Because Houston air is so humid, a residential air conditioner can pull gallons of water out of the air on a summer day. All of it runs out through a small PVC condensate drain line, and in this climate that line grows algae and sludge fast. When it clogs, the water has nowhere to go.
Best case, a float switch shuts the system off on the hottest afternoon of the week. Worst case, the pan overflows and the water comes through the ceiling below an attic unit. We clear and flush AC condensate drain lines, check the primary and secondary drain pans, test float and safety switches, and make sure the line is sloped and trapped the way it should be.
A drain line cleaning takes far less time than drying out drywall, and it is part of every maintenance visit we do. If your system shut off with water in the pan, or you have seen a stain on the ceiling under the air handler, call us before it gets worse.
Signs you need drain line cleaning service
The AC shut off and there is water in the drain pan
A water stain on the ceiling below the attic unit
Water dripping from a pipe over a window
A musty smell near the indoor unit
Standing water around a closet or garage air handler
Residential and commercial. Free estimates, and a 10-year part warranty on the parts we install.
01Condensate drain line clearing and flushing
02Primary and secondary drain pan check
03Float and safety switch testing
04Drain line slope and trap check
05Included with every maintenance visit
Four steps, no surprises
How a drain line cleaning call works
The same process on a single mini split or a commercial rooftop.
STEP 01
Tell us what is happening
Call or send the quote form with the problem, the address and the kind of system. Emergencies go straight to the phone.
STEP 02
We measure before we touch it
A technician tests the system on site. Temperatures, pressures, airflow and electrical, so the repair fixes the cause and not the symptom.
STEP 03
You get the number first
The estimate is free. You hear what we found and what it costs before any work starts.
STEP 04
We fix it and prove it
The work gets done, the system gets tested again, and we do not leave until it is running right.
Financing through Hearth
Pay for a new system monthly
Financing through Hearth lets you check your monthly payment options without affecting your credit score, so a failed system does not have to wait for a cash decision.
Houston humidity sends a lot of water through the line, and warm, wet PVC is a perfect place for algae and sludge to grow. Regular flushing and a properly trapped line keep it running.
Why did my AC shut off with water in the pan?
A float or safety switch did its job. The drain clogged, the pan filled, and the switch cut power to prevent a ceiling leak. Clearing the drain usually gets the system running again.
How often should the condensate drain be cleaned?
At least once a year in Houston, and twice a year for attic units or systems that have clogged before.
Is drain line cleaning part of maintenance?
Yes. We clear the condensate drain on every maintenance visit.
