What is the purpose of the trap in a condensate drain? The primary purpose of a condensate trap is to prevent air from moving in or out of the coil box or air handler during operation. Traps must be installed in a manner that will stop the air from passing through, but still allow the condensate to drain from the condensate pan.
Why does a condensate drain need a trap?
Why does a condensate drain need a trap? The primary purpose of a condensate trap is to prevent air from moving in or out of the coil box or air handler during operation. Traps must be installed in a manner that will stop the air from passing through, but still allow the condensate to drain from the condensate pan.
How to properly install a condensate line trap?
Traps must be installed in a manner that will stop the air from passing through, but still allow the condensate to drain from the condensate pan. When the trap is omitted, efficiency is lowered as air is lost through the condensate drain in blow-through systems. Failure to install a trap on a blow-through system is the same as drilling a hole in the ducts for each drain connection.
How to unclog condensate drain lines?
You will need these items to clean your A/C condensate drain:
- Rags
- A wet/dry vacuum
- Distilled vinegar
- A funnel
How to change a drain trap?
- If you're working on a sink with two basins, use a continuous waste T-fitting to join the tailpieces.
- Attach the fitting with slip washers and nuts. Make sure the beveled sides of washers face the threaded portion of the pipes.
- Applying pipe lubricant on the slip washer will ease installation and ensure a tight fit.
How does a condensate trap work?
The idea of the condensate drain trap is to use the weight of the water to stop the flow of air produced by the blower from being sucked into (negative pressure) into the evaporator coil or from being pushed (positive pressure) out of the drain line during operation.
Do you need a trap on a condensate pump?
Yes, if the pipe extends below the water line inside of a pump, that is a trap and yes, if someone adds another trap it won't work very good. Also, the furnace has a built in condensate trap inside of it, so you need to be aware of that too.
Should there be water in the condensate trap?
The condensate line should drain to the outdoors and during humid weather you should see plenty of water dripping from it. If it's not dripping, it's not draining!
How deep should the condensate drain trap be?
If a unit were to be operating at minus 6 inches WC maximum negative plenum pressure then the trap height, per the guidelines shown in Figure 1a, requires 7 + 3½ + 1½ + 1 inches of height from under the floor or about 13 inches below the floor level.
How do you fill a condensate trap?
0:100:539 How to remove and refit the condensate trap on the X RangeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSlide that down and pre fill with water you'd also do this when you're servicing the appliance andMoreSlide that down and pre fill with water you'd also do this when you're servicing the appliance and empty and clean the condensate trap out.
Why the condensate drain trap?
I'm having a high efficiency condensing furnace put in our second floor soon. We're going to insulate the condensate line but I'm wondering why the need for a trap? I understand why we do that in a toilet or sink, to keep sewer gases from backing up unto the house.
Okay, now why no cover on my drain trap?
Thrilled to have such a quick answer about the drain trap on a new efficient furnace. But it seemed so odd to have a cup of open water attached to the side of my furnace that I assumed the installer lost a cover. No, there is no cover.
Symptoms
Design
- A plumbing drain trap is designed to retain a small amount of water each time the sink drains, and this water standing in the bottom of the curved portion of the trap seals the drain and keeps sewer gasses from escaping the drain and entering your home. There are traps in every drain because any connection that leads to the drain system is also a p...
Safety
- Whenever you encounter a strange odor in any room where there is a drain, always make sure that the trap is not dry. If a drain trap is dry, the sewer gas can escape and cause the smell. This is usually a quick fix that can be remedied by running water down the drain and filling the trap back up with water. Sewer gas is hydrogen sulfide, which is created as organic waste decays. The sm…
Location
- The location of the drain trap is often obvious. The standing water in your toilet indicates the presence of a drain trap, for example. If you look to the backside of the toilet, you can see the curved shape of the drain through which the water exits.
Other
- Other plumbing fixtures have the drain trap in an out-of-the-way location, such as the kitchen or bathroom sink, where the trap is usually hidden in a cabinet under the sink. When you look at the sink, you cannot see the standing water, but if you follow the drain lines, you can see the required U or S shape where the water is held to block the sewer gas.
Advantages
- Sink traps have the added benefit of trapping small objects dropped into the drain, plus they are fairly easy to remove. Don't worry if you drop a ring or something valuable down the drainit is likely safe in the trap. Traps also collect hair, sand, and other detritus, and also limit the size of objects that can pass through into the rest of the plumbing. You can take apart most traps for cleaning, …
Use
- Large plumbing fixtures such as showers, tubs, and washing machine drains also have drain traps, but they are not as easy to see because they are under floor level or behind walls. Tubs and showers have traps that are harder to get to and either require crawling under the house or cutting a hole behind the tub or shower and digging out the area where the trap is located. Washing ma…
Risks
- When going on vacation or traveling away from the house for long periods, some people stuff drain openings with plastic wrap to keep sewer gases from invading the house while the fixtures are not in use. If you choose to go this route, a toilet can be shut off and emptied and the toilet bowl can be loosely stuffed with a plastic bag. Don't forget floor drains and shower drains; placi…