Thread: 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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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.

Originally Posted by John Bernard

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.

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.