Preventative AC Maintenance can save you a fortune and a ton of hassle.
If you are like most homeowners, you don’t think much about your air conditioner unless it stops working. Ironically, the best time to think about it is before a breakdown happens.
Being proactive in clearing your AC drainpipe and doing the routine maintenance keeps damage from happening in the first place. A drain clog can back up quickly with the amount of condensation air conditioning units collect here in tropical Southwest Florida.
The way it works normally is that there is a drain line – which is made of PVC plastic that goes from the unit inside the house itself to the outside of the home allowing the water flow and droplets to escape by falling onto the lawn or concrete just outdoors.
When too much mineral builds up, dirt, dust, or sludge accumulates. It can clog the pipe making water flow back up. While there is a drain pan in place with every unit to catch the overflow, it can only catch so much and with the humidity levels so high in Florida there is very little evaporation to help out.
If not caught in time, the pipe and pan can overflow and that is when you notice water damage to your ceiling making the repair even more costly.
ADVICE to keep you’re A/C Unit Working All Year Long
Schedule your maintenance ahead of time. A service contract with guaranteed appointments helps keep your warranties valid and your home comfortable without expensive breakdown repairs.
How to unclog and maintain your AC Drain (Step by Step)
- Turn off the power to your AC – This is very important when dealing with electricity and water.
- Locate your drain line. Take a look outside. Your drain line will be a small plastic pipe protruding from the wall of your home in an inconspicuous spot outdoors.
- Find the drain line access point. Drain lines have a T-shaped vent with a cap. Remove the cap at the top of the drain and look within for the blockage.
- Grab the white distilled vinegar! Add ¼ cup of distilled vinegar to the drain line through the opening where the cap was removed. If you absolutely hate the smell of vinegar, alternatives you may substitute are peroxide or hot water and a dollop of dish soap.
- Let it sit: Give it about a half an hour for the solution to penetrate and break up grime.
- Flush it out: Rinse the pipe thoroughly with warm water.
- Still clogged? – Break out the shop vac! Sometimes the clog is just too strong and it needs some suction to really get it loosened up and removed. The shop vac should be strong enough to suction out just about any clog.
Not in the mood to do all of that or just don’t have time? Call us! We can get your AC unit up and running in no time.
Why Choose Beattie Home Services?
When you have a problem in your home, you want someone with the experience, skills, and care to do the job right. At Beattie Home Services, our employees pride themselves on providing the best service to our customers. Whether you have an emergency or need minor cleaning, we’ll be there. Need an air conditioning, plumbing, heating, or HVAC professional in the SWFL area?
Schedule Your Appointment Today
The HVAC experts at Beattie Home Services will be happy to help you schedule your testing, inspection or repair or replacement of your residential or commercial AC/Heating needs. Call us at 239-766-4160 or contact us online to make an appointment.