Even if you dust and vacuum regularly, there is bound to be some dust in your home. And some of that dust will inevitably end up in or on your air conditioner. Sometimes, the dust or lint may even find its way into a part of your AC unit known as the condensate drain tube. Here's how to recognize that problem and how to deal with it.

How to Identify Lint or Dust in Your Condensate Drain Tube

First, you need to locate the condensate drain tube. On most air conditioners, it is a clear and flexible piece of tubing. It will look like a thin, semi-transparent garden hose. The tube usually comes out from the bottom of the indoor component of your air conditioner. The opposite end will be positioned in a sink or over a drain.

Once you locate the condensate drain tube, you can check to see whether it is clogged. Look down the length of the tube. Do you see any green, black, brown, or gray grime inside of it? Also, look at the floor around your air conditioner. If there's water on the floor, this is a key sign of a blockage. The water will hit the obstruction and then flow backward out of the tube instead of flowing to the drain or sink.

How to Deal With a Blocked Condensate Drain Tube

First, you need to deal with the water on the floor around the AC unit. Use some towels to mop it up. Then, put another towel down to catch the additional drips. It is generally safe to keep running your AC unit with this blockage, but you'll need to change out that towel a couple of times per day to keep things dry.

Next, call an HVAC contractor. They will come out and confirm that your problems are, indeed, due to the link blocking your condensate drain line. They can then either clean out the line or replace it. Since the tubing used to make condensate drain lines is pretty inexpensive, some HVAC contractors will just opt to replace a blocked line rather than spend the time to clear the clog. This repair only takes a few minutes. They disconnect the old line, cut the new one to size, and slide it into place.

AC units can get dirty sometimes, and that lint may eventually clog the condensate drain line. Make sure you're keeping your eyes out for this issue.

Reach out to a company that offers residential air conditioning services to learn more.