Originally Posted By: joseph wszolek This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
is it normal and/or safe to have water standing below the condensation coils in a/c unit? water appears to be draining from left to center of drip area, but accumulates from center to right. landlord says its normal (without looking at it), but i’m afraid of mold/bacteria forming. factory said it may not be sloped right, but would like an opinion before I press the landlord to do something or not. thanks.
Originally Posted By: joseph wszolek This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
my landlord contacted his air conditioning specialist who said I should stick a rag in the corner of the drain pan to absorb the water that’s not draining. that doesn’t sit well with me, as there will still be extra water in that area, which may breed mold and bacteria , etc. i was then told i could regularly replace the rag. does this sound right? the main thing is that i don’t want to be inhaling potential allergins unnecessarily. thanks
Originally Posted By: Jay Moge This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
first of all if a rag was the answer, the unit would already have one. my question is; are you refuring to an in wall unit or a central unit? if in wall it may need to be tilted, but there is usualy a little water in the pan and it helps keep the condencer, coil and pump cool by evaperating the water and carring away some heat.
Originally Posted By: joseph wszolek This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Dan & Jay,
I'm planning to receive a digital camera today by ups, and if successful, I could upload a picture. It is the drip pan (not metal) just below the evaporator coil, where there is maybe a 1/4 inch depth "puddle" on the right side of the pan. The left side of the pan appears to drain properly, with the drain located below the center of the pan.
It is a central air unit. I had called the manufacturer (First Co./TX), who said maybe a piece of cardboard could be used to tilt the tray, but I couldn't find a way to do that. I'm not sure what is mean by having little water in the pan may be okay.....perhaps I'm overreacting.
Although I read where Legionaires disease is probably not involved with this type of situation, I imagine that standing water (especially when unit is not in use) is a breeding area for organisms which could affect my health.
Originally Posted By: Jay Moge This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
small amounts of standing water on an outside unit could potentialy breed something. mosquitos maybe, but i don’t thing it a big deal. if you guess it to be less than a gallon or so, fret not. besides if one side is draining and it’s all the same pan then the “standing” water is actualy being cycled threw. when not in use it will probably dry anyway. i’ll still wait for the pics from your new fangled picture takin’ thingy.
Originally Posted By: dandersen This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
It sounds to me that there is water "inside’ the drip pan standing and not draining?
So long as it is not "overflowing" the drip pan. Your fine.
This water will always be refreshed. In the winter, it will evaporate. Annual maintenance (which everyone does, right?) will clear any crud that grows in there.
Originally Posted By: joseph wszolek This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Jay & David,
Thanks for your re-assurance that probably I have nothing to worry about. My camera arrived, but was sharp around the edges, so I’m sending it back so I don’t cut myself accidentally. However, I am determined to get another one very soon, and will attempt to snap a shot for you to see.
Originally Posted By: Jay Moge This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
not for nothing joseph, but what the heck kind of camara has sharp edges? is it used, or maybe disposable? just concerned for your $$ as to what may be going on with that manufacturer? or may you have OCD?
Originally Posted By: dedwards This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
AH…the proverbial “rag” maintenance technique. Who hasn’t used a rag to fix the leaky roof, that pesky hole in the exterior wall, the dryer vent duct and my personal favorite…the temporary gas cap for the family automobile. Mosquitos in an evaporator coil drip pan?
Originally Posted By: Jay Moge This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
yeah. up here in new england they don’t spray for them so they will breed anywhere they can. I’v see mosquito larva in a coffee cup full of urine. that’s how mosquitos get disease and pass it on to us. they’re born in it.
