SO I live in a condo and I have water based a/c. Since last week, the water gathers in the tray and later in the pan. I know summer has been really hot and probably all people in the building are using a/c and may be there is a condensation, but I tried everything and it's still going.

1. the pan was checked and maintained with 2 tablets 2 months ago, and I put new tablets and flashed with hot water after pumping water out

2. there is not much rust on the unit itself (3years old unit, now rust started as we went for little weekend get away, and water was standing in the pan)

3. I have snaked the pipes from a/c nothing came out, even put little pipe opener liquid, seems nothing is stuck

4. the side "ventilate pipe" is open for ventilation

5. a person came, drained the water out, said we need to put new filter, added isolation tape to water pipes that were really sweating, and assured we will be all good. in 36h problem came back, and now no matter what we do (I even got the pump for a/c clogs and condensation and use it 2x a day, taking 2-3 buckets out and later changing sides and pushing just air in), problem occurs every ca 12h (overflowing tray) and later pan.

I think water rises somewhere and from the bottom trough the rubber hose overflows the pan as opposed to dripping from top. Nothing seems though to block the pipe nor drain line. It also doesn't matter if a/c is on or off, problem is same.

Now we live on lower floor and may be something is coming from other floors (accumulated condensation or something). This never happened before, and even if it's temporary due to heat, what can we do to protect ourselves (we are leaving for 3 days and I am horrified thinking what we will see after coming back).

ps. water in pan is little cloudy but clear, when I start to pump it out from drain, color changes (light red to red with a lot of rust particles, eventually on 4th bucket nothing can be pump out).

ps2. detailed pictures of my whole a/c in this thread that was solved tanks to you guys- THANK YOU!!!
http://www.doityourself.com/forum/ai...ter-based.html

 

https://www.amazon.com/DiversiTech-G...+drain+cleaner

Has anyone tried blowing out the drain line?

I service some IEC chill water air handlers that look very much like that. The ones that I service have a float switch located in an odd place...



I don't see the small panel in your pictures but it took me a while to locate this switch so I thought that I might mention it in case you suddenly get no cooling.

 

Since you are on a chilled water system.... the condensate drain system is probably shared by many units too.
Have you checked with your neighbors to see if they're having the same problem ?
The problem may be out of your reach.

Carefully blowing the line out may work.... or.... it will blow water into someone else's unit.

 

Where do I stick the gun's attachment (sorry just wondering for best results, if you can attach picture or point it out here to which pipe). So I shouldn't try to suck the way out at all just try to blow it/ push it further?
Thank you so much

 

yes, I am fairly sure that other neighbours are also facing this issue. so far I got this pomp https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and I am waiting for shop-vac vacuum.

so from what I am understanding, I actually shouldn't suck the water out, but try to blow it?
Is there any way to shut something off, so it doesn't leak during time we are not here?

Thanks again

 

Looking at your picture there is a rubber hose with a low spot (trap) in it. That is your drain line.
We can only see the drain line system in your picture. Where does the white pipe connect ?

 

so it connects to the pipe from outside and connects with cross like {ventilate open pipe (i have the cap just for cleaning took off), down to drain, side pipe I am not sure where it goes.

Once again, thank you for taking time to help me figure it out.

 

I added lettering to your picture.

Which one goes to the drain hose ?
It looks like there is a water level when looking down the cleanout hole.... is that correct ?

 

A (connects directly to rubber hose) is extension of E and connects to C (C ends with admittance valve that I took off now, and yes seems water is there, but goes straight down and should connect to drain pipe directly underneath). D=B and I don't know where that goes.

 

If that is a drain pipe you will need to get a plumber in to snake the pipe, or snake it yourself.

 

Ok... B=D. That means something else is draining into the same drain stack you are using. Since you are at the lowest point in that cluster and there is a visible water level.... your drain won't drain. It has nowhere to go.

Actually if it's clogged enough the water from your neighbors will drain out your drain pan.

Like pugsi mentioned.... that line going down needs to be snaked out. Don't bother blowing any air down there as it won't help.

 

Thanks. I tried to snake it few times, even opened the ventilation cap, but it seems snake goes in either line but not straight down to drain under

 

Sometimes you need a snake with a spring type flex head that follows around curves and elbows.

 

I kept sneaking and pumping and it went. Thank you again!

 

You're welcome.

You may find that this needs to be done on a routine basis.
You could make it a yearly maintenance item.