condensate draining into cast floor drain ?

[cvcman]

Ok I have had my Rheem hi eff furnace about 3 yrs. They ran the condensate from the a/c coil and the furnace in 3/4" pve to the cast iron floor drain. Now there is a basement sink that drains into this drain too and my dehumidifier.
Is ths ok or will the condensate eat the pipe ?? Someone said its so diluted it wont matter, others said put a neuteralize in line, others said just bore a hole in the floor next to the furnace and have it go into the ground...
Which is the truth ?

[motoguy128]

I'm curious about this answer too. Both of my furnaces have condensate that drains into cast iron piping. One gets diluted by the humidifier most of the time. Never thought too much about it.

[cvcman]

I cant believe it can be any worse than things I have flushed down the toilet !:censored:

[motoguy128]

Good point.

ONe other point I was thinking about. If it's a basement floor drain, I wouldn't worry too much. Worst case, the constant strem of acidic water would errode the pipe a little quicker until it reaches the main sewer line. You could develop a crack and it will just going into the ground.

[second opinion]

Good point.

ONe other point I was thinking about. If it's a basement floor drain, I wouldn't worry too much. Worst case, the constant strem of acidic water would errode the pipe a little quicker until it reaches the main sewer line. You could develop a crack and it will just going into the ground.

If diluted by humidifier it is not strong enough to erode cast iron, but if not it can erode. Depending on location it may not be legal to pipe to sanitary drain.

[mrpogo]

I agree with second opinion here if is diluted by the humidifier it should be fine. However I do know here it has to run through a neuteralizer if it is going into the sanitary drain.

[motoguy128]

Funny you have to neutralize it.... you know, my pi** is a little acidic, maybe I better start adding a little caustic soda ash in there before I flush.

Last week I thought about calling the DNR to get a permit application to operate myself... since I'm spewing greehouse gases... from both ends. I might be in trouble... I forgot ot file a permit before we attempted to concieve out daughter... I hope they don't find out. I think that qualifies as a construction permit. I wonder how you do a desing review on that? :)

[cvcman]

where are the pros answers here ?? I didnt know a "humidifier" diluted anything, I assumed a dehumidifier would...Seems like the pros here would have and answer, what if I just borded a hole in the floor next to the furnace ??

[snupytcb]

i wouldn't worry too much about it. if it does ever become a problem it most likely wont be in your life time. it is a good question though. hearthman should be able to explain the science behind this.

[gregp]

where are the pros answers here ?? I didnt know a "humidifier" diluted anything, I assumed a dehumidifier would...Seems like the pros here would have and answer, what if I just borded a hole in the floor next to the furnace ??

the water in the humidifier is not evaporated, it goes down a drain. This will mix with the furnace water in the floor drain and dilute it. A dehumidifier removes moisture from the air. That water is similar to distilled water.

[hvacvegas]

I wouldn't worry about it.

[cvcman]

hummm well I thought a humidiifer put moisture in the air not down the drain,.,,shows what I know.
we have a basement sink that drains into the same drain as the condensate so im sure it get diluted but again why not tap right into the floor ?? There doesnt seem to be that muc water coming out of this

[wahoo]

If you drill a hole thru the concrete floor, then ground water may come up it. Once you drill it (the hole), then you've created a two way street for moisture. Also this condensate will drain under the concrete into the gravel bed below. I'd just leave it going into the drain as you may create a total different problem drilling thru the floor.:.02:

[skippedover]

The main question should really be, "To where does the pipe lead?" That question is pertinent because if it goes into the municipal sewer, it may be illegal to discharge without neutralizing, or as in some towns in our area, just plain illegal to discharge into the MWRA system at all! So it's pertinent to know where the condensate ultimately ends up. If discharging into a septic system, the acid could be damaging to the bacterial breakdown process in the tank. It's good self-protection in that instance to neutralize the condensate to avoid costly septic repairs after years of abuse. However, I've never seen any info that states any negatives about pumping the condensate directly to the outdoors atop of ground. A good technician can normally accomplish that, even in very cold temps. But as for the cast iron pipe, I think you'll be pushing up daisies long before that pipe suffers any real issues. That said, we do replace cast iron drain lines in old homes and businesses so it's going to deteriorate over time no matter what you do with the condensate. As long as it's legal, I see no other issue either way.

[Kevin O'Neill]

I was told it was the same as lemon juice for acidity. Back in the day when I was a plumber too, and we used copper DWV for drains, we used K copper on womens restroom drains. DWV copper would eat out because women had stronger pee. Mens restrooms DWV copper was OK. Go figure.

I would say the cast iron pipe will be fine. Unless there is a lot of condensate, I don't see how it can bother a municipal sewer 1 toilet flush and a shower or two would dilute it beyond making any trouble. Plus using the garbage disposal. Plus all those homes without 90% furnnaces. A lot of dillution going on.

[skippedover]

I was told it was the same as lemon juice for acidity. Back in the day when I was a plumber too, and we used copper DWV for drains, we used K copper on womens restroom drains. DWV copper would eat out because women had stronger pee. Mens restrooms DWV copper was OK. Go figure.

I would say the cast iron pipe will be fine. Unless there is a lot of condensate, I don't see how it can bother a municipal sewer 1 toilet flush and a shower or two would dilute it beyond making any trouble. Plus using the garbage disposal. Plus all those homes without 90% furnnaces. A lot of dillution going on.

Well, you haven't hassled with the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority evidently. They forbid the condensate discharge from any appliance from dumping into their sewer system. Back in the day, you see, many AC units in Boston used city water for water cooled condensers. That was a LOT of water going into the sewers and so when they banned that practice, they also banned even the condensate from going into the sewer system. Hence my recommendation. What may be good for one, could be illegal for another. FYI. :.02:

[Kevin O'Neill]

Well, you haven't hassled with the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority evidently. They forbid the condensate discharge from any appliance from dumping into their sewer system. Back in the day, you see, many AC units in Boston used city water for water cooled condensers. That was a LOT of water going into the sewers and so when they banned that practice, they also banned even the condensate from going into the sewer system. Hence my recommendation. What may be good for one, could be illegal for another. FYI. :.02:

I thank God every day that I live in South Carolina. :cheers:

[motoguy128]

I was reading a borchure for a Navien tankless water heater and it actually used the acidic condensate as a selling feature. Something like it "combined" or" dissolved" the NOx emmissions in the condensate and was beneficial because more waste stream it claimed were alkaline. Might be some truth, because I thought detergents were usually alkaline.

Either way it's a joke, because any treament facility ot manage it's PH regardless, and the amount of condensate gernated is still a dopr in the bucket comapred to the overall water volume. Most water supplies are slightly alkaline anyway to protect supply piping. Neutralizing condensate IMO, in most cases is a environmental overaction. But environmentalists dont like big pictures. A OOS discharge, is still OOS no matter the quantity.

I'm not joking on this. There's actually some talk that the RO dischrge water our factory produces might need ot have hte mineral content removed... or have sediment added because it's too clean.

I wonder if cars in smog filled cities might need to have emmission added since the tailpipe is cleaner than whats comming on many newer cars. Thats the kind of logic that runs the environmental movement. I'm all for protecting the environment, when it needs protecting, but lets use at least an ounce of common sense.

[Freezeking2000]

http://www.e-comfortusa.com/products/burnham-alpine-alp-freedom-fcm-boilers-condensate-neutralizer-kit/15137?utm_source=pricegrabber&utm_medium=product_search&utm_campaign=pricegrabber&utm_content=15137

[jpsmith1cm]

BadgerBoiler MN

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