water running through condensate drain pipe

[gakkuken]

All;

not sure if this is normal or not, so i took a few pic and posted here for opinion. sorry if this question is really stupid, please forgive me!

so, after the central ac stopped after cooling the house today, i noticed some water running / dripping and found out it was coming down from the condensate drain pipe. Later on, when the ac is running again, i hear it running while the ac is on. is this normal? anything for me to check?

http://home.comcast.net/~rgnet/ac1.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~rgnet/ac2.JPG

thanks,
rod

[Mr Bill]

Water in the drain line is normal, but the way they ran the drain line, sure fits the weird category. I don't understand were they 90° back, why didn't they just 90° down to the drain.

[gakkuken]

Thanks for the reply Mr Bill !! I have no idea why they do it that way, maybe it was a new style back when they build the house.

I was worried to hear water running / dripping into the ground as it almost sounded like someone is using the bathroom.

[beshvac]

You sure it's coming from your AC and not that waterheater? Why is it wet under the waterheater?

[Rcb2875]

My guess would be that your system is holding water back in the pan and not fully draining while the unit is running because of suction through your condensate line. When the unit turns off the water that is held back then rushes down the pipe. You could have a P-trap installed that would eliminate the water accumulation in the pan and allow it to drain more evenly if the sound is bothersome at shutdown.

[Rcb2875]

You sure it's coming from your AC and not that waterheater? Why is it wet under the waterheater?

looks like shadows to me. ;)

[beshvac]

My guess would be that your system is holding water back in the pan and not fully draining while the unit is running because of suction through your condensate line. When the unit turns off the water that is held back then rushes down the pipe. You could have a P-trap installed that would eliminate the water accumulation in the pan and allow it to drain more evenly if the sound is bothersome at shutdown.

You sure??? Its a furnace coil???

[Rcb2875]

You sure??? Its a furnace coil???

LOL No.. The evap is sitting directly on top if the furnace is it not? It's 4:30am ( a lil slack) so idk why I went into babbling about the suction when the blower is a pusher, but the suddn drain on shut off is one I have to explain to most people that do not have traps on their puller style AH.

[gakkuken]

Thanks beshvac and Rcb2875 ! Now I'm a bit more confused, are there any photos I can take additional for you guys? Or perhaps I should just get the AC checked for service?

thanks,
rod

[Mr Bill]

Why is it wet under the waterheater?

It looks like those two spots under the water heater are shadows. :grin2:

[beshvac]

If you haven't had it cleaned and checked annually, then that would be a good idea. furnace coils in that configuration build up dirt where its hard to get to and at about the 10years of age point-starts causing airflow problems.

[Mr Bill]

I think you drain is fine, if not you would have water all over the floor. I would be more concerned about the sewer gasses coming up right in front of the burner area of the water heater. :whistle:

[Mr Bill]

Stupid phone wants to post twice. :)