When this arctic blast is over, and things return to normal as far as the weather is concerned, Brooklyn citizens will undoubtedly start running their air conditioners. And, why wouldn’t they? Nobody wants to sit around in their living room, bedroom, or home office sweating bullets. Nope, they wish to beat the heat and be comfortable.
Many houses have central a/c and heating units. One part, usually referred to as the condenser unit stays outside. You know, the big box with a fan inside taking up space in your yard. Meanwhile, the furnace and evaporator coils are typically installed in attics. There they remain out of sight and out of mind. A condensation drain is attached to the coil. In older homes, it sometimes runs down to the ground on the outside of the house.
However, new houses are piped differently. Builders tie these 3/4-inch PVC drains into sewer systems. Most commonly, they come out at a first or second-floor lavatory. Then, the lines are either hard-piped or attached to the bathroom sink drains with a hose. That doesn’t sound like too big of a deal, but it can be.
A/C Drains Cause Lavatory Stoppages
The unit in the attic produces algae. It slides its way down the 3/4-inch PVC pipe and eventually accumulates in the lavatory drain inside the wall or the P-trap beneath the sink. Once too much gunk builds up, the water won’t drain out of the bowl when a person turns on the faucet. At times, it is even possible for the lavatory to appear to fill up on its own. No, the house isn’t haunted, so there is no need for the homeowner to call in a priest. Rather, the unit in the attic continues to drain unless the thermostat is turned off.
If left to do as it pleases, the sink can overflow. Water can run onto the counter, hit hardwood floors, or soak into the carpeting. In other words, it will cause a big mess. When your Brooklyn lavatory seems to fill up on its own, don’t fret. Instead, contact our 24-hour plumbing company. We offer immediate service on nights, weekends, or whenever. That means you can get the help you need and when you need it the most. So, don’t let a lavatory stoppage drive you mad. Give us a call to nip it in the bud.