How to Clean the Air Conditioner Drain Pipe at Home

The category of typical faults of split systems includes the leakage of the indoor unit, when water from it starts dripping onto the floor, and even worse onto furniture, carpet, and other interior items. If water gets into an electrical outlet or a switched on household appliance, it can lead to a short circuit and damage to expensive equipment.

The most common cause of such a breakdown is a clogged drain tube. Cleaning the air conditioner drain will help eliminate the leak, and this does not require professional knowledge and skills, but only an understanding of how the split system works. We will show you how to clean the air conditioner drain pipe yourself at home.

Reasons for Clogging the Air Conditioner Drain and Signs of the Need to Clean It

In the internal block of the split-system of any model, there is a heat exchanger-evaporator, through the tubes of which a refrigerant (Freon) flows. This unit serves to cool the air in the room.

The temperature difference between the heat exchange surfaces and the air flows created by the tangential fan leads to the formation of condensate on the evaporator, which is collected in a special sump, and from it is discharged outside through an inclined drain pipe. It has a small diameter (only 10 mm) and when it becomes clogged, the condensate drainage stops, and water, having no outlet, overflows the sump, overflowing through its edges into the room.

How to Clean the Air Conditioner Drain Yourself

Here are steps to follow when cleaning the air conditioner drain by yourself at home.

1. De-energize the air conditioner by pulling out the power plug from the outlet.
2. Disconnect the blinds and, by unscrewing the fastening screws, carefully remove the cover of the indoor unit.
3. Remove the coarse filters, rinse them well in water with dishwashing liquid dissolved in it, then dry them thoroughly.
4. Remove the pan located under the fan turbine, having previously disconnected the drain pipe and unscrewing the screws holding it. In some models of air conditioners, it is rather difficult to detach the drain pan and to do this, you will have to study the instructions or research online.
5. Thoroughly rinse the pan and clean the condensate drain hole from dirt.
6. Blow out the drainpipe with a vacuum cleaner. If there is a dense blockage in it, fill it with a syringe with a liquid for cleaning air conditioners. You can buy it in specialized stores selling climatic equipment. Leaving the liquid in the tube for 15-30 minutes, remove the dirt with a vacuum cleaner.
7. Decontaminate the drainage system by treating the tray and filters with chlorhexidine, sold in any pharmacy. The same drug must be poured into the drain tube for disinfection, and after 15 minutes rinse it with cold water.
8. Clean the evaporator and fan turbine from dust with a soft brush and a vacuum cleaner.