ReplyIf the main drain is working right, how did the water get in the emergency pan.
Regular Guest
My main condensate drain is working correctly (just got new system) but I still have +- an inch of water in the emergency drain pan and it is flowing out. I didn't think the pan would be draining water except if the main drain failed. Can you set me straight? Live in hot humid Dallas TX.
Thanks,
God Speed, Jim. We'll miss you - 2-26-23
If the main drain is working right, how did the water get in the emergency pan.
Regular Guest
Is the end of your condensate drain line flowing freely or in the dirt? The clog may not always be in the drain line itself but at the end of the line. Best thing to do is look to see if if your line is dripping from outside. If it is in fact dripping in ac mode then the challenge is not your line.. If it was me I would install a pvc union, blow out the line with nitrogen, install an easy trap and float switch.. Hope it works out for you!
Professional Member
It sounds like the condensate isn't all going out your primary drain, and is dripping into the emergency drain. What did your installing contractor say when he came out to look at it?
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"Press on. Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education alone will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."
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Banned
Pictures would help.
Regular Guest
After your installing contractor fixes your drain problem. (Sounds like your Coil is not "level" in the air-handler. Or the primary pan is cracked. Or connections in your pvc is not tight.) Have them intall a float switch in your emergency pan and a "SS1" or any style of "in-line" float switch in your drain line. These two items will shut down your system if you have drain problems in the future. Which will prevent any further damage.
Professional Member
I bet your installing contractor would respond to a water in the emergency pan on a new system
If in fact he is Licensed, insured and bonded.
Regular Guest
You got that right!!! I would be running to that one. And if it is in the attic. SPRINTING to it--Don't wanna buy sheetrock and a paint job for anyone.Originally Posted by captube
Professional Member*
And NATE approved....
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Regular Guest
I'll try to answer a few questions and attach a picture.
I should have said the main drain is flowing, correctly was an assumption on my part, point well taken.
Company is licensed, bonded and insured, one of the best in Dallas, employee owned.
I believe I do have a float switch, see pic.
The main drain goes to indoor plumbing and out to septic.
Thanks for the comments.
Professional Member*
I don't recognize what they did with the trap. Or what kind it is. Is it one of those prefab with a switch?
There is a red dial looking thing. Is the trap open to the atmosphere on the upstream side. We know the secondary trap is primed by now if it is leaking into the pan.
We would be in a hurry to look at that install if we did it. Like said before, we don't want to buy a new ceiling.
Beware of advice given by some guy on the Internet.
Professional Member*
Is the outlet of the trap capped? It should be open to act like a vent.
Beware of advice given by some guy on the Internet.
Professional Member
Is the coil level ? Goodman gas furnace?
TXV looks like spaghetti.
Professional Member
Ask them how they (or anybody) propose to remove the evap coil in the future. Looks like a poor install. From what I can see in that picture.
Regular Guest
Mr. Wrangler-
Could you elaborate a little for me? Should there have been some kind of a panel or an access door to get the EC out, what should/could have been done in your opinion?
Thanks
Professional Member
The access panel is there. But,the trapeze (the support for the unit) has what looks like 3/8 all thread rod directly in front of the coil access door. From what I can make out in the picture, you'd have to remove that first,then what would support the unit? Also, the primary drain just doesn't look quite right.
Regular Guest
The tech came out and drained the pan looking for a leak. He said the area around the TXV where hot meets cold was sweating. He insulated and caulked that and told me to keep an eye on it. Will get pics for anyone interested.
Thanks
Professional Member
I'm not trying to nit pick this install but, you have other issues with this job. It looks a bit on the sloppy side to me.
Professional Member*
That's an EZ Trap. It has a float switch installed and wired to shut the system down in case the drain backs up. The red dial looking thing is a cap that can be removed to use the brush that comes with the setup to clean the pan drain. The outlet is vented by a black plastic tube with an ear for holding the cleaning brush. It's a neat system. The only problem with it is that it won't detect a blockage upstream.
Professional Member*
it looks like crap to me. he should fix it right.why should you be up there looking around. he's the mechanic not you. i'm sure you paid someone good money, let them monitor it.
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