Why is my air conditioner leaking inside my car?

One of the most common causes of water dripping inside the car is because of a clogged drain. If the evaporator drain becomes restricted, the water backs up in the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning) case. Sometimes if excess water remains in the case, some of it can blow out of the AC vents.

How do I unclog my car AC drain pipe?

Directions:

Turn off the power to your HVAC unit.
Find your AC drain line.
Push the stiff, thin brush into the end of the drain line.
Attach the end of your wet/dry vacuum to the end of the AC drain line.
After you’ve run the vacuum for about a minute, remove the wet/dry vac and head indoors.
Locate the vent tee.

Where is the AC drain line located in a car?

The AC drain hose or evaporator drain hose, as it’s often referred to, is located on the engine compartment side of the firewall. On most domestic and foreign vehicles, the AC evaporator is inside the cabin, directly in between the firewall and the lower portion of the dashboard.

What is a evaporator drain tube?

The evaporator drain tube allows your air conditioning system to dispose of the condensation created by the air conditioning unit’s evaporator coil. That happens in your car as well, but the evaporator drain tube drains it from the system and out of the vehicle.

How much does it cost to unclog an AC drain line?

Clogged Drain Line To flush the line or repair it can cost anywhere from $75-$250. In the case that the evaporator coil needs replacing, you are would pay between $400 to $950.

How do I know if my AC drain line is clogged?

A clogged AC drain line symptoms include:

Musty, moldy smell near your indoor unit or in air from the registers/vents.
Standing water near the indoor unit.
Water damage in areas near the indoor unit.
AC system is not cooling your home.
AC system shuts down or doesn’t turn on.

What happens if my AC drain is clogged?

When your drain line clogs, the water that your air conditioner produces has nowhere to go. Likewise, sitting water or water vapor around your air conditioning unit could result in further corrosion or rust of metal parts that make contact with the water or are located near it.

What causes a clogged AC drain line?

An AC pipe usually develops a clog due to algae. Because of warm air that blows over the cold evaporator coil of the HVAC, the drain pipe can get pretty humid; and along with the condensate traveling through the pipe, these conditions are perfect for algae to thrive.

How do I stop my AC drain from clogging?

You can prevent a clogged AC drain by performing routine cleaning. By pouring a ¼ cup of vinegar into your AC’s drain line, you will kill any mold, algae, mildew, and other forms of bacteria or fungi, preventing it from forming a buildup and causing a clog. Repeat this monthly for the best results.

Can you use Drano to unclog an AC drain?

In theory Drano could unblock a clog but this is designed for food and grease, which you aren’t going to find in your AC drain pipes. So just like you could pop the cap off a bottle of beer using a hammer in just the right way, it’s not the best way to open a bottle of beer or the best use of a hammer.

Is bleach or vinegar better for AC drain line?

We recommend using vinegar instead of a bleach solution because bleach can be harmful to your AC system if your drain line has copper tubing. Using vinegar will not damage your system. Spilling bleach can also ruin carpet or clothing, whereas vinegar will just leave a strong odor.

Where do you put vinegar in air conditioner?

All it takes is 1/4 cup of vinegar, and a couple minutes of your time:

Find your drain line. It should be near your drain pan, located near the air handler.
Remove the cap.
Pour in 1/4 cup of distilled vinegar.
Place the cap back on the drain line.

How do you pour vinegar in an AC drain line?

Flush the drain line with distilled white vinegar. Slowly pour one cup of distilled white vinegar into the drain line’s opening and let the solution sit for 30 minutes. Alternatives to vinegar include hot water, peroxide, or bleach.

What can I use to clean my AC drain?

You do that by pouring a 1/4 cup of distilled vinegar through the AC condensate drain line. We recommend distilled vinegar because its acidity clears the clog faster. You may also use hot water, dish soap, or peroxide if you cannot stand the smell of vinegar.

Can you pour bleach down AC drain line?

Just pour a cup of bleach in the drain line’s access opening near the indoor air conditioning unit. This will kill any algae, mold or mildew that has formed in the pipe. If the condensate drain line is clogged, you will need to use a wet-dry vacuum or a special pump to unclog the line.

Is it safe to pour bleach down AC drain?

It’s going to corrode! Using bleach or vinegar can be especially risky if you think your AC drain line is clogged. If the drain line is clogged, the corrosive mixture will simply back up in your drain line and flow into your drain pan, which in turn can damage your evaporator coil.

Can I use bleach to clean my air conditioner?

Cleaning your air conditioner on a regular basis can be good for both you and your air conditioner. When bleach is used as a cleaning product, it can be extremely effective on your AC unit. Bleach works well because it uses the process of oxidation. Bleach has the power to clean, disinfect and kill mold.

How much bleach should I put in AC drain line?

Mix 2 tablespoons bleach with 1/2 cup hot water and pour it down the drain pipe leading from the evaporator coil to the condenser pan. Leave the diluted bleach in the condenser pan to continue to kill algae and bacteria throughout the season.

How often should you put bleach in AC drain line?

You can help your air conditioner between regular cleanings by pouring a cup of bleach down the opening of the drain inside the unit. This should be performed every three to six months to clean out any harmful material that may be building up and kill algae, mold, or other growths.

How do you unclog an AC drain with bleach?

Using Bleach in Your AC Drain Simply open up the drain line clean out or T on your inside unit and pour a 50/50 warm water and bleach mixture OR warm water and vinegar solution through the line. Be sure to use a minimum of 2 cups once or twice per year.