach to prevent mold or mildew build up in condensate pump.
• Ensure drain lines include an air vent and p-trap.
• Have a yearly HVAC maintenance schedule to ensure best performance while minimizing AC and furnace repairs.

Introducing the float switch

A float switch is an electronic water sensor for your HVAC system. It gives your AC system the ability to detect if it has a clogged drain, and if the switch detects a clogged drain , it immediately shuts the system off.  Float switches are great, and can save an expense of coming home to a collapsed ceiling or water damage to your home and furnishings.   Remember when moving into a new home check to see if the previous owner had one installed on the HVAC unit for safety measures.

In the event of a  water damage SERVPRO is always here. At SERVPRO of the Quad Cities, we know how important it is to get your home back in order as quickly as possible. We'll help you mitigate the costs of any water emergency by restoring your possessions and preventing future damage to your home. For more information about our water removal services or to receive a quote, call us 24/7 at (256)-383-4470