Its also possible that this install is totally legit, and the air gap requirement is fulfilled by the gap between the ground and the down pipe outside the house. 310.3.1 basically says its not reasonable to ask a future technician who has to come out to clear a blockage, to cut the PVC lines in order to do so. Venting after the trap (like shown on the EZ Trap above) is an excellent idea in most applications because it helps prevent airlock that can occur due to double traps and shared drains. Including recorded tech training, interviews, diagnostics and general conversations about the trade. The conventional gas-fueled tankless water heater produces hot exhaust that also contains acidic moisture from the combustion process, and has to be vented through a corrosion-resistant chimney. Thats why we call it a gravity drain because as long as we have the necessary 1/8 inch of downward slope for every 12 inches of carry, gravity will do all the work and pull the condensate waste to the ground all by itself. Is a Manual J Load Really Necessary on Residential Retrofits? An indoor disconnect switch. The IMC code doesn't directly state that the drain line must be insulated. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Those are not usually very noisy; check for malfunction, for mounting on padding, for alternative models, for relocation to a more remote spot that can still pump up to the necessary drain. Many will point to where the ICC energy efficiency code states: N1103.3 Mechanical system piping insulation. Good tips and knowledge. That would include the main plumbing vent stack. Lets take a look at what the codes say about condensate control and adherence to the code when doing an HVAC change-out. Thermal Insulation and . HOWEVER, new wording was added in IMC 307.2.4.1 that states that ductless systems must either have a check valve or a trap in the condensate line. Your email address will not be published. 609.7 Condensate drain trap seal. For those pump purposes, no condensate removal pump would be suitable. Provided an air vent and drain plug in the coil. Ive got 20 units tied into a 2 inch pipe and recently it started getting backed up.. Pressure Vessel 12. (p. 3) The secondary drain had a wet switch installed in the outlet port. stock code: afs-le85-2. Condensate waste shall connect indirectly to the drainage system through an air gap or air break to properly trapped and vented receptors . If you have an iPhone, subscribe to the podcastHERE, and if you have an Android phone, subscribeHERE. Watch out: in our OPINION and as we discuss in these articles, while a trap on a condensate drain line, usually provided quite close to the condensate collection pan itself, can reduce the chances of sewer gases backing up from a condensate drain that has been connected to the building DWV vent piping (not a procedure we recommend), Theres less busyness going on in the scene. ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2010, Section 6.4.4.1 HVAC System Pipe Insulation, lists HVAC piping requirements and as an EXCEPTION, The condensate line material: Sch. Viper Condensate Pan and Drain Treatment Viper Condensate Pan and Drain Treatment is a sprayable gel. My warranty company will not cover modification to my condensate drain line because the "items not covered" in my contract list the condensate pump.". A water supply shall be provided for cleaning, flushing and resealing the condensate trap, and the trap shall discharge through an air gap in accordance with Section 608. steveray Sawhorse Joined Nov 25, 2009 Messages 10,006 Location West of the river CT May 1, 2017 #7 802.1.5 Nonpotable clear-water waste. General 9. The 2015 version of the IMC section 307 is what I will be referring to in this article. It coats the pan, p-trap and drain piping with a lubricative film to improve flow . . Thank you! We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website. Your HVAC or AC unit condensate should be trapped close to the unit @Tom P., An effective communicator with excellent relationship building & interpersonal skills. Continue reading at CONDENSATE DRAINS, CODES or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX. Terminology Usage in the Code of Practice . If youre planning to tie two evaporator drains into one single drain line, they may want you to increase the size of the final pipe going to the outside. We dont know what to do but there was no washer and dryer when we moved in to the house. An example is this VENT-EXHAUST EXTERNAL TRAP INSTRUCTIONS [PDF] posted by Questar Gas. What is the inside diameter minimum of condensate drains. Some home inspectors and HVACR technicians want the drain to be insulated either to cure an actual observed wetting problem OR because they're making their own, probably unnecessary, interpretation of one of the model energy codes. Thanks for your help On 2022-01-17 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - follow glue and primer manufacturer instructions. Can I use a little giant type condensate pump with 3/4 into the pump, and 3/8 out of it? Chapter 307.2.2 Drain pipe materials and sizes ( 2012 Mechanical Code) states: Where the drain pipes from more than one unit are manifolded together for condensate drainage, the pipe or tubing shall be sized in accordance with Table 307.2.2. 