Shawn
New Member
Here's the scoop and I'd appreciate your help!
Background: We have a 2 story house in S. Texas. Our home and A/C unit is 5 years old. We have Trane units w/a gas furnace. Our (2) units are inside our attic.
Intial problem: Our first floor ceiling I notice a stain and wet spot. It is the size of a dollar bill. The closest water source is our washing machine upstairs.
1st call for help: I call the plumber. He cuts a hole in the ceiling and find the horizontal drain pipe sweating or condensating. The drain pipe is cool. He then cuts a hole behind our washing machine. He says the washing machine and A/C drain are tied in together. He also goes into our attic to look at our units for anything unusual. He notes that everything looks fine and insulated where it needs to be. He then fills the drain, with water, to the top of the washing machine drain. He lets it sit and checks for leaks. No leaks.
2nd call for help: I call the HVAC. I have our units services twice a year. They blow out the drain and put bleach water during those times. My A/C guys checks out the regular stuff...clogs, temperatures at coil, water temp. Everything checks out.
Note: The A/C unit is approximately 20 feet away from the horizontal sweating pipe. Upstairs the vertical pipe before the sweating part, is completely dry.
This is our theory (tell me what you think). Some where after the point of the sweating drain....there is a clog that is slowing the draining process. Because the cold condensate, from the A/C, is allowed to stand a bit instead of flowing through like a normal drain....it begins to sweat due to the temperature differential.
Any ideas? Help me solve my mystery so I can fix the holes in my sheetrock.
Background: We have a 2 story house in S. Texas. Our home and A/C unit is 5 years old. We have Trane units w/a gas furnace. Our (2) units are inside our attic.
Intial problem: Our first floor ceiling I notice a stain and wet spot. It is the size of a dollar bill. The closest water source is our washing machine upstairs.
1st call for help: I call the plumber. He cuts a hole in the ceiling and find the horizontal drain pipe sweating or condensating. The drain pipe is cool. He then cuts a hole behind our washing machine. He says the washing machine and A/C drain are tied in together. He also goes into our attic to look at our units for anything unusual. He notes that everything looks fine and insulated where it needs to be. He then fills the drain, with water, to the top of the washing machine drain. He lets it sit and checks for leaks. No leaks.
2nd call for help: I call the HVAC. I have our units services twice a year. They blow out the drain and put bleach water during those times. My A/C guys checks out the regular stuff...clogs, temperatures at coil, water temp. Everything checks out.
Note: The A/C unit is approximately 20 feet away from the horizontal sweating pipe. Upstairs the vertical pipe before the sweating part, is completely dry.
This is our theory (tell me what you think). Some where after the point of the sweating drain....there is a clog that is slowing the draining process. Because the cold condensate, from the A/C, is allowed to stand a bit instead of flowing through like a normal drain....it begins to sweat due to the temperature differential.
Any ideas? Help me solve my mystery so I can fix the holes in my sheetrock.