High Humidity Problems: How Condensate Issues Can Leave You Sweating

Removing heat from your home is only half of your air conditioner's job. As the evaporator coil absorbs heat energy from the surrounding air, the lower temperatures will cause water to condense onto the coils. As a result, the cooler air around the coils will also be much drier, reducing humidity in your home and helping you stay more comfortable.

Of course, higher humidity means more water for your system to extract. On very humid days, your air conditioner may produce a surprising amount of condensation. Some smart thermostats will also turn on the air conditioner for dehumidification purposes, adding even more condensate. Unfortunately, this excess water can sometimes overwhelm your drainage system and create major issues.

Understanding AC Condensate Problems

Residential split-unit central air conditioning systems typically use either gravity-feed or pumped condensate systems. If your air conditioner is in your attic or a utility closet, you probably have a simple gravity system that feeds directly into your drain. Basement air conditioners are usually below the lowest drain in the home, so these units require a pump to move their condensate.

Whatever the case, the condensate line must be clean and able to flow freely. These lines sometimes clog since condensation can pick up dust, debris, rust, or other contaminants from the evaporator coils. Once the line clogs, the system typically trips a float switch and shuts off. A faulty pump on pumped systems is another potential failure point.

Recognizing the Symptoms of Condensate Issues

Overflows are likely the worst consequence of a clogged condensate line or a faulty pump. If your system continues running despite issues with its drainage system, water may overflow the drip pan and damage anything around the AC unit. While these overflows typically aren't a disaster in basements, they can become a major problem for attic systems.

Fortunately, most modern systems will shut down before this point. You may have a condensate issue if your system frequently turns off on high-humidity days. If you have an intermittent clog or slow-running condensate drain, your air conditioner may shut down before completing its cycle and restart as the line clears. This situation may produce inconsistent cooling or unusual behavior.

Diagnosing Clogged Condensate Lines and Failed Pumps

If you can see that your condensate line is clogged up, you can try cleaning it yourself. Condensate line cleaning should be a part of your routine maintenance plan, so staying on top of this task will help prevent clogs and other problems. On the other hand, there may not be any clear water backup, or cleaning the line may fail to get the drainage system working smoothly.

In these cases, you should contact a professional HVAC contractor to diagnose your air conditioner's drainage system. An expert can check for problems with the drain lines, drain pump (if present), and float switch, locating the faulty component and ensuring that your system can handle even the most humid summer days. Reach out to an AC repair service near you to learn more.

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