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Photograph of  cooling system condensate leaks onto heat exchanger

Air Conditioning Condensate Drip Trays, Defects, Repairs
InspectAPedia®  -    

  • Air Conditioning Condensate Drip Trays, Defects, Repairs
  • Air Conditioning Condensate Handling Defects
  • A/C condensate piping, leaks, hazards
Our site offers impartial, unbiased advice without conflicts of interest. We will block advertisements which we discover or readers inform us are associated with bad business practices, false-advertising, or junk science. Our contact info is at InspectAPedia.com/appointment.htm.

This chapter of "How to Inspect the Central Air Conditioning or Cooling System" discusses the inspection of air conditioning condensate systems, including Air Conditioning Condensate Drip Trays, Defects, Repairs as part of our review of cooling system condensate piping, traps, drains, condensate pumps, and the detection and hazards of air conditioning system condensate leaks in buildings.

Condensate leak health and safety concerns are reviewed. Contact us to suggest text changes and additions and, if you wish, to receive online listing and credit for that contribution.

© Copyright 2009 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use the links at page left to navigate this document or to go to Other Website Topics. Green links at left show where you are in our document & website.

DRIP TRAY DEFECTS - Air Conditioning Condensate Drip Tray or Condensate Overflow Pan Defects

Missing air conditioner condensate overflow pans

Photograph of  cooling system condensate leaks onto heat exchanger

A missing air conditioning system condensate drip tray risks leaks into the attic ceiling, where air conditioner condensate can damage the building or cause a (hidden) mold problem, especially if condensate is leaking onto the upper, hidden (by insulation) attic side of drywall forming a ceiling of a room located below the equipment. Both the drywall and the insulation itself may become mold reservoirs.

When an air conditioning unit is located in an attic where damage may result from air conditioning system condensate overflow from the primary condensate collection and drain equipment, an additional water-tight corrosion-resistant pan (an air conditioner condensate drip tray or "drip pan") should be installed below the air conditioning equipment to catch overflowing AC condensate should the primary AC condensate drain become clogged.

An alternative design provides one air conditioner drip pan with a standing overflow and a secondary air conditioner condensate drain. (Also, a basement air conditioning system condensate pump can overflow and spill into the living area if the condensate pump fails or if the condensate pump drain line becomes kinked or clogged.)

Improperly connected or joined air conditioner condensate drain lines and overflow pan drains

Photograph of a condensate tray drain

Air conditioning drip pan drains: The air conditioner's condensate overflow pan or tray requires its own separate drain. In the left photo above, the overflow pan has its own drain line, but it joins with the main air conditioner condensate drain line almost immediately.

A blockage in the condensate drain is going to lead leaks out of the air handler into the overflow pan. but since the overflow pan itself shares the same drain the pan will overflow into the building ceiling, inviting a mold problem or other damage.

But this is the most common way we see these drains installed. Most likely the installer is considering that the main risk of a blockage in the condensate drain system is going to be inside the air handler unit itself. We're not sure what data supports this view. The float switch approach, discussed next, might be a safer approach.

Use of float switches on air conditioning condensate overflow pans

Photograph of a float switch

Float switches on condensate trays: Some air conditioning system air handler installations provide a float switch in the condensate overflow tray. This switch has a floating lever resting in the overflow pan.

The lever senses the presence of water and "floats up" until it shuts down the air conditioning system. This may be inconvenient in hot weather, but the installer or owner have chosen to protect the building against a potentially costly mold or other leak-related problem by shutting down the air conditioner, forcing attention to the problem.

Remember that if the condensate float tray switch senses condensate in the tray (or is otherwise defective) it will shut the air conditioning system down - if your air conditioning system seems ok but won't turn on, this switch could be one of the items to check. Thanks to Lester Richter for this tip.

Evidence of Leaks into an A/C Condensate Overflow Pan May Indicate Trouble

Photograph of  leaks into condensate tray

In this photograph of the interior of an air conditioner overflow drip pan or tray, the air conditioning system condensate overflow tray shows evidence of leaks.

Since normally condensate produced in the indoor air handler is carried from the air handler interior to a condensate drain, we don't expect to see condensate falling into the condensate overflow drip tray as a normal event. If we see evidence of leaks into the condensate tray, the air conditioning system service technician should investigate the cause of this condition.

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AIR CONDITIONING & HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
AIR CONDITIONER COMPONENT PARTS
CONTROLS & SWITCHES
A/C DATA TAGS
A/C DIAGNOSTIC FAQs
A/C REFRIGERANTS
A/C DIAGNOSTIC FAQs
A/C TYPES, ENERGY SOURCES
A/C REFRIGERANTS
AIR CONDITIONER BTU CHART
AIR FILTERS for HVAC SYSTEMS
AIR HANDLER UNIT
BOOKSTORE - Air Conditioning "How To" Books
CLEANING & Legionella BACTERIA
COMPRESSOR & CONDENSING COIL
CONDENSATE HANDLING
  DRIP TRAY DEFECTS
  CONDENSATE LEAKS
  CONDENSATE PUMPS
  CONDENSATE DRAINS
  CONDENSATE TRAY CLEANING
CONTROLS & SWITCHES
COOL OFF HEAT Thermostat Switch
DATA TAGS on AIR CONDITIONERS
COMBUSTION GASES & PARTICLE HAZARDS
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS & IAQ
DEFINITION of Heating & Cooling Terms
DEW POINT CALCULATION for WALLS
DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE
DUCT SYSTEMS
DUCTS - Asbestos
DUCT SYSTEM DEFECTS
DUCT INSULATION, Asbestos Paper
DUCT INSULATION for SOUNDPROOFING
DUCTS, Asbestos Transite Pipe
DUST FROM HVAC?
ENERGY SAVINGS in BUILDINGS
EVAPORATIVE COOLING SYSTEMS
FAN AUTO ON Thermostat Switch
HEAT LOSS (or GAIN) in BUILDINGS
INDOOR AIR QUALITY & HOUSE TIGHTNESS
INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE
INSPECTION LIMITATIONS
LOST COOLING CAPACITY
OPERATING TEMPERATURES
OPERATING DEFECTS
OPERATING COST
SEER RATINGS & OTHER DEFINITIONS
SYSTEM OPERATION
SWAMP COOLERS
THERMOSTATS
THERMOSTATIC EXPANSION VALVES
CRITICAL DEFECTS

  • Thanks to Mike Giaquinto and Scott at SJM Inspect for technical editing remarks, 5/16/07
  • Thanks to Lester Richer, a professional home inspector, for the reminder that a bad air conditioner condensate drip tray switch can shut the whole system down.

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