9.1.10 Air Conditioning Equipment. The NZ Metal Roof and Wall Cladding Code of Practice is a comprehensive design & installation guide, and a recognised related document for Acceptable Solution E2/AS1 of the NZ Building Code. Bob, continuingHere is Diversitech's 5/8" flexible AC condensate drain tubing - sold at Home Depot and at HVACR suppliers and plumbing suppliers, What type of piping or tubing is used for condensation drainage inside a wall on an inside unit of a split unit. The most recent code is the International Mechanical Code (IMC). In SC, does the condensation line of an attic HVAC unit need to be insulated? And check out many related blog posts here. Plumbing Code (UPC) and the 2005 National Electrical Code." Untreated condensate will perforate copper pipe in 5 months if untreated. Does anyone have any information about this topic? InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. Many will point to where the ICC energy efficiency code states: N1103.3 Mechanical system piping insulation. I don't quite understand the last suggestion - perhaps you could make a sketch. Genry Garcia returns to the podcast to talk about pressures in the building envelope, namely the infiltration skeletons behind closed doors. It's this an acceptable install? Short answer: The drain pan shall be fabricated of not less than 16 gauge galvanized steel with all corners welded. Coil rust/corrosion on an HVAC evaporator caused by the unit itself and its condensation should be considered wear and - Answered by a verified HVAC Technician . condensate cannot drain adequately via gravity, usually because the application lacks conventional, below-floor drainage. Mechanical Clamps & Hangers . The picture in the article for a 5 ton system would NOTt be nearly enough to overcome the negative air pressure caused by draw-through air pressure and thus result in coil pan pan spillage. AMERICAN COMMERCIAL CONDENSING TANKLESS WATER HEATER INSTALLATION MANUAL [PDF] Loose earth free from rocks, broken concrete and frozen chunks shall be placed in the trench in 6-inch (152 mm) layers and tamped in place until the crown of the pipe is covered by 12 inches (305 mm) of tamped earth. PHMSA notes that during transportation, the gas mixture or its components may partially liquefy, forming condensation on the container wall, if ambient temperatures are lower than 20C (68 F), but still above -50C (-58 F). A little further up the drain, toward the evaporator coil, the question is, do we have to install a p-trap or not? My question is: Is it in violation of building or installation codes to not have a condensate drain line? discharge into a street, alley or other areas so as to cause a nuisance. @Amy, The IMC code doesn't directly state that the drain line must be insulated. They both say pretty much the same thing. 1.Tamper-resistant locking cap for refrigerant ports 2. Mechanical system piping capable of carrying fluids above 105F (40C) or below 55F (13C) shall be insulated to a minimum of R-3. The condensate drain from mechanical equipment is regulated by the mechanical code. - ICC IMC 307.2.5 & IRC M1411.3.3 Drain Line Maintenance code for 2015, original source: http://www.iccsafe.org/, Devices or methods for providing condensate drain cleaning or de-clogging are discussed in this companion, article: CONDENSATE DRAIN CLEAN & DE-CLOG, The following HVACR condensate disposal recommendations summary cites, paraphrases, & comments on the widely adopted 2006 ICC model building code section on condensate disposal, section 307 [7], For the two Types of Condensate: Fuel burning devices vs Evaporators & cooling coils. My company recently changed out all the hvac equipment at an apartment complex. Table 307.2.2 states: "3/4 up to 20 tons" Is this the same code you are referencing? The full text of the code is available through ICC, and the proposed amendments are available through the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG). Remember that the enforcement of the various regulations of the code varies with jurisdictions. They simply state that drain systems must be trapped, leaving design to others. CONDENSATE DRAIN INSULATION REQUIREMENTS at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice. Air Around the Clock's only business is providing the residents and businesses of Broward County, West Palm Beach, North Miami-Dade, and Jupiter with professional, cost-effective air conditioning, cooling and HVAC repair, air conditioner service and maintenance programs. nuisance." IMC 307.2.5 states that the condensate assembly must be installed so that the drain line can be cleared of blockages and maintained without cutting the drain. And trust me, it will! @V.F.G., usually there's no problem sharing that drain between condensate vent and washing machine; Using California's Title 24 as a good example, see the table below. But you still need to confirm to yourself that the ENTIRE drain line has at least, an eighth-inch slope to it. In Florida, we always insulate horizontal portions of the drain because we would have consistent growth and water damage issues due to the high dew points if we didn't. This would allow me