How to Repair an HVAC Coil Drain Pan

An HVAC unit adjusts more than just the temperature inside your home. It dehumidifies the inside air, removing the moisture from it. This moisture drips off the evaporator coils inside the unit, down into a drain pan directly underneath it. Frequently inspect and clean the drain pan to prevent it from overflowing, from harboring mold and bacteria or from sustaining damage, which is most likely to be a hole caused by rust. Repair pinhole-sized holes in the drain pan before the damage progresses to the point where you need to remove the entire air handling unit to repair it.

Wet/dry vacuum
Wire brush
Rag
Drain pan repair spray

Instructions

- 1
  Turn the HVAC unit off. Remove the cover to the compartment on the furnace that houses the evaporator coils, with the drain pan directly underneath the coils.
- 2
  Vacuum out any remaining water from the drain pan, using a wet/dry vacuum.
- 3
  Scrub away any rust from the corroded area of the drain pan, using a wire brush. Remove the debris from the pan with the wet/dry vacuum. Wipe the drain pan completely dry, using a rag.
- 4
  Spray drain pan repair spray, which comes in an aerosol can, onto the drain pan holes, to coat and seal them.
- 5
  Place the cover back on the compartment that houses the coils. Wait the proper amount of time for the spray to dry, which is sometimes between 20 and 30 minutes, and turn the air conditioner on. Check later to make sure the drain pan does not leak any more.

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