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Air Conditioning condensate leaks, health hazards, mold risk, repairs
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• Air Conditioning condensate leaks, health hazards, mold risk, repairs
• Air Conditioning Condensate Handling Defects
• A/C condensate piping, leaks, hazards

This chapter of "How to Inspect the Central Air Conditioning or Cooling System" discusses the inspection of air conditioning condensate systems, including air conditioning condensate leaks, health hazards from air conditioner leaks, the related mold risk, and condensate leak repairs, as well as condensate piping, traps, drains, condensate pumps, and the detection and hazards of air conditioning system condensate leaks in buildings.

Condensate leak health and safety concerns are reviewed. Contact us to suggest text changes and additions and, if you wish, to receive online listing and credit for that contribution. © Copyright 2008 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

CONDENSATE LEAKS - Air Conditioning System Condensate Leaks

When a cooling coil is installed atop a hot air furnace, air conditioning condensate leaks may drip onto the furnace heat exchanger.

Safety Warning about flue gas leaks: leaks onto a furnace heat exchanger can cause rust damage and holes, risking dangerous carbon monoxide leaks and requiring replacement of the heating system. Further investigation of the source of leakage and the condition of the furnace heat exchanger is needed promptly - this is a safety concern.

Condensate Line maintenance tip: If the condensate line becomes plugged system condensate overflow will spill onto and rust and possibly seriously damage the furnace heat exchanger. During system operation you should periodically confirm that condensate is being discharged properly.

This sequence of photos shows what happens when an amateur rigs up a condensate drain in an attic.

The plastic piping was not securely supported and when touched, fell apart to spill condensate into the attic floor and into the ceilings below.

Condensate leaks into an attic ceiling risk not only damage to the building but a hidden mold reservoir in the building insulation or on the attic side of the ceiling drywall below. Since this air conditioning attic system was the same one which showed the dog bowl and kitchen pot in use to catch condensate drips at the air handler unit, the inspector was not remiss in checking the remainder of the condensate drain line rather aggressively.

Condensate leaks from the air handler's internal drip tray (below the evaporator coil) occur if the internal drain is clogged.

When condensate wets the insulation on the interior of the blower compartment there is risk of problematic mold growth in the system.

In warm humid climates such as the Southern U.S., high levels of condensate production in the air handler unit can also result in movement of condensate downstream into the supply duct, forced there by the blower itself.



Missing air conditioning condensate trap: [example air conditioning inspection report language]: We did not see a trap on the condensate line itself - usually installed as good practice - ask your HVAC service person about this detail. It could be required for sanitary or other reasons. CONDENSATE TRAPS have several function including avoiding possible draw of unsanitary air or bacteria back into the building air supply.

Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS
AIR CONDITIONER COMPONENT PARTS
CONTROLS & SWITCHES
A/C DATA TAGS
A/C DIAGNOSTIC FAQs
A/C REFRIGERANTS
A/C TYPES, ENERGY SOURCES
RATED COOLING CAPACITY
AIR CONDITIONER BTU CHART
AIR FILTERS for HVAC SYSTEMS
AIR HANDLER UNIT
CLEANING & Legionella BACTERIA
COMPRESSOR CONDENSER
CONDENSATE HANDLING
  DRIP TRAY DEFECTS
  CONDENSATE LEAKS
  CONDENSATE PUMPS
  CONDENSATE DRAINS
  CONDENSATE TRAY CLEANING
COOL OFF HEAT Thermostat Switch
DATA TAGS on AIR CONDITIONERS
DUCT SYSTEMS
DUCTS - Asbestos
DUCT SYSTEM DEFECTS
DUCT INSULATION, Asbestos Paper
DUCTS, Asbestos Transite Pipe
DUST FROM HVAC?
FAN AUTO ON Thermostat Switch
INSPECTION LIMITATIONS
LOST COOLING CAPACITY
OPERATING TEMPERATURES
OPERATING DEFECTS
OPERATING COST
SEER RATINGS & OTHER DEFINITIONS
SYSTEM OPERATION
THERMOSTATS
CRITICAL DEFECTS

• Daniel Friedman - principal author/editor of the InspectAPedia ^TM Website
• Thanks to Mark Cramer, Tampa Florida, for assistance in technical review of the "Critical Defects" section and for the photograph of the deteriorating gray Owens Corning flex duct in a hot attic. Mr. Cramer is a Florida home inspector and home inspection educator.
• Thanks to Mike Giaquinto and Scott at SJM Inspect for technical editing remarks, 5/16/07
• Thanks to Jon Bolton, an ASHI, FABI, and otherwise certified Florida home inspector who provided photos of failing Goodman gray flex duct in a hot attic.
• Thanks to Alan Carson, Carson Dunlop, Associates, Toronto, for technical critique and for providing a copy of Carson Dunlop Weldon & Associates Technical Reference Guide to manufacturer's model and serial number information for heating and cooling equipment ($69.00 U.S.).

Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

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