I've got an attic air conditioning unit that I suspect is reaching its lifespan since it might have been installed back in 2008. The unit rests on a large metal drip tray that seems like an afterthought, and I'm noticing some major condensation issues lately. The tray fills up way too fast, and when it does, it starts to drip water, which unfortunately led to some water damage in my ceiling not too long ago. Right now, it fills up in just a few days whenever the AC is running.
I've been trying to manage it by using a shop vacuum to drain it, and an HVAC tech told me the AC unit is functional but mentioned that the coils might be getting old and frost over quickly. He suggested running just the fan at night to defrost it, but I'm looking for other short-term solutions to keep things under control while I figure out if I need to replace the AC entirely. Any ideas?
3 Answers
One quick fix is to insulate the outside of your drip pan with foam board. You can use foam-safe spray adhesive to attach it. Consider replacing those 4x4s with something smaller to raise the pan above the surface and angle it towards the drain. This should help direct the water where it needs to go. And don't forget to clean the coils whenever you can!
You might also want to check your condensate lines. There should be two: one from your air handler and another backup that drains under your unit. If the main one is clogged, it’s causing the water to back up into the tray instead. Ensure those lines are clear, then the tray won't fill up anymore, and you’ll avoid water damage.
There shouldn't be any water in that drip tray under normal circumstances. If there is, it’s a sign of a problem. Usually, that can come from a clogged condensate drain line or possibly a cracked drain pan. I’d recommend calling your HVAC tech again to have him check it out. If it’s clogged, fixing it should solve your issue. If the pan is cracked, get a quote on a replacement. Better to address it now than let it cause more damage later!
I recently vacuumed out my main line, too! I always thought the lines were interconnected but now I'll stick to vacuuming each line separately.
I just added a photo of my setup here: https://imgur.com/a/wRwkoEZ. It's tough to get other angles, but I hope this helps!