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  1. #1
    John Bernard's Avatar
    John Bernard Guest

    Default No overflow drain - just cutoff switch

    Things change all the time and builders get cheaper - Home built in 2008 in Round Rock, TX. Question

    Homeowner had the condensate line blocked - water in the living area

    There is no drip pan, or secondary drain - only a cutoff switch - whch failed. Normally there's a cutoff switch in the drain pan......

    Is this configuration now adequate?

    John

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  2. #2
    James Duffin's Avatar
    James Duffin Guest

    Default Re: No overflow drain - just cutoff switch

    Here is what the NC code says. It looks like your situation is permitted even though it is not a good idea IMO.

    307.2.3 Auxiliary and secondary drain systems. In addition
    to the requirements of Section 307.2.1, a secondary
    drain or auxiliary drain pan shall be required for each cooling
    or evaporator coil or fuel-fired appliance that produces
    condensate, where damage to any building components will
    occur as a result of overflow from the equipment drain pan
    or stoppage in the condensate drain piping. One of the following
    methods shall be used:

    1. An auxiliary drain pan with a separate drain shall be
    provided under the coils on which condensation will
    occur. The auxiliary pan drain shall discharge to a
    conspicuous point ofdisposal to alert occupants in the
    event of a stoppage ofthe primary drain. The pan shall
    have a minimum depth of 1.5 inches (38 mm), shall
    not be less than 3 inches (76 mm) larger than the unit
    or the coil dimensions in width and length and shall be
    constructed of corrosion-resistant material. Metallic
    pans shall have a minimum thickness of not less than
    0.0276-inch (0.7 mm) galvanized sheet metal. Nonmetallic
    pans shall have a minimum thickness of not
    less than 0.0625 inch (1.6 mm).

    2. A separate overflow drain line shall be connected to
    the drain pan provided with the equipment. Such
    overflow drain shall discharge to a conspicuous point
    of disposal to alert occupants in the event of a stoppage
    of the primary drain. The overflow drain line
    shall connect to the drain pan at a higher level than the
    primary drain connection.

    3. An auxiliary drain pan without a separate drain line
    shall be provided under the coils on which condensate
    will occur. Such pan shall be equipped with a
    water-level detection device conforming to UL 508
    that will shut off the equipment served prior to overflow
    of the pan. The auxiliary drain pan shall be constructed
    in accordance with Item 1 of this section.

    4. A water level detection device conforming to UL 508
    shall be provided that will shut off the equipment
    served in the event that the primary drain is blocked.
    The device shall be installed in the primary drain line
    upstream of the primary drain line trap, the overflow
    drain line, or in the equipment-supplied drain pan,
    located at a point higher than the primary drain line
    connection and below the overflow rim of such pan.
    Exception: Fuel-fired appliances that automatically
    shut down operation in the event of a stoppage in the
    condensate drainage system.


  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Spring Hill (Nashville), TN
    Posts
    5,851

    Default Re: No overflow drain - just cutoff switch

    Quote Originally Posted by John Bernard View Post
    Things change all the time and builders get cheaper - Home built in 2008 in Round Rock, TX. Question

    Homeowner had the condensate line blocked - water in the living area

    There is no drip pan, or secondary drain - only a cutoff switch - whch failed. Normally there's a cutoff switch in the drain pan......

    Is this configuration now adequate?

    John
    Well, I think that the answer to this question can be found with the water that is in the living area!

    I'm guessing that the secondary drain on the unit had the cutoff switch on it?

    If the interior of the home could be damaged by condensation you always want to see the unit with a pan under it. Then place the cutoff switch in the pan. Don't forger that the secondary drain on the unit also needs to be connected and appropriately drained.

    The internal pans that are built in the units rust out all the time. This is why the pan is so important, when they leak the water flows into the pan.

    Scott Patterson, ACI
    Spring Hill, TN
    www.traceinspections.com

  4. #4
    James Duffin's Avatar
    James Duffin Guest

    Default Re: No overflow drain - just cutoff switch

    I agree with Scott....you need a drain pan under an A/C coil. #4 in my first post says it ok not to have one if you have a switch but as you can see it is not a good idea.


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