Need advise-W/I condensate routing.

[Electric John]

OK, I'm an electrician helping out my wife's business and we are stuck with the Los Angeles County Health department plan check.

We had a 2000sq' freezer installed by the manufacturer a couple years ago. Because there is no floor sink, and on advise from our refrigeration guy, we installed a condensate pump that pumps to the roof area near the condenser and all works well. Now the health department plan check person says "floor drain or mop sink only".

There is no floor drain available and we could put in a mop sink but the distance required and the layout would not allow the 1\4" per foot drop needed. The freezer is not moveable-would cost thousands, as it is anchored down and the inside floor is concrete poured over foam sheets for insulation. Installing the mop sink closer would require saw cutting the floor and tons of money and the building owner probably will not allow it.

My questions are:
Is it true that a condensate pump is not allowed in our area? (Los Angeles)
and is it true that pumping outside (on the roof) is not allowed in our area?
If all that is true...any suggestions?

Our company hasn't shown the profit survive a large expense at this time. We are worried.

Thanks,
John

[craig1]

Are they concerned about the pump or the fact that it discharges to the roof. Could you just run the pump hose to your existing mop sink or floor drain? Or do they require a gravity drain?

[Electric John]

Are they concerned about the pump or the fact that it discharges to the roof. Could you just run the pump hose to your existing mop sink or floor drain? Or do they require a gravity drain?

Hi Craig,

Both the pump and the roof discharge, they say, are unacceptable. The drain line would be a total of about 60' to the current mop sink area. It is inside of a packaged food warehouse. That's why the Health dept became interested.

In my experience as an electrician, sometimes these "authorities" can be wrong. I'm hoping someone with Los Angeles experience can advise me.

Thanks, John

[MicahWes]

I have no idea about your area, but in my area (Raleigh, NC) they recently changed the codes so you cannot discharge condensate into the sanitary sewer at all. No floor drains, no mop sinks. You have to pipe it outside, either via pump or gravity.

I can't imagine why an AHJ would have a problem with pumping to the roof? Maybe they need to be gently shown that the pump/check valve acts as a trap?

[Servicerunner]

FWIW, I have seen a major grocery chain pump condensate to the roof. I don't recall if it terminated into the sanitary sewer or the storm sewer (I wasn't involved in that part of the install) but I know they did it--and do it--in all 50 states. Maybe you could ask if that would be permissible--i.e., pumping it onto the roof, then into either a RTU condensate drain (if it terminates where they want it to, i.e. sewer or storm drain) or just a run a new line on the roof to wherever they want it.

[mspanky]

Is the pump inside the cooler? That may be the problem.

[Phase Loss]

I live in Los Angeles and see lots of vacuum drain systems in supermarkets (Costco, Trader Joe's, Target, Ralphs) that don't have floor sinks.

The vacuum system removes the water via~the vacuum system, and dumps in down into the sewer.

http://www.acornvac.com/

[SkullMonkey]

I live in Los Angeles and see lots of vacuum drain systems in supermarkets (Costco, Trader Joe's, Target, Ralphs) that don't have floor sinks.

The vacuum system removes the water via~the vacuum system, and dumps in down into the sewer.

http://www.acornvac.com/

Interesting!

[FSE_]

OK, I'm an electrician helping out my wife's business and we are stuck with the Los Angeles County Health department plan check.

We had a 2000sq' freezer installed by the manufacturer a couple years ago. Because there is no floor sink, and on advise from our refrigeration guy, we installed a condensate pump that pumps to the roof area near the condenser and all works well. Now the health department plan check person says "floor drain or mop sink only".

There is no floor drain available and we could put in a mop sink but the distance required and the layout would not allow the 1\4" per foot drop needed. The freezer is not moveable-would cost thousands, as it is anchored down and the inside floor is concrete poured over foam sheets for insulation. Installing the mop sink closer would require saw cutting the floor and tons of money and the building owner probably will not allow it.

My questions are:
Is it true that a condensate pump is not allowed in our area? (Los Angeles)
and is it true that pumping outside (on the roof) is not allowed in our area?
If all that is true...any suggestions?

Our company hasn't shown the profit survive a large expense at this time. We are worried.

Thanks,
John

The City of Los Angeles has very strict codes. I'm dealing with some now. Here is a link to info: http://ladbs.org/LADBSWeb/codes.jsf

[jpsmith1cm]

Interesting!

That's not the word that I use for them.

[texasgentleman2]

That's not the word that I use for them.

Dealt with these before huh?? Just reading about it, it seems like a lot of hoops to jump through for a condensate drain,, can't you use a simple evaporator pan on top of the unit, ??

[condenseddave]

I think I use the same words you do for them.

That's not the word that I use for them.