How to Clean a Home AC Condensation Line

Air conditioners have condensation lines that drain all the excess water from the system's air handler unit outside of your home. Over time the line can get clogged with mold, algae and other buildup. A clogged condensation line keeps your AC unit from functioning properly and can cause flooding and mold buildup in your air handler unit. Cleaning the condensation line two times a year should keep it clear.

Wet vacuum
Funnel
Bleach

Instructions

- 1
  Turn off your AC unit and disconnect the air handler from any power source. Turn off the power at the circuit breaker. Open the maintenance hatch on the air handler unit.
- 2
  Locate the condensation line. It's a tube that drains from the air handler out of your home. There should be a cap on the unit so you can access the line. Remove the cap.
- 3
  Place the hose of the wet vacuum over the condensation line and turn the vacuum to suck. Allow the vacuum to suck up any clogs in the line. If you think the line could still be clogged turn the vacuum to blow. This should blow any clogs out of the line.
- 4
  Place a funnel in the condensation line. Pour 1/4 to 1/2 cup of bleach into the condensation line and wait for 15 to 30 minutes so the bleach can kill all the mold, fungi and algae in the line. Slowly pour 1 to 2 gallons of water down the condensation line to rinse out the bleach.
- 5
  Place the cap back on the condensation line and turn on the power to the AC unit and the air handler unit.

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