I'm getting ready to purchase a new townhome, and during my first walk
through noticed something very odd -- Every other unit has a plastic
pipe that comes out the back of the homes (which I later learned was
for condensate drainage), except for mine. I was later told that this
is OK, since the cooling unit sits in a pan with an emergency shut-off
switch. This does not quite make sense to me -- is this normal? I
think if its summer and my AC shuts off, because the pan gets full, I'm
going to be SOL without any AC. It also seems like a bad idea to have
water sitting in the pan in my attic without any drainage at all... But
I'm not expert!

Thanks for any advice!

Maurice

I don't claim to be an expert on anything but that does sound odd. I
have heard that some units actually recycle the water and use it in the
cooling process or something like that but I don't know. I would check
around the unit for any signs of past water damage. If there has been
water damage, you should be able to see effervescent water stains OR
you will see oil based primer/paint covering the area where there was
water stains.

Also - I assume that you will be having a home inspector take a look at
the house. If you are really interested in the townhouse and are not
in a huge rush to buy a new home, I would go ahead and start the
process and if the home inspector notes this as a problem, have the
seller provide you with a credit equal to the cost of having such
piping put in or have it done themselves before closing.

The fact that this is in your attic would bug me the most. We have 2nd
story water heater and washing machine and I have nightmares about the
damage that could cause.

Good luck with your home search.
wrote:
I'm getting ready to purchase a new townhome, and during my first walk
through noticed something very odd -- Every other unit has a plastic
pipe that comes out the back of the homes (which I later learned was
for condensate drainage), except for mine. I was later told that this
is OK, since the cooling unit sits in a pan with an emergency shut-off
switch. This does not quite make sense to me -- is this normal? I
think if its summer and my AC shuts off, because the pan gets full, I'm
going to be SOL without any AC. It also seems like a bad idea to have
water sitting in the pan in my attic without any drainage at all... But
I'm not expert!

Thanks for any advice!

Maurice

wrote:
I'm getting ready to purchase a new townhome, and during my first walk
through noticed something very odd -- Every other unit has a plastic
pipe that comes out the back of the homes (which I later learned was
for condensate drainage), except for mine. I was later told that this
is OK, since the cooling unit sits in a pan with an emergency shut-off
switch. This does not quite make sense to me -- is this normal? I
think if its summer and my AC shuts off, because the pan gets full, I'm
going to be SOL without any AC. It also seems like a bad idea to have
water sitting in the pan in my attic without any drainage at all... But
I'm not expert!

Thanks for any advice!

Maurice

1. Why is one unit different from all others?
2. There should be an overflow / relief drain.

I would pay an HVAC tech to look at the situation and make
recommendations.
Home inspectors are a first line of defense, and this feels like a
special case.

TB

The drain might go to the sanitary sewer, or some other place.
But AC definitely does need a drain of some sort. I'd keep
questioning the matter, so you don't get a bad surprise like
water in the ceiling.

--

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
..

wrote in message
ups.com...
I'm getting ready to purchase a new townhome, and during my
first walk
through noticed something very odd -- Every other unit has a
plastic
pipe that comes out the back of the homes (which I later
learned was
for condensate drainage), except for mine. I was later told
that this
is OK, since the cooling unit sits in a pan with an emergency
shut-off
switch. This does not quite make sense to me -- is this
normal? I
think if its summer and my AC shuts off, because the pan gets
full, I'm
going to be SOL without any AC. It also seems like a bad idea
to have
water sitting in the pan in my attic without any drainage at
all... But
I'm not expert!

Thanks for any advice!

Maurice

Thanks for all the great advice folks

I did find out later that it was indeed being drained into the laundry
room drainage. If I had known that I would have never been concerned


Thank You all again
Maurice


Stormin Mormon wrote:
The drain might go to the sanitary sewer, or some other place.
But AC definitely does need a drain of some sort. I'd keep
questioning the matter, so you don't get a bad surprise like
water in the ceiling.

--

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
.

wrote in message
ups.com...
I'm getting ready to purchase a new townhome, and during my
first walk
through noticed something very odd -- Every other unit has a
plastic
pipe that comes out the back of the homes (which I later
learned was
for condensate drainage), except for mine. I was later told
that this
is OK, since the cooling unit sits in a pan with an emergency
shut-off
switch. This does not quite make sense to me -- is this
normal? I
think if its summer and my AC shuts off, because the pan gets
full, I'm
going to be SOL without any AC. It also seems like a bad idea
to have
water sitting in the pan in my attic without any drainage at
all... But
I'm not expert!

Thanks for any advice!

Maurice