kboorman

I wish to install a condensate pump on the ac unit in my basement. It currently has a drain going to a hole in the slab that supposedly lets the condensate disperse into the gravel underneath. Well, this clogged up yesterday and I figure there's got to be a better way.

My issue is what to do with the outlet of the pump? I don't want to go through to the outside with it because I have enough problems with water outside the foundation already and there's no sump pit to go to either. I'd like to run it into a drain pipe if I can.

A quick on the topic search yielded this post:
I think this will work for me, but how can I tap into the drain pipes in my basement? I have copper drain pipes coming down from the bathrooms and kitchen and they go into a large cast iron drain that runs along my back and side walls and then out to the sewer.

Would I be better off posting this question in the plumbing section?

Any advice would be appreciated. TIA, Kirk.

statman

Brass or copper......you simply need to find a way to access that pipe. If you cant solder in a fitting, then you should probably call a plumber.

kboorman

I can solder, it's just a pretty big pipe (1 1/4" or so...) and I'm not sure if I could get it hot enough with a regular propane torch to get the job done. Not sure if there's an appropriate fitting in that size with a T or nipple that I can attach the condensate line to either. I'll have to do some more poking around for that.

8 Ball

Do you have a utility sink you could run it to? There are no floor drains in your home?

kboorman

Nope, not one drain in the basement.

I went out last night and got a 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 x 3/4 tee, a 45, a reducer and a hose barb that I'm going to fit into the kitchen sink drain just below the floor joists. That's below the p trap but I'm hoping a loop in the drain line and the check valve in the pump will take care of any sewer gas issue. I got a mapp gas torch because I didn't think the propane torch would work, so I think I'll be good to go.

I'd appreciate any feedback on potential problems with this install so I can avoid headaches with it in the future.

As a side note, don't you love getting into a project and uncovering shoddy work that has to be repaired before you can do your job? When I removed the side panel from the unit last night, I found that there's no provision for securing the filter. There was a filter in there but it was just bent in half and stuffed into the enclosure near the fan.

A while back, I was installing a gas pipe down there and got shocked when I touched the pipe and a duct at the same time. Turns out they ran the t-stat wiring through a hole they punched in the sheetmetal of the heater and never installed a grommet. The metal wore through the wire insulation and viola! 110 v coming from a duct!


Edit: The more I think about it, the t-stat doesn't get 110v. I'll have to do some more poking around to see if anything else is shorted.