What's a Drain Pan and What to Do if It's Full of Water
One of the worst feelings in homeownership is coming home on a hot day to find out that your HVAC system isn’t working. Fortunately, a common problem (and the first one you should check) is when the drain pan is full of water.
Here’s what you need to know:
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. Your HVAC system is connected to your plumbing and drains this water automatically, but sometimes the plumbing gets blocked up, so the water flows into the drain pan. The drain pan collects these drops of water and has an automatic electrical shut off system when the pan gets too full (so your house doesn’t get flooded).
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 sometimes will have a second drain pan, since in those formations water doesn’t drip in one general location. Instead it drips all over from the entire unit.
How does a drain pan fill with water?
There are a couple of reasons why a drain pan could fill with water.
1. Defective drain pan
Drain pans are supposed to move water away from the unit. If the pan itself is defective, it can cause clogs, leading to water buildup in the pan itself.
2. Poorly installed drain pans
If the drain pan is fine, they can still collect water if they were installed incorrectly. This can sometimes happen due to ignorance or incompetence on the part of the installer.
3. Frozen evaporator coil
The evaporator coil in your AC unit can freeze over time, causing ice to accumulate. This tends to happen when the unit is low on refrigerant or leaks. If this is happening, you should definitely call a professional.
4. Clogged drain pipe
Even if everything is working properly, debris can clog the drain pipe, causing water backups. However, in this case, you may just have a simple cleanup job, then anything involving parts and installations.
What to do if the drain pan fills with water?
The first thing you’ll want to do is you’ll want to see what might be causing the problem. A clogged drain pipe might be cleared without having to rely on professionals; there is commonly an open valve that you can blow air through that will get the clog out, then you have to manually drain the pan into a bucket (and your HVAC will automatically turn back on). If your drain pan is filled with water due to another reason, you’ll want to get in contact with a professional as soon as possible. This is not a problem you want to leave alone for any amount of time.
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.