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Highrise Condensate Drain Maintenance
This question relates to a 30 year-old 15 story condominium with 150 Trane FCUs.
This is in Hawaii.
The FCUs are serviced quarterly, including new condensate tablets.
Recently there have been several clogs in the copper risers, not in the FCU drain hose.
The clogs have caused expensive water damage.
We have vacuumed out a shocking amount of algae from the riser connected to the involved units but assume cleaning the entire 15 floors of the riser might be needed, unit by unit.
We are reluctant to pressure test to avoid flooding a lower unit if a clog remains on a lower floor.
Will adding more condensate tabs help?
A dose of vinegar quarterly?
Any options beside going through each of the 150 FCUs?
Thank you for any comments.
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I like viper drain and pan spray to prevent clogs.
"Is this before or after you fired the parts cannon at it?" - senior tech
I'm tired of these mediocre "semi flammable" refrigerants. If we're going to do it let's do it right.
Unless we change direction we are likely to end up where we are going.
"It's not new, it's better than new!" Maru.
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We use Nucalgon tabs.
Is your experience with the Viper product in a highrise setting?
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Originally Posted by
keiser13
We use Nucalgon tabs.
Is your experience with the Viper product in a highrise setting?
No. I use it in single family residential and small commercial and even in refrigeration and condensing furnaces.
"Is this before or after you fired the parts cannon at it?" - senior tech
I'm tired of these mediocre "semi flammable" refrigerants. If we're going to do it let's do it right.
Unless we change direction we are likely to end up where we are going.
"It's not new, it's better than new!" Maru.
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I will give Viper a try but the copper risers are 150 feet or so long and after 30 years may need a more aggressive cleaning.
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Originally Posted by
keiser13
I will give Viper a try but the copper risers are 150 feet or so long and after 30 years may need a more aggressive cleaning.
Yeah I was thinking for preventative. I don't think it will clean an already clogged line. That sounds more like a job for drano but I don't know if it would be safe in that application.
"Is this before or after you fired the parts cannon at it?" - senior tech
I'm tired of these mediocre "semi flammable" refrigerants. If we're going to do it let's do it right.
Unless we change direction we are likely to end up where we are going.
"It's not new, it's better than new!" Maru.
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Any horizontal runs? Make sure they are well pitched with no drooping.
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The risers have no horizontal runs until the basement,
Recent clog is on 10th floor where all is vertical.
I suspect this is 30 years worth of accumulation rather than system design.
Looking for best method to do a complete cleanse to avoid future clogs.
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