Definition
The pipe that carries away the water your AC pulls from the air. A clogged drain line is a frequent cause of summer shutdowns and water damage.
Why this matters for your home
As your AC cools, it pulls humidity out of the air, and that water collects in a drain pan and exits through the condensate line. On a humid afternoon a central system can remove several gallons a day this way.
Algae and sludge build up in that line over time, backing water into the pan or onto your floor and tripping the safety switch that shuts the system down. A clogged drain is one of the most common — and most preventable — summer no-cool calls we run, which is why we flush it during maintenance.