where should an attic condensate line drain to?

Question

the line is for a central air conditioner and it currently draing straight into the main vent stack. There's no trap. I'm thinking this is wrong, but can't think of an alternative.

Answer 1

It would seem like this would allow some vent gas into the air handling chamber, particularly when running heat, it would create suction. Just run the drain outside into the eves or down the house onto the ground.

Answer 2

I purchased a Goodman A/C and installed it according to the directions. The evaporator was located in the attic. It didn't specify where the main drain should go, but it did say to shape the drain line so it would form a trap. Meaning that the drain tube coming out of the evaporator should go down and then back up to trap condensation and not allow sewer gasses to enter it. There was a second drain higher than the main drain that was suppose to go out of the attic and end up in a conspicuous place (so you would notice it) if the main drain were to stop up so you would be aware that the drain was stopped up and could fix it before it caused damage.... Of course the main drain tube can't end up higher than the secondary drain or the condensation will only drain out the secondary.. Hope I haven't been confusing...Hope this helps...

Answer 3

There are supposed to be two condensate lines: primary and secondary. The primary should be the one that is draining during operation of the AC. The secondary should only be draining when the primary is plugged up. The primary can simply drain to a safe location that your local jurisdiction allows; trapped, if protected from freezing. It is legal to go to a plumbing DRAIN, not a vent. The secondary line is sometimes terminated over a bathtub or a window outside so that it is observable, indicating your primary condensate is plugged. If this line is your secondary, your primary is plugged. This installation is not correct, either. You ask for an alternative. If it's a primary, it needs to run to the drain system, or another location your local jurisdiction allows. If it's a secondary, it needs to terminate at an OBSERVABLE location.

Answer 4

Most condensate drinlines go to the outside of the home. Some run the pipe to an eave and then down to the ground. Not sure if it is code in your area but, you could just put a trap in the line and leave it connected to the vent.

Answer 5

actually it is illegal in most areas for an a/c drain line to connect to a sewer line or vent pipe because of bacteria contamination..you can drain it to vent pipe but it must have an air brake...what this means is the drain line cannot physically touch or be connected to the vent line to prevent bacteria from entering a/c drain line....it should have a u trap made into the line somewhere to prevent it from sucking air back through the drain line. you make this by bending pipe into a u shape..or you can use pvc and do same thing..it should also drain to the outside of your home..it can be drained into any gutter drain line as long as it has no physical connection to any sewer line...you can also use a condensate pump to just pump water out of your home but you still have to put a u trap between unit and condensate pump

Answer 6

Run a drain line to the outside of the house and down the side of the house and into a flower bed to drain pipe. Obviously, you have to cut a whole in the siding and plywood. You have to make sure your slope is right otherwise the drain pan will fill up and flood your ceiling and rug and . . .. You can buy a little float/alarm dealy that won't allow the AC to run if the pan gets too full.

Answer 7

DON'T LET YOUR AC TECH TAKE THE SHORT CUT, SEWER VENT SHOULD BE LAST OPTION, OUTSIDE SHOULD BE FIRST. SEWER VENT IS THERE FOR REASONS, ONE IS FOR GAS TO ESCAPE WITHOUT GOING INTO THE HOUSE. IF YOUR DRAIL LINE IS IN THE VENT, WHERE DO YOU THINK ONE ESCAPE ROUTE WILL BE. DON'T BE FOOLED.