Drain Lines

• Drain lines are an important part of an AC unit. The drain line removes the condensation that naturally occurs in an air conditioner from the unit and away from your home. Unfortunately, AC drain lines can become clogged with debris, dirt and mold. When the drain line becomes clogged, the condensation will back up into the unit and pour out into your home. This can cause your air conditioner to not work properly and cause water damage in your home.
  
  

Remove Clogs

• Unplug the AC unit from the electrical outlet. If the AC unit is hardwired into your electrical system, switch the breaker for the AC to the OFF position. Remove the front panel from the AC unit by unscrewing the screws that hold the panel in place. Place the screws in a safe place until needed. The drain line is typically found at the end of the drain pan directly below the condenser coil. Locate the drain line and disconnect it. Connect the appropriate size nozzle attachment to your wet/dry vacuum. These attachments are available for purchase at home improvement stores. The nozzle attachment must fit snugly into the drain line. Connect the wet/dry vacuum to the drain line and turn the vacuum on suck. The wet/dry vacuum will suck the clog out of the drain line. Alternatively, attach the proper size nozzle attachment to a water hose. Attach that end to the drain line and the other end to your faucet. Turn on the water and push the clog out of the drain line.
  
  Once the clog has been removed, disconnect the wet/dry vacuum from the drain line, reattach the drain line and secure the front panel back onto the AC unit.
  
  

Remove Mold

• As a safety precaution, turn off all power to the AC unit. Remove the front panel from the air conditioner. Depending on your type of unit, you will either have to remove screws that are securing the panel or the panel may just slide off. Locate and disconnect the drain line. The drain is normally located below the condenser coil, at the end of the drain pan. Refer to your owner's manual for more information.
  
  Create a solution of equal parts bleach and hot water. Attach a funnel to the drain line and pour the bleach-water mixture into the line. Allow the mixture to sit in the line for 15 to 30 minutes.
  
  Attach the proper size nozzle to a water hose. These attachments are available for purchase at home improvement and hardware stores. Secure the water hose to the drain line. Attach the other end of the water hose to a faucet. Turn the hot water on and flush out the drain line. Allow the water to run for several minutes. Detach the water hose, reattach the drain line and secure the front panel.