On Saturday, December 10, 2016 at 3:28:11 PM UTC-6, Bob F wrote:

The elbow probably keeps rain/crud from going down the pipe and damaging
the furnace or overworking the condensate pump.

You're probably right. I'm hoping re-positioning the direction of the pipes will help. I'll be taking off for the holidays and it will be bad news if it frosts over while gone.