The Risks Of Poor Condensate Drainage System Installation
Without a condensate drainage system, all the water that is formed as a result of the air conditioner's condensation process will flood your air conditioning unit. This water will then damage electronic parts of the air conditioner and accelerate the rate at which its metallic housing rusts. This water can also spill out of the air conditioning system, damaging your furniture. This makes having a condensate draining system a must. However, having a condensate drainage system that has been improperly installed will do little towards making your home moisture-damage proof. In fact, poor installation of this system can expose your home to elements that can put your loved ones in danger. Here is what you should know about the risks that poor condensate drainage installations expose your loved ones to.
Sewer gas risks
Sewer gases can find their way into the evaporator coil area of your air conditioning system when they climb up the condensate drain line. This is so especially if there is nothing protecting the air conditioning system from the contents of your home's main drain piping. In such cases, the drain line will offer an optional outlet for the sewer gases in the drain. And since there are times when the pressure in the main drain line increases, these gases will occasionally be forced up the condensate drain line and into your air conditioning system. And when these gases are distributed through the ductwork in your home, they will not only expose your loved ones to the discomfort of living with the consistent presence of bad odors, but also the toxicity of hydrogen sulphide that is usually present in sewer gases.
Bacterial attack risks
Unlike sewer gases, the bacteria in the drain piping won't have to depend on main drain piping pressure increases to invade your air conditioning system. All they need to do to get into the evaporator coil area is to grow back up the drain lines. And once they reach this area, they will be carried by the cooled air through the air ducts and into the living spaces of your home. This will convert your home into a bacterial breeding ground.
The presence of airborne bacteria in your home will expose your loved ones to increased risks of respiratory complications, asthma attacks, and allergies. You may therefore have to spend more on medical bills because of having a faulty connection between the air conditioner's condensate drain line and your home's main drain piping.
The good news is that both of these problems can be prevented by either installing a moisture trap between the drain lines and the main drain piping or simply getting rid of this connection by directing the condensate drain lines to empty the condensate into your home's gutter system. For more information, talk to a professional like Elite Heating, Cooling and Plumbing.