How do I clean an AC condensate pan?

Question

I have a Ducane HVAC system that started leaking out of the evaporator coil housing. Mine looks like the EU1P. I read that i need to clean out the drip pan.

II tried cleaning it by sucking out the buildup with a wet/dry vac and flushing it with bleach solution but it's still leaking out of the back side that I can't get to.

I've heard of people hosing it out, but that seems like it might make a mess and get things wet that maybe shouldn't be. I've also heard of people blowing it with compressed air but i thought that might just blow the stuff around only for it to clog up the system again.

What should i do to get this thing to stop leaking?

Answer 1

I had the same issue recently on my HVAC as well.

You probably have a PVC pipe running from the bottom of the evaporator coil housing. The blockage is probably in there somewhere. You can disconnect the PVC and let the condensate drain into a bucket.

If it does drain cleanly into a bucket, your blockage is in that drain line. Either snake it out or replace it. For me, snaking a 3/4 inch PVC with several 90-degree bends was more difficult than buying a couple pieces and replacing the drain line with 45-degree bends that are less prone to becoming blocked.

I filtered the condensate where my new drain discharges into my sump with a paper towel and was shocked how much debris was being flushed out.

Answer 2

have you check to make sure the unit is level? if it's tilted the opposite direction of the condensate line, then the pan might fill up back there and eventually overflow and leak.