Condensate Pump confusion

GlennAndrew

A few months ago I had an Amana AMV90704CX furnace installed with a condensate pump that pumps the water up to the ceiling of the furnace room, across the ceiling about four feet, then down several feet into a drainpipe that's on the wall behind the washing machine.

The pump itself sits maybe two feet away from a floor drain.

When it's really cold (approx below -15 degrees celsius) the furnace will go through cycles where the condensate pump runs every 80 seconds or so. I find this quite annoying because it's an old house so you can hear it everywhere.

If I ran that pump straight to the floor drain would the condensate pump still run as frequently? The guy who sold me the furnace seemed to indicate that draining the condensate pump into the floor drain would eliminate this, but another person at the same company seemed to think that the condensate pump would have to run regardless of where it drains.

Also, the furnace comes on with much harsher noises when it starts a cycle where the condensate pump is going to run over and over. I don't understand why that is.

yuri

There is something wrong with the condensate pump and its float and check valve. Should only run for about 1 minute and be off for about 4-5 when the furnace is firing. Canuck eh? You can eliminate the pump and drain the furnace into a floor drain. If the drain pipe becomes a trip hazard then we use a condensate pump. The pump will run the same no matter where it discharges to. The harsh noise is NOT good as it sounds like water is in the inducer fan and that can damage it. Get the problem solved ASAP.

okrite

You say it is currently draining into the building waste system via the pump?

You need 1/4 inch per foot fall from the condensate trap outlet, to the floor drain.

In other words if the if the invert of the trap outlet is 3" above the floor drain you can go 12 feet with no pump.

You say floor drain is two feet away? Condensate traps are usually a least 3-4 inches deep. So even if it is mounted at the bottom of the furnace it would work with no pump.

[Depending on the invert of the floor drain, you may be able to re-work that and slot in the 3/4" condensate drain below grade, if trip hazzard]

Make sure to check that the floor drain is clear and drains properly.

Flue condensate is water containing trace amounts of acidic combustion products. (the CO2 goes out the flue)

yuri

As acidic as tomato or orange juice. Does not harm anything.

Marty S.

Doesn't hurt plastic or cast drain lines but will eat holes in copper.

yuri

True, so does Co*a Cola. Not good for your guts either.

beenthere

Yep. Pump will run the same amount of times weather hooked to the drain pipe or ran to the floor drain.

Just have furnace drain ran to the floor drain. No pump needed then.


Also. Get furnace checked out. Should have harsh start up noises just because its cold out side.
Probably doesn't have proper slow on flue pipe.

GlennAndrew

There is a rubber tube that runs from the condensate pump up to the humidifier, what happens to that if I get rid of the condensate pump and run the furnace drain into the floor drain?

Whenever the condensate pump runs, it only runs for about 5 seconds. But as I say, in these cycles it does that every 80 seconds or so. Meaning it runs probably seven or eight times during a furnace cycle.

beenthere

Its probably your humidifier that is causing the condensate pump to run so much.

So unless you also run its line to the floor drain. You''l have a bout the same amount of cycling on the pump.

yuri

Post a pic of the condensate pump. If it has a small reservoir then what it is doing is normal. The ones I use hold about 2-3 litres and don't have to cycle so often. Post some pics of the humidifier and the pump etc so we can see what you are describing. It won't last long the way it is now.