Tried bleach twice, still dripping outside. Tried the snake, couldn't make the bend 8' or so down the line, still dripping outside. Looking into the drain line gun. Anyone use one? I am not particularly interested in the co2 cartridges, but will use them up. Once they are gone I will probably remove the hose and fitting and use that in conjunction with a portable compressor or hand pump sprayer. Is this worth $30? Can I find the same fitting without buying the whole gun? Lets see if I can get a pic of what I am talking about.

Have you tried/considered a shop vac with the 3/4" adapter nozzle? Make sure the bag is removed/canister empty.

Do you just hook that up to the same spot you put the bleach down? All the videos show yankees using the vac outside the house, away from the unit.

The line I need cleared hooks jnto a plumbing drain that I cannot access, so I am left with pushing it down, or I guess suctioning it up. If I try the suctioning, do I need to somehow block off the side that goes to the ac unit?

Depending on the strength of the clog and your vac, you may not have to block the upstream condensate line.

If push comes to shove, you could cut the exposed condensate line to hook up the vac, then install a ball/isolation valve in front of a capped tee for future service.

Why wouldn't they build that in line to begin with? I am sure I am not the first person with this problem.

What do you mean it's dripping outside? That's where it's supposed to drip.

I had a clog once and it took about an hour of using a compressor and a rubber connector to blow it out. Those co2 cartridges would have been spent within 2 minutes. Some sort of animal had built a nest in the line. Shop vac did nothing.

Usually dripping outside is an indicator that the primary drain pathway is blocked.

I agree it would be handy if installed up front. Part of it is that there is very little incentive to go the extra mile to facilitate DIY system service, since system service is a big component of most HVAC company business models. The previous owner of my house installed a schrader valve to hook up an air compressor or tank to blow out the line, though no isolation valve.

Milwaukees Best Light said:

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Tried bleach twice, still dripping outside. Tried the snake, couldn't make the bend 8' or so down the line, still dripping outside. Looking into the drain line gun. Anyone use one? I am not particularly interested in the co2 cartridges, but will use them up. Once they are gone I will probably remove the hose and fitting and use that in conjunction with a portable compressor or hand pump sprayer. Is this worth $30? Can I find the same fitting without buying the whole gun? Lets see if I can get a pic of what I am talking about.

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Do you have some way (ball valve) to isolate the line between the unit and the bleach inlet. That is key to getting the pressure you'll need.

I used one of those guns on my line that was clogged a few weeks back. The shop vac was not powerful enough.

One cartridge of the CO2 gun pushed an 8 ft long crap sausage out of my line. It was disgusting and awesome all at once. That said, I supposed you could also do the same thing with a properly sized rubber plug and an air compressor.

I just aquired a long stretch of flex tubing for free at work. Current plan is to stuff the tubing down past the T, then stuff a long skinny rag down into the T to make a pseudo seal, then use the little air compressor to blast air down the flex tubing. Hopefully it works. I don't want to pay $30 for a $2 attachment.
If it doesn't work, I will probably install a valve upstream of the T, then blast air thru the T.

Mr. AGSPRT04 said:

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Have you tried/considered a shop vac with the 3/4" adapter nozzle? Make sure the bag is removed/canister empty.

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Did this method. Primary drain line ties into an upstairs bathroom sink pipe. Put it on suction and just connected the narrow attachment to the pipe. Took about 15 minutes but eventually it worked loose.

Will be using bleach more often now.

mm98 said:

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Mr. AGSPRT04 said:

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Have you tried/considered a shop vac with the 3/4" adapter nozzle? Make sure the bag is removed/canister empty.

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Did this method. Primary drain line ties into an upstairs bathroom sink pipe. Put it on suction and just connected the narrow attachment to the pipe. Took about 15 minutes but eventually it worked loose.

Will be using bleach more often now.

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How did you block the side of the T that goes back to the unit? Or did you not?

I did not. Didn't think of it to be honest.

Just put t the vacuum downstream of the clog and sucked it through.

How did you access downstream of the clog, unless the clog was upstream of the T?

My main drain line runs from the evap coil all the way down to my bathroom. From there the builder used a ****ty flexible tube to connect the drain line into my sink drain.

I disconnected at the point circled because it normally clogs up about 12-24 inches before that junction.

Connected it directly to the vacuum and just sat patiently as it unclogged a bit at a time.

And after re-reading your first few posts I understand why my replies are not helping you. I missed the part about your limited access to the pipe. My bad.

Any luck?

