Cause and Effect: Clogged AC Drain Line

Air conditioner drain lines become clogged when build up of dirt or algae collect at the indoor coil. This build up is commonly seen in Arizona the most during Monsoon season. What happens in many cases is that dirt will get into the drain line due to running the system without a filter, or because the a/c filter isn't changed for a long period of time.

This relates to the Arizona monsoon season because dust storms come hand-in-hand with monsoons and are the cause of large amounts of dirt and dust flying around in the air and making way into our a/c systems. This dirt may start as a small amount or a tiny pebble but eventually, it builds up and over time. This build up can cause an air conditioner drain line to become clogged.

Clogged AC Line DamageSeen here in the picture, is a real life example of what can happen if the a/c drain line is clogged. This picture was taken at a customer's home. When the drain line is clogged, the water has to go somewhere so, what you will see is a back-up of water in the drain pan which may result in serious water damage to your home. Drain lines should be cleaned by a professional at least once a year.

So, how can you tell if your home may have symptoms of a drain line clog?

• Your a/c has shut off and isn't working
• You see water leakage coming from your ceiling/attic
• Stained ceiling
• House feels muggy, more than normal

In these instances, you are recognizing signs that you may have a clogged drain line and should call a professional to come out to inspect the situation as soon as possible.

To prevent this from happening to your home's HVAC system, you should be sure to change your home's air filter every 30-60 days. Additionally, have your system tuned-up twice a year and if there is a strong monsoon and dust storm season, you should schedule a coil cleaning and drain line cleaning to combat any dirt trying to make its way into the system.