Preventing AC drain backup
- , by Trudy Chuoke Trudy Chuoke
Many years ago I had a persistent leak that was in my closet. I lived in a two story home and my AC unit was right above my closet. Going up into the attic I discovered that the drip pan was overflowing and that’s why I was the getting water stains. Well thinking this was just a normal overflow problem I researched and found out that pouring bleach down the drainpipe was the answer. But it wasn’t. I had let the slime and grime build up in the pipe until it was completely clogged up. So, it cost me a visit from a pro and a service call I could have avoided if I had kept up with the maintenance. So let me share a few tips to keep your drain running smoothly.
Rectorseal makes AC Pan Treatment. They used to make ACTabsEE which were two tablets in a plastic package that you placed into the drain pan. Now they make these individual tablets that come 30 to a bottle and look like an Alka Seltzer tablet. Let me tell you what they do. Since they are chlorine based, they reduced mold and bacteria growth in a constant wet pan. By reducing mold and bacteria A/C pan treatment improves the air quality in your home. Keeping the sludge down in the pan will keep the drain clear and flowing. It’s just that simple.
So let’s find the pan on the unit. The one that I had in the attic was easy to find because it was off to the side and completely open. But in my new house the A/C unit is in the garage and it’s much smaller. But the pan will be underneath the coils in your unit. You may even have a type of trap that you can put the tablets directly into and not into the pan. That’s what I have.
While you have the A/C door open and are looking at the pan- check out the coils. Are they clean and dust free? If not your A/C might be working harder than its needs to cool your home. You can clean them yourself by using K.O. Dirt Blaster. This is a degreaser that doesn’t have to be rinsed off. Originally made for cleaning window unit coils, this product can clean the coils on the inside unit. Keeping a clean Merv6 or Merv 8 in the unit will keep the coils clean and the dust down inside the house.
Do you have mildew stains on the ceiling around the AC vents? There is such a simple way to get rid of them. As long as your ceiling is white, use a product called Zep Mold and Mildew Stain Remover. Cover the floor with plastic painters drop cloths, underneath the AC vent. Now spray the around the vent with the stain with Zep. Spray completely and let it drip onto the plastic drop cloths underneath. Do not scrub – there is no need – Zep will clean up those stains as it air dries.
Next week I want to update you on taking care of the unit outside. It’s not hard, I promise.
Now to the email….
Question: A few years ago, I bought a product from you that would remove stains from a red brick house. You just sprayed it on, scrub and then rinsed it off. I need to clean some areas around the house, and I threw away the container- can you help?
Answer: That product is called Acid Magic. It’s the perfect answer for removing hard water stains on the outside of a masonry home. Let me refresh your memory on how to clean with Acid Magic. Wet the area that you need to clean. Even though Acid Magic is buffered make sure you wear gloves and eye protection. If you get it on your clothes, it might do damage. Leave a hose running close by. I like to put Acid Magic in a quart sized spray bottle. Then I spray an area that I can clean quickly. When you spray it on- Acid Magic will foam up. Let it work for a couple of minutes (do not let it dry on the surface) and then scrub with a “plastic bristle” brush. If you use a metal bristle brush it will rust and leave rust stains. Once you clean the area, rinse completely with that garden hose you had running. And then move to the next area. Good luck, call if you have any questions.