How to Know if AC Drain Line is Clogged (2020)

How to Tell if you Have a Clogged AC Drain Line

When you live in South Florida, one of the most underappreciated things is a home’s air conditioning system.

It provides your home with cool air, day after day, to keep your entire family comfortable and maintain the good indoor air quality that you are used to.

Suddenly, it stops working one day as the harsh sun in Florida continues to heat up the outdoors.

Although it may seem like it’s the end of the world, there could be a simple fix. There might be a clogged AC drain line that is causing the problem.

Fortunately, there are a couple of ways to tell that you have a clogged drain line before your unit completely stops working, Keep reading to find out what some of the tell-tale signs are.

Full Drain Pan

Condensation begins to collect on the AC’s evaporation unit as the air conditioner is pulling humid air from your house.

Moisture coming from the AC’s evaporation unit will drip into the drain pan. Then the drain pan drains via the drain line.

One of the regular tasks in air conditioning maintenance is draining the drip pan. However, it could be a sign that there is a problem if the pan is collecting a higher amount of water.

Dripping Water

If you have a leaking air conditioner, you might be feeling a bit panicked. However, it could just be a sign that the drain line on your AC is backed up.

If you don’t check the drain pan regularly, it might leak and overflow.

However, a leak can also mean your drain line is connected or damaged. To make sure, call a professional.

Wet Walls

When you have a clogged AC drain line, water still needs to come from somewhere. Normally, it will drip from the unit. However, if there isn’t any place for water to go, it could seep into your wall close to the unit.

If the wall feels damp when you touch it or is discolored, that is a sure sign that you have an obstructed drain line.

If you notice this, act quickly. If you leave this unchecked, you might end up having to replace your wall, or the studs might rot. When it happens on the upper floor, the ceilings in the rooms below could become damaged.

Noticeable Mildew and Mold

The warm, damp environment caused by an air conditioner that is not draining properly creates the perfect environment for mildew formation.

Doing air conditioning maintenance regularly, like cleaning the filers, will help curb the growth of mildew.

However, if you have a clogged drain line, those efforts will not prevent mildew and mold growth.

If you see any mildew growing around or on your AC unit, you might have an AC drain line that is clogged.

A Strange Smell

However, mildew may not grow in a place where you can see it. It could be rooted deep inside of your air conditioning unit.

So if you notice a musty smell in your house – no matter how thoroughly you clean – your air conditioner might be the culprit.

Do You Have A Clogged AC Drain Line?

Do you have to deal with any of the above symptoms? If so, you could have a clogged AC drain line.

Call us if you have any of these signs. We would be happy to get your AC unit back up and running again so that your family can be comfortable once again.