Gas and Oil Home Heating Furnaces - Air Conditioner Drip Pan

I have two units in my attic and the condenser units are outside. The pan under one of the units is obviously rusted through and water is dripping from the ceiling below. I turned that unit off. Now the overflow from the other unit is draining into the rusted pan and again, into the ceiling. I guess the pvc drain system is blocked somewhere. Can a do-it-yourself person change out the pan. How do you pick the unit up? Thanks for any advice.

WendynTN:

The drain pan is not a DIY job.
They are not normally available as a separate part and you will have to have the whole coil replaced.

The drains must not be connected properly as the lines should drop down from the coils and join up below the pans.

get out the wet vac and suck that PVC drain line out where it terminates. The trap is most likely plugged with dirt/mud

Thanks for the help. We can see the dirt and rust in the pvc pipe and will clean it out the best we can. I'm trying to patch it through a few more months. I would much rather buy new units in the off season. Thank you both again.

Looking at you first post. Are you talking about the overflow pans under the units That leak ?Are the units drains open? If so yes you can lift the units and put a new overflow pan there. if this is so we can tell you how here.;) ED

Thank you for the help ED, that is exactly what it is, an overflow pan that the unit is sitting in/on! The drains are open coming out of the side of the pan, but the pan has rusted through on the bottom and will not hold water. How do we lift the unit to slide another pan under it?:confused:

these are normally used on fuel tanks but if the pan is steel, and you know where the leak is, it should work fine till the end of the season.
To remove the pan, build a support from angle iron and light weight chain link, with hooks connected to the rafters or some type of overhead. raise one side at a time just a few links, little by little using a piece of 3/4" steel pipe as a lever if needed under the unit, or if you have a crow bar use that. The air handler is normally very light if only picking up one corner at a time till it clears, ... sliding the pan out from underneath. Cut the PVC first with a hack saw blade....have fun!

you might want to figure out why and where it's leaking from. The secondary pan is a just in case pan!

Thank you for your suggestions and instructions. I think the top pan (there is one up there isn't there?) Must also be rusted through. I believe the drain pipes have always been slow causing the water to sit and create this mess. I am obviously trying to "buy time". I know a 16 year old system is due for replacement but money is particularly tight right now and Memphis is hot -- so I try to patch. Thanks again!

If you get the unit hung and get the pan out .Take it to a sheet metal shop and they can make you a new one just like it.tThe new one can be used with the new unit when you get it;) ED

I'll sure try to find a sheet metal shop. Thanks ED!

hvac suppliers and hvac shops. many of the shops have sheet metal equipment and will whip you one out.

You might be able to get a plastic one to do the job from WW Grainger on Nonconnah Blvd, or Shelby Oaks Drive , or Elm Tree Drive or Charlotte Ave...All are in Memphis. ITS CALLED A CONDENSATE DRAIN PAN...

Wonderful help..thank you so much! There is an HVAC shop in the suburb where I live, and I work near Grainger, so I should have no trouble finding one! Thanks again!!