We bought a new house three years ago and had a new AC unit installed in the bedroom. With a water drain going into the wall to get rid of the moisture that the AC takes out of the air. We have had occasional problems with a nasty smell in the bedroom since about two years and the AC install guys came here to check at least 6 times and they clean the AC but can't find anything wrong. We even had Mitsubishi come over to check if there was a problem with the AC itself, but they can't find anything wrong.

So I just tried to find the problem myself and found that the pipe going into the sewer looks like it has some growth on it. (see picture). This is what I believe the smell comes from. Unfortunately it is situated in a position I can't reach to take out the pipe and clean it without detaching the entire AC from the wall.

Can this growth be caused because there is no trap in the pipe somewhere? The pipe goes into the wall and I can't check, but when the AC is on for a while I hear the water drip in the shower drain which is on the other side of the wall where the AC is installed. It is not sewer guess though, more like fungus...

Can I seal the pipe from the top with something so the smell won't come up? Or should I just call a plumber and let them break the wall to put a trap in there? Any ideas would be highly appreciated.

Kind regards,

Ilan

You do realize that diy banter has parasitcally invaded a usenet forum known
as alt home repair?

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..

"ishemes" wrote in message
...


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--
ishemes

On Jun 11, 5:47*am, ishemes wrote:
We bought a new house three years ago and had a new AC unit installed in
the bedroom. With a water drain going into the wall to get rid of the
moisture that the AC takes out of the air. We have had occasional
problems with a nasty smell in the bedroom since about two years and the
AC install guys came here to check at least 6 times and they clean the
AC but can't find anything wrong. We even had Mitsubishi come over to
check if there was a problem with the AC itself, but they can't find
anything wrong.

So I just tried to find the problem myself and found that the pipe going
into the sewer looks like it has some growth on it. (see picture). This
is what I believe the smell comes from. Unfortunately it is situated in
a position I can't reach to take out the pipe and clean it without
detaching the entire AC from the wall.

Can this growth be caused because there is no trap in the pipe
somewhere? The pipe goes into the wall and I can't check, but when the
AC is on for a while I hear the water drip in the shower drain which is
on the other side of the wall where the AC is installed. It is not sewer
guess though, more like fungus...

Can I seal the pipe from the top with something so the smell won't come
up? Or should I just call a plumber and let them break the wall to put a
trap in there? Any ideas would be highly appreciated.

Kind regards,

Ilan

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|Filename: photo-1.JPG * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *|
|Download:http://www.diybanter.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=6544|
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

--
ishemes

Most times the condensate-water removed from the air is blown into a
fine mist by a fan in the AC unit. The mist is used to help cool the
compressor. Any left-over water usually goes to an outside drain or
just runs / drips out of the unit. If you have a drain hose, it must
be a very large window unit. Sealing the hose to drain conection is
worth a try, but it may just bring the smell into the window unit
instead of in the wall. If you can make a trap out of routing the
hose, then if you sealed the hose-drain connection, you wouldn't/
shouldn't get the smell.

On Jun 11, 11:22*am, "hr(bob) "
wrote:
On Jun 11, 5:47*am, ishemes wrote:





We bought a new house three years ago and had a new AC unit installed in
the bedroom. With a water drain going into the wall to get rid of the
moisture that the AC takes out of the air. We have had occasional
problems with a nasty smell in the bedroom since about two years and the
AC install guys came here to check at least 6 times and they clean the
AC but can't find anything wrong. We even had Mitsubishi come over to
check if there was a problem with the AC itself, but they can't find
anything wrong.

So I just tried to find the problem myself and found that the pipe going
into the sewer looks like it has some growth on it. (see picture). This
is what I believe the smell comes from. Unfortunately it is situated in
a position I can't reach to take out the pipe and clean it without
detaching the entire AC from the wall.

Can this growth be caused because there is no trap in the pipe
somewhere? The pipe goes into the wall and I can't check, but when the
AC is on for a while I hear the water drip in the shower drain which is
on the other side of the wall where the AC is installed. It is not sewer
guess though, more like fungus...

Can I seal the pipe from the top with something so the smell won't come
up? Or should I just call a plumber and let them break the wall to put a
trap in there? Any ideas would be highly appreciated.

Kind regards,

Ilan

+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Filename: photo-1.JPG * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *|
|Download:http://www.diybanter.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=6544|
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

--
ishemes

Most times the condensate-water removed from the air is blown into a
fine mist by a fan in the AC unit. *The mist is used to help cool the
compressor. *Any left-over water usually goes to an outside drain or
just runs / drips out of the unit. *If you have a drain hose, it must
be a very large window unit. *Sealing the hose to drain conection is
worth a try, but it may just bring the smell into the window unit
instead of in the wall. *If you can make a trap out of routing the
hose, then if you sealed the hose-drain connection, you wouldn't/
shouldn't get the smell.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

All condensate drains should have a trap.

