The condensate drain line is an important part of your air conditioning system. If this drain line gets clogged up your air conditioner will start to leak water inside your home. This guide will show you how to unclog your ac drain line with just a shop vac in just a few minutes.
Once the drain line for your ac is clogged, the backed-up water can cause extensive damage. This very easy to fix leak will need to be repaired as soon as possible. Luckily this is a really simple problem to fix!
The tools you will need are a Shop Vac (wet/dry vac) and either Duct tape or a towel. Once you have the required equipment the actual project is pretty easy.
Quick Guide
Below is a quick guide, if you continue reading after the quick guide I go over each step in detail.
Time needed: 30 minutes.
This can be done in three easy steps
- Turn your air conditioner off
Start by turning off the air conditioner using your breaker panel.
- Locate the AC Drain line
Either follow the line outside or look around outside for the drain line coming from your HVAC unit.
- Use your Shop Vac to remove the clog
Attach the end of your Shop vacuum hose to the end of your drain line and turn on the vacuum to suck the blockage out.
Turn off the air conditioner
First, turn off the AC unit at the thermostat. Turning the HVAC unit off at the thermostat will prevent it from potentially coming on while you are working on it. We definitely wouldn’t want that surprise while working on the unit.
After turning the unit off at the thermostat we need to turn the unit off at the Breaker panel. This will prevent any mistakes from causing damage to the unit because it will be shut off. If you ever work on your HVAC system I recommend turning it off at the breaker box.
Find the AC Drain line
Find the end of the AC Drain line located outside of your house. All Air Conditioners have an AC Drain line that runs from your air handler inside of your home to a drain location outside of your home. This AC Drain line is used to move water produced by your air conditioner outside.
If you are having trouble finding it try looking for a PVC pipe coming out of your house near the AC Unit.
Unclog the Drain
Check the end of the line
When you have found the end of the AC Drain line you can check for any blockages at the end of the line. If your line is at ground level, this is most likely where the clog is.
Get the Vacuum ready
Before we can use our wet/dry vacuum to vacuum up water we need to remove the filter. This keeps the filter from being damaged by the water we are going to suck up with the vacuum.
Connect the Vacuum to the drain line
Use either Duct tape or a cloth towel to connect the Shop-Vac hose to the end of the drain line. For the best results place the tip of the Shop-Vac to the end of the drain line before wrapping the connection. Once you have a firm seal (which may require using a hand to hold it if you use cloth) it is time to start vacuuming out the line.
Vacuum out the line
Turning the Shop-Vac on high for 10-30 seconds should be enough to clear your clogged drain line. Once you have turned the vacuum off, check inside the vacuum to see if you managed to clear the clog.
If the clog hasn’t been cleared try turning the vacuum on and off every 5 to 10 seconds. If this doesn’t clear the line, you may have to run a snake down the line.
You can test if you have cleared the clog by pouring water down the drain line access hole inside. If the water flows freely outside, you have cleared the line!
Once the line is clear, turn the air conditioner back on and see if it is still leaking. If the AC is still leaking and the line is clear, your coils may be dirty.
Once you have cleared your line, you may want to read our quick guide on how to prevent future clogs.
Here are a few FAQ
The water will overflow inside your home and cause can cause a number of problems.
It’s important to address a clogged drain line as soon as possible, because if left untreated it can lead to costly repairs and a reduced lifespan for your AC unit.
It’s always recommended to keep an eye on the drain line, keep it clean and unclogged to avoid any potential damage. If you are unsure of how to clean the drain line or if you suspect it may be clogged, it is best to call a professional HVAC technician to check it out and fix the issue.
No, you can easily unclog the drain line yourself. If you have trouble though you can hire a professional.
A clogged drain line can cause a number of problems with your AC unit, including:
Water damage: If the water from the condensation on the cooling coils can’t drain away, it will back up and overflow the drain pan, potentially causing water damage to your home.
Reduced efficiency: A clogged drain line can cause the evaporator coils to freeze, reducing the efficiency of the AC unit and causing the unit to work harder than it should.
Reduced air flow: If the evaporator coils freeze, it can also restrict air flow through the unit, reducing the amount of cool air that is blown into the house.
AC unit shut down: Some modern AC units come with a safety switch that will shut down the unit when the drain line is clogged, to prevent damage.
A repair technician will be able to diagnose the cause of the clog, and provide a solution. They can clean the drain line, fix the issue and check for any other problems with the unit. They can also advise if there are any preventative measures to keep the line clear and functional.
It’s important to address clogs promptly because, If left untreated for long time, it can lead to costly repairs and a reduced lifespan for your AC unit.
The water that your air conditioning (AC) unit drains comes from the condensation that forms on the cooling coils of the unit.
As the refrigerant in the AC unit cools the air, it also causes the air to release moisture. This moisture condenses on the cooling coils, just as it would on a cold glass of water on a hot summer day. The condensation then drips off the coils and into a drain pan, which is connected to a drain line.
The drain line is typically a PVC pipe that carries the water away from the unit and releases it outside, either on the ground or into a nearby drain. Some systems use a condensate pump to pump the water to a higher location or to move the water over a longer distance.
It’s important to note that if you notice an unusual amount of water near your AC unit, or if the drain line becomes clogged, this could be a sign of a problem with the unit and should be addressed. A clogged drain line can cause water damage and also may cause AC unit to fail as well.
