How to Clean the Drain Line on an Air Conditioner System
- 1
Outside drain line.
Find the end of the air-conditioner drain hose on the outside of the house. Attach a wet/dry vacuum to the drain line to pull out any loose debris or dirt. You may need a small ladder if it's high off the ground. - 2
Use compressed air or gas to blow out debris.
Shut the unit off and find the drain line on the inside of the air conditioner. It is generally near the end of the drain pan, below the condenser coil. Blow compressed air or gas into the drain hole, sending loose dirt and debris out toward the end of the drain line. - 3
Use a garden hose with a spray nozzle.
Attach a spray nozzle to the end of a garden hose and spray a forceful stream of water into the drain line. This should dislodge any remaining materials clogging the line. - 4
Check the drain line for leaks.
Check the entire length of the drain line to make sure there are no leaks. Keep in mind that water needs to flow down and out from the air-conditioning unit. If a portion of drain line has sagged, this could be where the water is backing up and there may not be a clog in the system. Tie up the sagging portion and run water through it to see if water flows freely to the outside drain opening. - 5). Suction out the end of the drain line again with the wet/dry vacuum. Repeat the process of water flushing and vacuuming if needed for bad clogs.
- 6
Use a wet/dry vacuum on the outside line.
Replace the PVC tubing if numerous attempts to unclog the old line are unsuccessful.