But be careful. If you do not make the trap legs the correct length,
the condensate pan will not drain properly and will back up. You'll
have worse problems. I see this frequently at work.

On Jun 11, 11:23*am, TimR wrote:
On Jun 11, 11:22*am, "hr(bob) "
wrote:





On Jun 11, 5:47*am, ishemes wrote:

We bought a new house three years ago and had a new AC unit installed in
the bedroom. With a water drain going into the wall to get rid of the
moisture that the AC takes out of the air. We have had occasional
problems with a nasty smell in the bedroom since about two years and the
AC install guys came here to check at least 6 times and they clean the
AC but can't find anything wrong. We even had Mitsubishi come over to
check if there was a problem with the AC itself, but they can't find
anything wrong.

So I just tried to find the problem myself and found that the pipe going
into the sewer looks like it has some growth on it. (see picture). This
is what I believe the smell comes from. Unfortunately it is situated in
a position I can't reach to take out the pipe and clean it without
detaching the entire AC from the wall.

Can this growth be caused because there is no trap in the pipe
somewhere? The pipe goes into the wall and I can't check, but when the
AC is on for a while I hear the water drip in the shower drain which is
on the other side of the wall where the AC is installed. It is not sewer
guess though, more like fungus...

Can I seal the pipe from the top with something so the smell won't come
up? Or should I just call a plumber and let them break the wall to put a
trap in there? Any ideas would be highly appreciated.

Kind regards,

Ilan

+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Filename: photo-1.JPG * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *|
|Download:http://www.diybanter.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=6544|
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

--
ishemes

Most times the condensate-water removed from the air is blown into a
fine mist by a fan in the AC unit. *The mist is used to help cool the
compressor. *Any left-over water usually goes to an outside drain or
just runs / drips out of the unit. *If you have a drain hose, it must
be a very large window unit. *Sealing the hose to drain conection is
worth a try, but it may just bring the smell into the window unit
instead of in the wall. *If you can make a trap out of routing the
hose, then if you sealed the hose-drain connection, you wouldn't/
shouldn't get the smell.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

All condensate drains should have a trap.

But be careful. *If you do not make the trap legs the correct length,
the condensate pan will not drain properly and will back up. *You'll
have worse problems. *I see this frequently at work.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

You want the trap as shallow as possible so it is easy for the water
to flow over the trap and continue on downhill.

On Monday, June 11, 2012 2:14:09 PM UTC-4, hr(bob) wrote:
On Jun 11, 11:23*am, TimR wrote:
On Jun 11, 11:22*am, "hr(bob) "
wrote:





On Jun 11, 5:47*am, ishemes wrote:

We bought a new house three years ago and had a new AC unit installed in
the bedroom. With a water drain going into the wall to get rid of the
moisture that the AC takes out of the air. We have had occasional
problems with a nasty smell in the bedroom since about two years and the
AC install guys came here to check at least 6 times and they clean the
AC but can't find anything wrong. We even had Mitsubishi come over to
check if there was a problem with the AC itself, but they can't find
anything wrong.

So I just tried to find the problem myself and found that the pipe going
into the sewer looks like it has some growth on it. (see picture). This
is what I believe the smell comes from. Unfortunately it is situated in
a position I can't reach to take out the pipe and clean it without
detaching the entire AC from the wall.

Can this growth be caused because there is no trap in the pipe
somewhere? The pipe goes into the wall and I can't check, but when the
AC is on for a while I hear the water drip in the shower drain which is
on the other side of the wall where the AC is installed. It is not sewer
guess though, more like fungus...

Can I seal the pipe from the top with something so the smell won't come
up? Or should I just call a plumber and let them break the wall to put a
trap in there? Any ideas would be highly appreciated.

Kind regards,

Ilan

+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Filename: photo-1.JPG * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *|
|Download:http://www.diybanter.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=6544|
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

--
ishemes

Most times the condensate-water removed from the air is blown into a
fine mist by a fan in the AC unit. *The mist is used to help cool the
compressor. *Any left-over water usually goes to an outside drain or
just runs / drips out of the unit. *If you have a drain hose, it must
be a very large window unit. *Sealing the hose to drain conection is
worth a try, but it may just bring the smell into the window unit
instead of in the wall. *If you can make a trap out of routing the
hose, then if you sealed the hose-drain connection, you wouldn't/
shouldn't get the smell.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

All condensate drains should have a trap.

