How Often Should You Check and Empty Your HVAC Drain Pan

Your HVAC Drain Pan is one of those parts of your home you don’t commonly think about…until there’s a problem. It’s one of the pieces we inspect at least twice a year as part of our monthly maintenance subscriptions when we have a professional, licensed tradesperson come to your home once per month to proactively handle maintenance.  

If you are not part of our monthly maintenance program, here’s what you need to know about how often you should check – and empty – your HVAC drain pan.

What’s a drain pan?

A condensate drain pan is the plastic or metal tray that sits under appliances collects the excess water that’s the result of appliance use, protecting your home from all kinds of nasty microbiological growth and failure.

When a thermostat is set to “cool”, part of the central air system fills with compressed refrigerant, causing parts of the system to get very cold. Warm air is pulled into the home via this system, where water and moisture are pulled from it. Cold air is then pushed into the home through the air ducts.

As this process happens, condensation takes place, creating excess water. This water starts off like beads, but drops over time. The drain pan collects these drops of water and safely moves the water out of the home via the sewer or some other method.

Where’s the drain pan located?

The drain pan is part of your AC unit’s evaporator coil. For vertical furnace installations, the drain pan will be located directly beneath the evaporator coil. For horizontal furnace installations (i.e., those in attics), the evaporator coil will be beside the furnace, with the drain pan underneath.

Horizontal AC units in attics will often have a second drain pan, since in those formations water doesn’t drip in one general location.

How often should you check your HVAC drain pan?

Your cleaning frequency should be based on usage. More usage means you should properly check it more regularly. Overall, you should be checking your drain pan at least twice a year.

Frequent inspections help you spot problems early on, before they become bigger problems. Standing water can be a site for mold and bacteria to grow, leading to health problems for you and your family.

Golden Home Management 

Don’t let problems arise in the background of your home. At Golden Home Management, our Monthly Maintenance Plan sets you up for success featuring a network of qualified and experienced professionals. Give us a call today to schedule your FREE home assessment.