Condensate Help

[Chris Stichter]

A couple of questions...

1. Is it ever ok to see rust staining from the condensate termination?

2. Where is the secondary condensate for the air handler? I could not find it...Is this newbie missing something or are they installing these units differently from how I was taught:confused: ?

[Rick Hurst]

Looks like some hack has been working on it. The rust you see is probably from an old emergency pan that was replaced.

Secondary is probably covered over with that mastic. That flue is too close to that condensate line for sure.

Is that condensate pan not strapped to the unit?

rick

[Chris Stichter]

Rick,

This is a KB home....5 yrs old. The pan is not physically attached to the unit. It is "positioned" under the unit, pitched to the drain side and secured by a 2x4 that is nailed to the platform.

[Jerry Peck]

Yeah, the secondary is probably behind that tape and pookie, and it probably was not used because they could not easily get it to fit in there with that vent installed there - so they just left it out and covered it up.

[Chris Stichter]

Thanks guys...any thoughts on the rust at the termination point from the primary? I see that alot down here.

[Jerry Peck]

Are you sure it is rust? And not just brown staining from the goo which grows in those condensate lines?

[Chris Stichter]

Jerry,

I'm not sure...that may be the case. I have seen worse cases and it definetely was rust from the coil or the pan. There is enough going on here to call it out for further review anyway.

[Jim Luttrall]

Are you sure that is the primary drain and not the emergency pan drain?
Around here is is unusual to see the primary drain at the outside since the primary goes into the sewer.
If you see rust at the secondary or emergency pan line, then that indicates a problem since it should be dry except when there is a problem in the primary.
If it is the primary... then maybe not a problem but I would still be suspicious that there is some rust going on in the unit or drain line.

[Chris Stichter]

Jim,

Yes. I was able to locate the emergency pan drain in a separate location. Those types of installs are common here in Az.


If I hear how this turns out (I rarley do) I let you all know.