Regulating humidity is an important function of your air conditioner. Excess moisture in the air can make your home’s atmosphere oppressive and muggy even when your cooling system is on. Air conditioners condense the moisture they extract and route it out of buildings via their condensate drains. If the lines that feed these drains develop clogs, AC performance suffers. If left unchecked, a clogged condensate line could wreck your air conditioner. Here’s how.
Why Do AC Condensate Lines Clog?
During normal operation, AC condensate lines are always wet. When you shut your air conditioner off for the heating season, residual moisture and particulate matter create the conditions in which microorganisms flourish. Bacteria, algae, and fungi can thrive in these spaces until you turn your AC back on the following summer.
Scheduling preseason tune-up service with a licensed HVAC company is the best way to clear out biofilms, algal blooms, and other slimy buildups. If you skip preseason tune-up service, these buildups will clog your air conditioner’s condensate line.
What Are the Signs of a Clogged Condensate Line?
You might have a clogged condensate line if:
- The air from your vents smells musty
- Your air conditioner is circulating warm air
- There’s pooling water beneath your air handler
- Your home cooling costs are on the rise
Clogged condensate lines reduce the efficiency of air conditioners even as they make them work harder.
Increased Operational Stress
When your air conditioner has a clogged condensate line, it uses more energy and takes more time to both cool your home and eliminate excess moisture. This extra work leads to accelerated wear. If you regularly run your AC with condensate line issues, you could significantly shorten its lifespan.
Rust Formation
Your air conditioner has a condensate drain pan that catches excess water in the event of a leak, clog, or other issue. This pan prevents the flooring beneath your air handler from getting wet, but it isn’t meant to hold water all the time. Unchecked condensate line clogs can cause rust and other corrosion in the drain pan and on nearby metal components.
Widespread Mold
Having too much moisture in your air won’t just make your living space feel uncomfortable. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), mold spores can form whenever indoor humidity rises above 60%.
Mold infestation can damage your floors, furnishings, drywall, and more. Mold diminishes indoor air quality (IAQ) and makes homes unhealthy overall. Mold can also negatively impact your HVAC system by clogging its filter, adding debris to the condensate line and lowering heating and cooling efficiency. Once infested with mold, your AC will circulate mold spores throughout your home.
Performance Issues
Trapped moisture in your air conditioner’s condensate line could freeze. Dirty condensate lines can also lead to frozen evaporator coils, short cycling, overheating, and temporary or permanent shutdown.
Air conditioners can’t cool homes efficiently or effectively with clogged condensate lines. Dirty condensate lines can cause multiple performance issues and shorten your air conditioner’s lifespan. For annual AC maintenance or expert AC replacement services in Tucson, AZ, get in touch with Pride of Tuscon today.