What's This Thing?

A condensate drain is like a designated driver for your HVAC system, quietly whisking away the moisture that the system produces. At the risk of oversimplifying, think of this way. If you have a nice tall glass of iced tea on a hot day and let it sit on the counter, it will actually cool the air right around it, although given the size of the room, you wouldn't notice it. What you WILL notice is the condensation that forms on the outside of the glass. (Can you hear momma saying, "Use a coaster!") Somewhere inside your house, probably in the attic, there is an air handler for your HVAC. Inside it is an evaporator coil. The refrigerant runs through that coil and and the blower moves air over it. The coil cools the air, but the process produces condensation. What to do with this water? It's better outside than inside - hence the condensate drain!

Positioned near your HVAC unit, the condensate drain is usually a small PVC pipe that runs from the unit to the outside of your house. It's installed with a slight downward slope, so gravity can do its thing and keep the water flowing out. If it's not installed correctly or if it clogs, you might end up with a backup, and trust me, nobody wants a surprise indoor waterfall. So, next time you see water dripping from that little pipe on a warm summer day, you'll know it's keeping your home dry and comfy!