How to Drain a Central Air Unit
People in the Southern United States and other warm climates are familiar with the benefits of central air conditioning systems. These cool buildings by pumping cool air from a central location into a series of ducts vented into the rooms of the structure. The heart of any central air system is the evaporator, which releases refrigerant under pressure to draw out the humidity of the surrounding air and cool it off. This humidity, in the form of water vapor, collects around the evaporator. A drain pan installed underneath the evaporator will help drain the central air system and keep water from collecting. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Drain pan
- Foam blocks (2-by-2-inch-by-evaporator width)
- Drain pan coupling
- PVC pipes
- Hacksaw
- Sandpaper
- PVC primer
- PVC cement
Instructions
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1
Turn off the power for the AC unit at the main circuit breaker.
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2
Locate the evaporator unit for the AC. In most locations, this is positioned next to the blower, usually in an attic or basement. The majority of evaporators are triangular in shape.
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3
Have an assistant raise up the evaporator. Lift the unit slowly and take care not to bend any of the pipes leading up to the evaporator unit. You only need to be raise it a few inches.
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4
Slip a drain pan underneath the evaporator unit. Place foam blocks, the type used in packing shipping goods, in the drain pan along the length of the evaporator. Lower the evaporator on top of the blocks.
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5
Plan the line for the AC drain pan. It should be angled down at least 1 inch for every 3 feet of pipe. If the pipe will be run outside the house, drill a hole with a power drill and spade bit for the drain line.
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6
Connect the drain line coupling to the drain pan. Insert the inside collar on the inside portion of the drain pan and thread the connecting coupling to the outside. Dry fit the PVC pipes together and run the pipe to the drain pipe. Cut the pipes further to size, if needed, with a hacksaw. Sand down any edges that have burrs. When satisfied, glue the PVC pipe together with PVC primer and glue.
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7
Restore power to the air conditioner unit.
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References
- Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
