HOW TO FIX A FROZEN CONDENSATE LINE

One of the many important components of your HVAC system is the condensate line. When your furnace heats your home, it releases moisture, with the condensate line responsible for removing the water from your home to the outdoors. If you live in a cold climate (or just have a cold spell), the water can freeze, leading to a frozen condensate line. Since you need the line to remove moisture and keep your furnace running, you’ll want to act fast to thaw the condensate pipe and stop the issue from reoccurring.

Since the best solution to fixing a frozen condensate line will depend on the layout of your home, your DIY skills, and the typical weather patterns in your area, find out more about why furnace condensate line freezing occurs and some ways you can solve the issue.

Why Is My HVAC Condensate Line Frozen?

While freezing outdoor temperatures is the main source of a furnace drain line freezing, your system could also be designed in a way that leads your condensate lines or pipes to freeze more often. Some of the primary reasons behind a frozen condensate line include piping that’s too long, lines featuring a too narrow end, or pipes that don’t slope. Besides these issues, non-insulated piping can also cause your lines to freeze quickly.

How Do I Fix a Frozen Condensate Line?

If you’ve noticed consistent furnace condensate line freezing in the past, your system likley has an issue that you or a professional can fix to reduce the chances of freezing in the future. Since frozen condensate lines can cause your furnace to stop working, you should know how to fix them. Learn more about the top four ways you can fix frozen condensate lines and prevent freezing in the future below:

1. Shorten the Pipe

The longer your pipe extends outdoors, the more time the water has to freeze. If you already have a frozen condensate line, this is an easy fix. Just saw off the portion of the line that is frozen. The vast majority of your condensate line should be inside your home, where it’s warm. Cut your condensate line close to your house so the water drains before freezing.

Keep in mind that you shouldn’t let your condensate line drain against the side of your home. A constant flow of dripping water on your siding could cause mold and algae growth. Since your line needs to extend at least a little ways past your house, ensure you’re not cutting the line too close to your home.

2. Widen the End

If your frozen condensate line is getting backed up at the end, widen the mouth so that there’s more space for the water to flow. By widening the end, the water dripping from your pipe will take longer to freeze. This solution is usually best if you’re in an area with a relatively mild winter. However, if the temperatures tend to dip a lot in your area, you’ll still end up with a furnace condensate line freezing eventually, and you’ll want to try other solutions.

3. Add Slope

Slow-moving water is, of course, more likely to freeze. Wherever possible, angle your condensate drain line downwards to increase the momentum of the water, especially if you’re experiencing a condensate line freezing outside. While a flat exterior drain line is usually the culprit of freezing, you can reduce the chances of frozen water by sloping the condensate lines inside your home as well. Since the draining water will gain speed as it descends from inside your home, the water that reaches your exterior drain line will have less time to freeze.

4. Insulate the Pipe

If you can’t change the length or width of your condensate line, try insulating it. You can purchase heating cables or heat strips that come with a thermostat, so you aren’t wasting electricity by heating your condensate drain line unnecessarily. Since insulating a frozen condensate line can be dangerous, you should talk to an expert before you wrap your line. Some types of tape are not meant to be used outdoors, and others cannot be used with vinyl or plastic. You don’t want to do more damage than good.

You can also consider running your frozen condensate line through a length of PVC pipe. Wrap the PVC pipe with foam insulation for additional protection from the elements.

How to Thaw Condensate Pipes

But what if you have a frozen condensate line right now? How can you thaw it out? You have a few options here, as well. One solution is to use a hairdryer on the frozen section to thaw the condensate pipe. Alternatively, you can set up a heat lamp or space heater a few feet away from the pipe to warm it up.

You can also head to your drugstore and buy a heating pad or hand warmers. Wrap either option around the frozen area and let the heat work its magic. The most low-maintenance option is to fill up a water bottle with very warm (not boiling) water and place it next to the frozen condensate line. It’s easy and free!

Choose Newcomb and Company for Frozen Condensate Line Solutions in Raleigh

If you’ve noticed consistent furnace condensate line freezing issues in the past and don’t want to fix it yourself, turn to Newcomb and Company. Our team of HVAC experts will find the source of a frozen condensate line and fix it to reduce the chance of furnace drain line freezing in the future. Since condensate lines are subject to complex municipal codes, it’s often best to turn to a professional if you’re not aware of the codes and aren’t confident in your DIY abilities.

Learn more about our HVAC repair and replacement services today. If you have any questions or want to schedule service, please don’t hesitate to contact us.