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Air-Ease Draining Pan Useless "Solution"

From: The Residents
Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2011 10:30 AM
To: Air-ease Heating & Cooling <info@air-ease·com>
Subject: Inspector needs explanation - re: the condensation on the air blower unit

Hi Bob and Denise,

The County occupancy inspector needs an explanation and drawings how the condensation is handled on the air blower unit upstairs. Because there's no floor pan they will not pass that unit unless they get this information.

Will you send it to us ASAP? By fax or mail:

Fax: {Fax number}

Mail: {Address}

Thank you,

The Residents




THE GEOTHERMAL UNIT DRAIN PAN


Air-Ease Draining Pan Solution

Draining Pan Outlet for the 2-nd Floor AC Blower Unit

By design, P-traps on any draining pipes are meant to hold inside standing water to prevent sewer vapors from entering the room. However, our 2-nd floor AC blower unit draining pipes run into floor outlet that has holes all around it, so all the vapors can enter the room from the floor level. The installed P-trap therefore does not server its intended function. However, it does create a “plug” made of slushy jelly-like substance which the standing water turns into in the collecting pan and the P-trap portion of the draining pipes. The jelly-like substance is produced by natural process of mold and other organism developing in the standing water. It effectively stops water from draining, and the pan overflows and floods the unit inside and the floor outside.

The little sensor device, we were advised, was supposed to sense standing water when its levels were too high in the draining pan. When the sensor light turned on, it was supposed to turn the blower unit off to prevent overflowing draining pan. This is the theory. In practice, the sensor light is on basically all the time when the unit is working as AC blower, and it does not turn the unit off. The floor flooded twice in the first year we used the system. In practice, the sensor device is completely useless.

To address this 2-nd floor flooding issue, we had do our own research and finally found someone knowledgeable enough to advise us to purchase drain pan treatment sponges. The blue sponge bar releases chemical compound of some sort to stop water from turning into jelly, and keeps the drain actually draining. They are fairly expensive for what they are, but luckily one set during cooling season is enough.

By the way, the system maintenance was performed by Air-ease end of this September. Evidently, this blower unit, which serves as a back up air-forced 2-nd floor heat during winter time did not need any cleaning or care.


Air-Ease Draining Pan Design

P-trap
P-trap


AC Blower
AC Blower


Drain Pan Treatment
Drain Pan Treatment


Drain Holes
Drain Holes


P-trap
P-trap


New Drain Pan Treatment Sponge
New Drain Pan Treatment Sponge