Water dripping from the air handler, a stained ceiling below the attic unit, or a puddle by the indoor equipment — in Fort Lauderdale, this is almost always a clogged condensate drain. Your AC pulls gallons of moisture out of the air on a humid day, and all of it has to drain somewhere.
When algae clogs the line, the emergency pan fills up. If you're lucky, the float switch shuts the system down. If you're not, the pan overflows. Here's what to do right now, and what fixes it for good.
What to Do Right Now
Turn the AC off at the thermostat to stop more water from forming. If water is near any electrical equipment, the panel, or outlets, stay clear and call (561) 786-1337 — don't wade in.
Put a bucket or towels under the drip and, if you can do it safely, check whether the float switch on the drain line has tripped. Don't bypass it. Then call us — a leaking system needs a visit, not a wait.
Why Drains Clog Here
Fort Lauderdale's humidity means the condensate line runs nearly year-round, and warm, dark, wet PVC is perfect for algae. The line slowly narrows until one day it seals shut. Rust and scale in older lines speed it up.
Attic air handlers — common in ranch homes across Oakland Park, Plantation, and Sunrise — make it worse: a leak up there soaks insulation and drywall before you ever see a drip.
The Real Fix
We clear the line with suction and flush, verify the pan drains freely, and check that the float switch actually works — a surprising number are stuck or missing. Then we treat the line to slow algae regrowth.
If the pan is rusted through or the line is undersized for the system, we say so and quote the correction in writing. Patching a rotted pan buys weeks, not years.
Common questions
Can I pour bleach or vinegar down the drain line?
A cup of white vinegar every few months helps slow algae, but it won't clear a line that's already clogged. If water is already backing up, the line needs professional clearing.
My ceiling has a water stain but the AC seems fine. Related?
Very likely. Stains often show up days after the leak starts, especially with attic units. Get the drain checked before the next humid stretch turns a stain into a collapse.
The float switch keeps tripping. Is the switch bad?
Rarely. A tripping float switch means the pan is filling, which means the drain is restricted. Clearing the drain fixes the tripping.
Related help
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(561) 786-1337