But be careful. *If you do not make the trap legs the correct length,
the condensate pan will not drain properly and will back up. *You'll
have worse problems. *I see this frequently at work.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

You want the trap as shallow as possible so it is easy for the water
to flow over the trap and continue on downhill.

No, you don't.

You have a negative pressure inside the air handler.

You need the trap to be DEEP enough so that the fall overcomes the negative pressure. Otherwise, the slight vaccuum will be enough to keep the condensate from flowing through the trap.

Shallow traps are the most common construction mistake I see. And if the housekeeping pad isn't high enough, sometimes we have to core drill the floor to get a deep enough trap.

On Jun 19, 9:01*am, TimR wrote:
On Monday, June 11, 2012 2:14:09 PM UTC-4, hr(bob) wrote:
On Jun 11, 11:23*am, TimR wrote:
On Jun 11, 11:22*am, "hr(bob) "
wrote:

On Jun 11, 5:47*am, ishemes wrote:

We bought a new house three years ago and had a new AC unit installed in
the bedroom. With a water drain going into the wall to get rid of the
moisture that the AC takes out of the air. We have had occasional
problems with a nasty smell in the bedroom since about two years and the
AC install guys came here to check at least 6 times and they clean the
AC but can't find anything wrong. We even had Mitsubishi come over to
check if there was a problem with the AC itself, but they can't find
anything wrong.

So I just tried to find the problem myself and found that the pipe going
into the sewer looks like it has some growth on it. (see picture).. This
is what I believe the smell comes from. Unfortunately it is situated in
a position I can't reach to take out the pipe and clean it without
detaching the entire AC from the wall.

Can this growth be caused because there is no trap in the pipe
somewhere? The pipe goes into the wall and I can't check, but when the
AC is on for a while I hear the water drip in the shower drain which is
on the other side of the wall where the AC is installed. It is not sewer
guess though, more like fungus...

Can I seal the pipe from the top with something so the smell won't come
up? Or should I just call a plumber and let them break the wall to put a
trap in there? Any ideas would be highly appreciated.

Kind regards,

Ilan

+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Filename: photo-1.JPG * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *|
|Download:http://www.diybanter.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=6544|
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

--
ishemes

Most times the condensate-water removed from the air is blown into a
fine mist by a fan in the AC unit. *The mist is used to help cool the
compressor. *Any left-over water usually goes to an outside drain or
just runs / drips out of the unit. *If you have a drain hose, it must
be a very large window unit. *Sealing the hose to drain conection is
worth a try, but it may just bring the smell into the window unit
instead of in the wall. *If you can make a trap out of routing the
hose, then if you sealed the hose-drain connection, you wouldn't/
shouldn't get the smell.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

All condensate drains should have a trap.

But be careful. *If you do not make the trap legs the correct length,
the condensate pan will not drain properly and will back up. *You'll
have worse problems. *I see this frequently at work.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

You want the trap as shallow as possible so it is easy for the water
to flow over the trap and continue on downhill.

No, you don't.

You have a negative pressure inside the air handler.

You need the trap to be DEEP enough so that the fall overcomes the negative pressure. *Otherwise, the slight vaccuum will be enough to keep the condensate from flowing through the trap.

Shallow traps are the most common construction mistake I see. *And if the housekeeping pad isn't high enough, sometimes we have to core drill the floor to get a deep enough trap.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Another question is how this is tied into the existing
plumbing. It's possible it goes into the shower drain
above the shower trap. In which case, it has a trap
to at least keep the sewer gases from coming into
the AC. Worse case, and it would not be unusual,
would be that they just ran the hose into a plumbing
vent. In which case there is no trap at all and sewer
gas could be coming in.

Another question is how this is tied into the existing
plumbing. It's possible it goes into the shower drain
above the shower trap. In which case, it has a trap
to at least keep the sewer gases from coming into
the AC. Worse case, and it would not be unusual,
would be that they just ran the hose into a plumbing
vent. In which case there is no trap at all and sewer
gas could be coming in.

"Usually" the "trap" for the condensate it just deep enough to make up
for the pressure drop across the filter. If you change your filter in
a timely matter, the pressure drop should be less than 1" of water.
N.B.: it routinely dries out in winter.

It drains (either directly or through a condensate pump) to a plumbing
connection with its own trap. That trap, if only for the HVAC is
equivalent to that used for, say, the washing machine. Often, a
condensate pump discharges through the washing machine drain.