That's not a condensate line in that picture, that's the refrigeration line set.
That's copper tubing and can be formed into a plumb and straight run. Any clamps you use will best be installed at the joint where the pieces of Armaflex (the rubber insulation) butt together. Use a stand-off type clamp directly on the large copper line since that will allow space for the Armaflex without crushing it.
I do not recommend plastic zip ties on insulated refrigerant lines. I know people do it all of the time, but it cuts into and wrecks the insulation. If you're going the zip tie route, wrap it around just the smaller pipe that's not insulated, then you can crank down on it as tight as you want without wrecking the Armaflex.
To the original poster... I'm not sure what you are talking about. Could you please describe the condensate line a little better? From what you described so far, I'm guessing it might be vinyl tubing, but I'm not sure. Is it the same material and size all the way from your air handler, or does it start of as some type of hard piping and then transfer to soft tubing some how?
Does this pipe/tubing attach directly to your air handler, or is it coming from a condensate pump?
Is this "clamp that tightens with a flat-head screwdriver" that you speak of just the common stainless steel hose clamp with a worm gear mechanism that I'm picturing in my head? At the point where the tubing keeps falling apart, is there a barbed coupling that goes into the tubing, or is the tubing just stuffed into another pipe?
Hi,
I have an old house with a split ac system. One unit in the attic and the other unit is outside on the ground. The condensation line runs from the attic unit to the outside of my house and down to the ground.
I would use something like this https://www.homedepot.com/p/RACO-EMT-and-Rigid-IMC-3-4-in-Hanger-100-Pack-2053/203637549
Run the hardware throught the dishwasher, paint bracket and mounting screw the same color as the siding before install. If you don't paint it you will get rust stains down your siding. No need to paint the front bolt.
This link is for the 100 count but they sell singles or doubles in the store. Should have 1/2" and 3/4"
Looks like you never had it pushed on the copper pipe far enough... get it on further and tighten that gear clamp up. It won't go anywhere.
If that vinyl tubing is old and hardened, run a new one.
I agree that it would be better to redo the entire thing in 3/4" hard pvc if you can. One little tip if you do this... Use pvc electrical conduit instead of plumbing pvc, at least for the outdoor section. This is because the grey electrical kind is made to be outdoors and is UV resistant, plumbing PVC is not. That's my tip O' the day, do with it what you will.It will be a lot cheaper to just buy some PVC and glue. That is what most of them are made of.
I agree that it would be better to redo the entire thing in 3/4" hard pvc if you can. One little tip if you do this... Use pvc electrical conduit instead of plumbing pvc, at least for the outdoor section. This is because the grey electrical kind is made to be outdoors and is UV resistant, plumbing PVC is not. That's my tip O' the day, do with it what you will.