On Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:44:41 -0600, "HeyBub"
wrote:

Inasmuch as you're in Florida, did the technician try to sell you some swamp
land?

An air conditioner cannot drip water. Water is not involved in the a/c
piping system. Period.

What CAN happen refers to the condensate where warm, humid, air is cooled
and the cooled air releases moisture.

The way an air conditioning SYSTEM often works - at least around here - is
to capture this water and drain it into the house sanitary sewer system. But
that drain can get clogged. Manufacturer's know this and almost always
install a pan beneath the condensing unit to catch the water that can't make
it down the house drain. This pan, in turn, has a separate drain, usually to
the outside of the house.

In a catastrophic situation, here's the drill:
1. The primary drain (to the house sanitary system) clogs up.
2. Condensation then moves to the fail-safe backup pan.
3. Eventually, this pan/drain combo clogs up and the moisture overflows the
pan.
4. If the condensing unit/pan is in the attic... goll-eey what a mess!

Well, what causes the clogs and how do you fix/prevent it?

The "clog" is almost always a big blob of algae. It's quite soft and can be
removed by air pressure (just blow down the pipe) or a snake. Prevention is
almost as easy. Here's how.

At the top of the condensing unit, just before the ductwork begins branching
out, drill a 1/2" hole. At the start of each a/c season, pour a cup of
household bleach into the hole (a funnel helps). Plug the hole with a cork
or duct tape. The bleach kills the algae/fungi/mold/mushrooms or whatever is
growing in the pipe.

This latter is one of the easiest DIY jobs.

Good luck.


Agree. I live in the desert. This past summer there were days high
in humility, the outside condensate line dripped fairly rapidly (fast
drops of water).

My drain pan is in the attic, however, it has a sensor alarm to detect
water before a disaster. crosses fingers

The OP has not stated where the water is located or coming from - the
line or the pan.