Many an air conditioner unit is housed in the attic. As the unit processes air through the system a vast amount of water is pulled pulled out of the air. That water is then collected in a shallow pan under the cooling coils. As the water rises it runs into a drain line and then into your home drainage system. Generally, these used to be run outside to a 90 and spilled directly to the ground. No problem here usually.
Today's systems now run the water into a bathroom sink or other drain system and the backup drain dumps water out an eve or soffet pipe if there is one.
Regardless, in this example we had previously installed Granite Counter Tops and were in the process of hooking up plumbing. There was a rubber pipe attached to this white PVC line "pictured" that then attached to the sink drain line with a Y connector into the drain. When I pulled the rubber line off it was packed full of gunk. Water barely seeped through. The next thing to happen this summer would be a full blockage, water seeping into the ceiling under the air conditioner, and onto the wood floors below.
I shot this photo to show homeowners and contractors alike how a simple drain line could be a very expensive and extensive repair if not taken care of.
Tips:
1. find out where your air handler is and condensate drain pan, make sure it is clean. Vacuum if dusty
2. find out where your drain line is and if accessible remove it during operation to be sure it is clear
I have seen these attached to tub drains and this would require cutting into a wall or removing tile so that is not an option unless there is the rare access panel.
Bottom line, an air conditioning condensate line is a potential disaster but and annual checkup should keep you OK.
This line required a compressed air charge from the drain pan to blow out the muck and the usual Home Depot parts hunt to complete a custom bath project.
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