to run from the hall where the unit and 11' ceiling is to areas where the ceiling is 10' and continue to where drain terminates. But, what also I noticed was that the primary condensate drain had been capped off with no outlet. Because typically the installation instructions for a condensing tankless water heater include this statement: broad. Please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check back for our response. If the manufacturer requires a trap, then a trap is required. And I see far too many systems without a cleanout on them. The return air flowing through return ducts into an A/C air handler may be high in moisture. Carson Dunlop Associates sketches (left) illustrate both acceptable and not-recommended locations for the discharge of an air conditioner or heat pump condensate drain line discharge. In order to facilitate the connection to the sink I plan to use a sink drain pipe with an integrated male angled tube connector (same as used in kitchens to connect a garbage disposal). IP Enclosures IP-GRPDD084 CONDENSATE DRAIN, distributed by Kempston Controls. Add bevels on most PVC glued joints and some sizes of bell and gasket joints. [8] "GE Zoneline Owners Manual and Installation Instructions, Heat/Cool Model 2900, Heat Pump Model 3900", General Electric Corporation, [copy on file]. Unform Plumbing Code. DO NOT send a larger-diameter condensate drain outlet into a smaller-sized pipe: there's risk of blockage, overflow, etc. Building & mechanical codes do not require insulation on A/C condensate drains, based on a reading of the current U.S. Energy Code that I will excerpt here. Demonstrated abilities in cementing healthy relationship with clients and leading workforce towards accomplishing business and corporate goals.<br>4. We live in Texas and I can't find a clear answer on if that is required or not. [F] (202) 783-2348 The AC/Heat works fine. Theres one final little touch Id like to pass on to you. That HVAC drain runs right beneath where the water heater is hanging, and the water heater condensate line is now hard-piped straight down and into the line so that the condensate runs outside without a trap or vent. The most popular areas we terminate condensate drain lines to is the side of the house and usually about six inches from the ground. Materials 10. condensate pumps, and the detection and hazards of air conditioning system condensate leaks in buildings. Piping shall be at least 3/4" in diameter and shall not decrease in size [throughout its run from the condensate drain pan to its final disposal destination - no constructions by diameter]" Mechanical system piping capable of carrying fluids above 105F (40C), or below 55F (13C) shall be insulated to a minimum of R-2. We discuss air conditioning, heat pump & condensing boiler or furnace condensate drain leaks, locations, causes, repairs. Thin aluminum rain gutters were not designed to carry this type of corrosive waste to the ground. Can the condensation drain pipe be located behind a washer in the laundry room? 1.Show primary condensate drain piping on the mechanical plans. The idea here is to maintain straight alignment, a uniform slope, and strap or support the drain lines at proper intervals as guided by the installation manual and code books. w/ Allison Bailes, What the Heck is High Performance HVAC w/ David Holt, Zonal Pressure DiagnosticsThe Backtalk Series (Part 3). Chapter 7 of the International Plumbing Code relative to the material type. While moisture in a crawl space can cause damage over time, this is not the intent of this section. The backfill under and beside the pipe shall be compacted for pipe support. Since there is a lot of room for inaccuracy in extreme climates (especially those with high latent loads), many HVAC systems are oversized and underperform. Factory-installed piping within room fan-coils and unit ventilators tested and rated according to AHRI 440 (except that the sampling and variation provisions of Section 6.5 shall not apply) and 840, respectively. If the drain system backs up the there is potential that it can back up into the evap coil. 5.2A Roof Drainage Terminology as used in the COP. As far as I know, the EZTrap does not have a vent. Please let us know anything we can do because we need the washer. But I hope this answers some questions you have about the building code, HVAC installations, and condensate drain lines. . About the Business. Whats pictured is a clean out with the cap missing. On 2022-06-02 It appears that this condensate drain only drops into that vertical standpipe an inch or two and if there is still a decent opening around it to let air into the standing drain line then you got an air gap between the end of the condensate drain and the P-trap below so it should be okay. Details: ----- That leaves us a lot of wiggle room for interpretation and a lot of authority to the AHJ (authority having jurisdiction) and design professionals to establish what is and what isn't an approved location. Here are a few good guidelines: IMC 307.2.2 tells us that an A/C condensate drain inside diameter should not be smaller than 3/4 and should not be smaller than the drain pan outlet diameter.

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