Timeline for Furnace: pipe is leaking when switched to air-conditioning
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
8 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
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| Dec 5, 2019 at 20:04 | comment | added | Ed Beal | @glenn Yates the reason the drains plug up and leak on a gravity drained system is because of mold acting like a dam. The biocide eliminates the mold so no backups occur. I have installed many systems and still service a few. water tape is the best failsafe as that sets an alarm. None of the systems I regularly service has ever overflowed to the point of damage, I require water tape on every pumped system as this the only true failsafe. | |
| Dec 5, 2019 at 19:57 | comment | added | Ed Beal | Float valves are a worse problem if you are talking about pumping the water goes acidic and pumps regularly fail unless very expensive pumps are purchased. folks that depend on pumps regularly have failures. Water tape will shut down with an alarm if water gets outside the pan the kit is simple a battery operated electronic relay lasts 2-3 years , the transformer based ones are a bit more expensive (if the furnace transformer is large enough this can be used saving 15$ ) When you change filters add an extra step of dropping a tablet in the hole the plug covers this will kill any mold. | |
| Dec 5, 2019 at 19:27 | comment | added | JPhi1618 | @GlenYates, I have ceiling damage for that reason exactly. Clogged primary, a tilted backup drip pan that didn't drain, first summer in a new-to-us house and I didn't think to check that. | |
| Dec 5, 2019 at 19:21 | comment | added | Glen Yates | @JPhi1618 - Agreed, the float valve is a failsafe, and can be very important depending on where your air-conditioner is. Where I am from, many AC units are (stupidly) placed in unconditioned attics above living spaces, and the drain lines run to the outside where they could easily be clogged by debris (not mold). In this case, I would consider a float valve a necessity - unless you like water spots on your ceiling. | |
| Dec 5, 2019 at 18:30 | comment | added | JPhi1618 | @GlenYates, the only reason you typically get a leak is if the primary drain clogs and the pan fills up, and the only reason that normally clogs is mold growth.. I agree with Ed to a degree, but people forget the normal maintenance, so a float valve is like a failsafe to shut the system down if there is a problem. | |
| Dec 5, 2019 at 17:44 | comment | added | Glen Yates | @EdBeal Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the float valve was to prevent leaks, not mold growth. How is a biocide going to prevent leaks? | |
| Dec 5, 2019 at 15:39 | comment | added | Ed Beal | I would disagree with a float valve , a simple biocide added to the pan will prevent mold growth , and the line that is there is recommended by several MFG’s so the condition of the line can be viewed. | |
| Dec 4, 2019 at 15:56 | history | answered | JPhi1618 | CC BY-SA 4.0 |