Furnace Condensate Drain Line Freezing

Don t let your condensate line drain against the side of your home.

Furnace condensate drain line freezing. When the condensate drain lines freeze a residential furnace repair is the best option to thaw the line and check to make sure your indoor unit and its vital components were not damaged. There are a few things that can prevent future freezing from occurring with a scheduled furnace service call. Furnace condensate lines in the state can now be routed into the home s sanitary drain. Shortening the drain pipe to give water less space in which to freeze can also be effective.

Condensate drain line frozen condensate line frozen drain line furnace heat tape high efficiency furnace hvac ice melt insulation winter 0 with temperatures dropping condensate drain lines have a higher chance of freezing. If there are clogs anywhere in the condensate line the system will freeze. Today a plumber figured out that my heater is 90 efficient produces lots of condensate and the drain line had frozen. Last night my heat forced air suddenly stopped.

Drain problems can be caused when dirt or other forms of debris clog up the drainage system. We went outside and saw the drain line was about 2 feet long of 2 pvc mounted vertically about 6 inches off the ground. In north carolina code officials responded to last winter s troubles by amending the building code to allow just that. During periods of snow verify that snow hasn t risen to the level of the drain line where it can block it and cause further freezing.

It can also be a result of loose drain lines and pipes. Cut your condensate line close to your house so the water drains before freezing. The vast majority of your condensate line should be inside your home where it s warm. Just saw off the portion of the line that is frozen.

Prevent frozen furnace condensate drains. The moisture is drained through pipes leading to the floor drain. Condensate switches imc 307 2 3 states that all hvac equipment that produces condensate must have either a secondary drain line or a condensate overflow switch a secondary drain pan with a secondary drain line or condensate switch or some combination of these installations should be used to prevent overflow if the primary drain line blocks. Drain the furnace condensate into the sewer line instead of pumping it outside the house.

The best way to stop condensate drain line freeze is to use weather proof sleeves placed around the drain. An easy cure for this is to routinely check the drain system of your ac.