Arkansas HVACR NewsMagazine May 2026

HVACR NewsMagazine May 2026

Tech News

Craig Migliatto Craig is the owner of AC Service Tech LLC and the Author of the “Refrigerant Charging and Service Procedures for Air Conditioning”. Craig is a licensed Teacher of HVACR, Sheet Metal, and Building Maintenance in the State of New Jersey of the USA. He is also an HVACR Contracting Business owner of 17 years and holds an NJ HVACR Master License. Craig creates educational HVACR articles and videos which are posted at https://www.acservicetech.com & https://www.youtube.com/acservicetechchannel

10 Methods to Clean Condensate Drains/Traps on Air Conditioners • In this article, we go over 10 methods to clean out condensate drain lines and traps on air conditioning systems! The condensate drain line is responsible for removing the water that is extracted from the indoor air (humidity) during air conditioning mode. Over time, the drain trap and/or line can become clogged with dirt, dust, bio-growth, and other debris. When this happens, the water may back up into the system, overflowing out of the primary drain pan and causing damage to the system and/or building. Let's discuss the fastest methods for clearing these lines/traps. To prepare for cleaning, the system's power must first be switched off so that air is not being pushed or pulled through the drain line/trap. Also, if you have access to

Method #1: Using a Shop Vac to Evacuate The Drain Line at the Outside Location Simply connect the wet/dry vacuum hose to the end of the drain line outside and turn on the vacuum. The suction will help remove any blockages or debris in the line. To better clean out the lines, add water at the indoor unit primary pan or the line's service access location while doing this!

the trap, remember to fill it back up with water when you are done and cap off any service access openings when complete.