A clogged drain line is one of the most common issues that homeowners face during the spring and summer months when air conditioners are working full-time to keep up with the heat. 

Air conditioners produce a lot of condensation (water) when they run, and that water is expelled from the system through a drain line that extends from the indoor air conditioner to the outside of your home, or sometimes into a direct connection to your main plumbing line. 

Throughout the year, the drain lines build up growth and debris from minerals in the water and natural growth from moisture. Eventually, the buildup will become large enough to clog the drain line and prevent condensation from escaping out of the drain line. 

The indoor air conditioner sits on an emergency drain pain (it's the large pan sitting beneath the indoor air conditioner unit). That pan is there to collect water in the event of a clogged drain line. Once that pan fills up, two things will happen.

1. If you have a safety switch installed, the water will trigger that safety switch to shut off the entire air conditioner system, preventing more water buildup. The system will not turn back on until the water is removed, and the drain line is unclogged. 
2. If you do not have a safety switch installed, nothing will trigger the system to turn off and the water will continue to build up in the pan and eventually leak onto your ceiling (if the system is in the attic), or it will run out of your secondary drain line that often expels into your garage through a small PVC pipe sticking out of the ceiling.

If you notice water dripping in either place, you should call an HVAC contractor as soon as possible to assess the situation and clear out the drain line before more damage occurs.

As part of our annual maintenance plan, we proactively clear out the drain lines high pressured nitrogen, a vacuum, and we drop specialized drain clearing tablets into the PVC drain line.

Other common reasons for water damage in a home include leaking plumbing pipes, bad connections on faucets, toilets or showers, or potentially a leak in the roof. If you notice water appearing only when it rains, it is likely due to a leak in the roof. In this case, we would recommend calling a reputable local roofer to assess the problem. At Varsity Zone HVAC, we highly recommend calling Mighty Dog Roofing in Bentonville. Josh is a local roofer who provides excellent customer service, honest assessments, and quality work.