Furnace Condensate Drain Pipe Freezing

A furnace produces condensate as it works it s part of the combustion process and this condensate must be drained and removed to the outside.

Furnace condensate drain pipe freezing.

We re here to handle all of your hvac issues so you can snuggle up through the cold weather. With the pipes blocked the condensate backed up into the furnaces where safety switches shut the units down. When that happens most hvac systems are designed to shut off completely leaving homeowners scrambling for a solution. If you have a frozen condensate line your furnace will eventually be unable to function and your house will be freezing.

Just pour a cup of bleach in the drain line s access opening near the indoor air conditioning unit. Condensate switches imc 307 2 3 states that all hvac equipment that produces condensate must have either a secondary drain line or a condensate overflow switch a secondary drain pan with a secondary drain line or condensate switch or some combination of these installations should be used to prevent overflow if the primary drain line blocks. As an emergency only i split the pvc right out of the bottom of the furnace then attached control valve and a screw on hose attachment. This will kill any algae mold or mildew that has formed in the pipe.

Condensation from air conditioning coils contains bacteria that can form slime and clog the condensate pan drain tube. When the outside drain pipe freezes i extend the hose through the ceiling access into a nearby toilet tank. In reality a major repair may not be necessary as thawing the frozen drain lines should fix the issue. If the condensate drain line is clogged you will need to use a wet dry vacuum or a special pump to unclog the line.

If the pipe that runs the condensate to the outside of the house freezes over your furnace won t be able to work. You can prevent slime and eliminate drain tube clogs in two easy steps. It s not pretty but it works instantly and it beats going outside in the freezing dark. Condensate lines are subject to complex municipal codes so don t hesitate to call in the experts at newcomb and company.

With temperatures dropping condensate drain lines have a higher chance of freezing.