Clogged Drain Line? Don’t reach for bleach.

Are you dealing with a clogged AC drain line? You may be tempted to reach for the bleach to try and clear the blockage.

However, we strongly advise against this approach. As a trusted provider of HVAC services in the Central Texas area, we have seen our fair share of clogged AC drain lines. Our high temperatures and humidity make us more prone to drain line issues than other areas of the country.

But please, do not use bleach to try and clean your drain line. These chemicals are highly corrosive to metals, which can cause serious damage to your AC system.

The evaporator coil in your indoor air handler is just inches away from your AC drain line. This coil is responsible for cooling the air by removing moisture. If bleach comes into contact with this coil, it can corrode and cause damage to your AC system.

If your drain line is clogged, the corrosive mixture will simply flow into your drain pan, which in turn could damage your evaporator coil.

So what should you do instead? Here's our process for clearing a clogged AC drain line:

1. Turn off the air conditioner: Make sure the air conditioner is turned off before you start cleaning the drain line.

2. Locate the drain line access point: The drain line is usually located near the outside unit of the air conditioner and has a cap that you can remove. It's a white PVC pipe that’s usually found near the outdoor compressor.

3. Clean the drain line opening: Remove the cap from the drain line access point and use your fingers to remove any visible debris or dirt from the opening.

4. Connect the vacuum cleaner: Place the vacuum cleaner hose over the drain line opening and hold it securely. Make sure the opening is covered tightly and the vacuum is set to blow mode.

5. Blow air through the drain line: Turn on your vacuum cleaner and allow it to blow air through the drain line for at least 30 seconds. If you notice the air flowing in reverse or can't feel any air coming out of the other end, try reversing it and sucking the blockage out. This should clear any blockages that are in the line.

6. Pour some water into the drain pipe: After finishing with the vacuum, pour a cup of water down the drain line to flush out any remaining debris. If it flows out the end properly, then the blockage has been cleared if it doesn’t, give the vacuum another try.

7. Replace the drain line cap: Once the line has been cleared, replace the cap by screwing it back on and making sure it's sealed tightly.

That's it! Cleaning your clogged AC drain line can be a quick and easy process if you follow these simple steps.

However, if the clog is so deep or the vacuum doesn’t solve the problem, or if you still have issues, don't hesitate to give us a call and we’ll get you taken care of!