Are clogs in the AC condensate drain common in Florida?
I have a two year old central A/C unit. Every 2/3 months the unit shuts off.
I called the rep/maintenance company and they have given me the following response:
- The cause of the issue is algae building up within the drainage line
- This is due to the climate in Florida
- This is extremely common, and in fact comprises the majority of their service calls
Their solution is to:
- Shop vac the drainage line
- Pour bleach down the line
I have asked co-workers, family members in state, and a friend who's father has been in A/C for a few decades in the south an no one else has heard of this / has this issue.
This was most definitely not explained during the purchase of the new unit.
Does anyone know if this normal? Am I getting hosed?
I live in South Florida and I too have to do this. My house has 2 AC systems. One of them clogs up after about 3-4 months, the other never has. I'm not sure what the difference is, but ever since I started putting a bit of bleach in the condensate line every time I change my filters; I've had no clogs since then.
Assuming this is actually your problem, I would suggest that you do the same.
use of bleach over time will corrode your pvc line ; - use distilled vinegar; probably white - it will not damage your line ; I work homeowner claims and see a dozen of these type claims every couple weeks; probably couple hundred a year from FL.
I don't know about the shop vac, but I've heard the bleach suggestion numerous times and it sounds reasonable.
How to Unclog AC Drain Line Fast (3 Seconds), Avoid Repairman
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