Don't think so. Couldn't get my flex tubing to make the bend in the T. It was too soft. I am going to try running a coat hanger down the middle of the tubing, like a guide rod. Just ran out of time. I put another gallon of bleach down, just for grins, but it was still dripping a few hours later last night. Dripping appeared to be less, so maybe just still draining the pan? Didn't check it this morning and leaving town for the weekend. Monday's problem.

Milwaukees Best Light said:

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Why wouldn't they build that in line to begin with? I am sure I am not the first person with this problem.

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Every new install that we (Enviromax Service) put has one as a standard part of the install...

Just had ac guy come out. He used. Drain Dawg. A rubber inflatable tool connected to compressor. I just ordered one

The fitting below the tee shouldn't be glued for this exact reason. Detach it and blow on it with your mouth. 95% of the time you can blow it out without an air compressor, fittings or any tools.

Milwaukees Best Light said:

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Tried bleach twice, still dripping outside. Tried the snake, couldn't make the bend 8' or so down the line, still dripping outside. Looking into the drain line gun. Anyone use one? I am not particularly interested in the co2 cartridges, but will use them up. Once they are gone I will probably remove the hose and fitting and use that in conjunction with a portable compressor or hand pump sprayer. Is this worth $30? Can I find the same fitting without buying the whole gun? Lets see if I can get a pic of what I am talking about.

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I have this. Wasn't powerful enough for mine.

Air compressor, Air nozzle, duct tape around tip until it fits tightly into drain line. I just stuff a paper towel or something into the side of the T that goes back into the unit. Just be aware of where your drain line is going, if possible. I blew mine out this way, then found the next morning that there was crap blown all over my guest bathroom sink.

Had similar issue with upstairs unit. It's primary drain was an upstairs bathroom.

My dad has one of the co2 guns so I borrowed it. I ended up cutting the main drain line about 2-3' always from where it connects to the attic unit (where the opening is that you pour bleach down)

From that cut, I blew air down the line towards the drain/sink. I blew air multiple times. Then connected the split line with a "union". Figured that if I ever had to do it again, I could just unscrew it for future access!

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Homewerks-Worldwide-1-in-PVC-Slip-x-Slip-Union-511-14-1-1H/204202879


On second thought....I may have used this one. Can't recall

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Homewerks-Worldwide-1-in-PVC-Compression-Coupling-511-43-1-1H/206667870?MERCH=REC-_-PIPHorizontal2_rr-_-300977282-_-206667870-_-N

You know when you google something that should be a regular thing and you can't find anything really helpful? It is usually a sign that you are going about the issue the wrong way or you are missing a huge piece of the puzzle. Well, this time is no exception.

I followed the clogged primary line for a bit. If submerged under the insulation, so I moved some to follow it further. Sure enough, it dropped right below the upstairs guest bath and tied right into the sink drain line, just like the pic above, hose clamp and all. Doh! My flex tube and air compressor seemed to do the trick, but not something I really want to repeat. I will just make sure I keep up with the bleach and maybe build a shop vac adapter for next time. Another lesson learned. At least this lesson was not an expensive one.

Milwaukee's Best....

I had the same problem about ten years ago. Could not get the drip to go down the drain line...it kept coming out the pipe outside. Finally called a plumber and discovered the line going into the drain line was butted up against the inside wall of the drain pipe. The clogged line had no opportunity to clear itself because the line was jammed against the inside wall of the pipe. Simply put, he trimmed the line back about 3/8". Problem solved. He claimed it happens all the time, particularly in 'spec' houses (which this was).

Look at MM98's picture. Take that black flexible pipe that drains into the vertices pvc pipe. In my case that black pipe was rigid, it went into the white vertical pvc, but went too far. It extended all the way into the vertical pipe till it ended at the inner wall of the vertical pvc pipe. Any clog got stuck against that juncture. The fix was to slightly cut the black pipe so the condensate wasn't restricted, and could flow into the vertical pipe

This was a timely thread for me. Saw my secondary dripping outside 2 days ago, so I knew my primary was clogged. Yesterday I hooked the shop vac up to it and it worked like a charm. Sucked the clog out within 20 seconds or so.

Then I accidentally went full blown AC maintenance and went outside and took apart my condenser unit, emptied all the leaves out of it, and cleaned the coil.

The gun can be very effective, but you have to make sure that the only way for the air to go is to the clog. For example, I have a tee that I can use to hook that up to my system, I would have to block the line to the evaporation coil, otherwise that is the path of least resistance.

I use draino

Works way better than bleach

nonameag99 said:

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I use draino

Works way better than bleach

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Same here...used drano gel to open the line and then Clorex bleach afterwards!

I pour bleach in the line each time I change my filter.