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Water in my ducts

cutawooda | Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on June 7, 2008 06:20am

Second time my AC guy has come out to try and stop condensate from getting into my flex duct. This particular Duct comes off the main plenum and immediatly dips down and under the main plenum towards its register. 

The leak was sever enough to damage the sheetrock. I currently have two 2×4 supporting the cielign and the Flour. light so it doesnt cave in.

So,…why is this happening? Why is the evaporator not dumping the condensate into the pan like it is supposed to?  The AC guy said a diverter was loose the first time. So, why did it happen again? This is gonna cost (HIM)) around 600 to fix the sheetrock and all other aspects of this repair.

Anyone got a photo to show me this diverter so I can understand its function. I don’t want this t o happen again.

thanks

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  1. User avater
    McDesign | Jun 07, 2008 06:42pm | #1

    It's normal - you've heard that, right?

    "Like a duct to water"

     

    But really, do you have a pic or sketch?  Does the flex duct come off the side of the main plenum?  Horizontal or vertical air handler?

    Any chance it's condensation on the outside of the cold flex from a humid environment (maybe a bath fan)?

    Forrest

    1. cutawooda | Jun 07, 2008 07:38pm | #3

      horizontal. Yes insulated. Nothing near it. No tears, (until last night. I had to tear into it to suck all the water out.)

      Just looked at it and the main condensate line it leaking into the secondary pan. Doesnt seem to be handling the humidity very well. Reached into the duct both ways and it just seems that there is too much moisture in there.

  2. peteshlagor | Jun 07, 2008 07:14pm | #2

    Are these ducts insulated?   Properly?  No tears in the fabric?

    Dang things should be outlawed.

     

  3. Clewless1 | Jun 17, 2008 10:08am | #4

    Sounds like the take off is on the wrong side of the main duct for starters. Flex duct is a bad idea. The evaporator should have a catch basin and a tube to drain to your house sewer. You are right ... it should wring most of the unwanted moisture out ... if not, maybe it isn't sized properly?

    Is this an old system or brand new? In a new or old house? Where are you located?

    1. cutawooda | Jun 17, 2008 03:59pm | #5

      Unit is brand new. It has been fixed,  I hope. Damage to the sheet rock amounted to $550. AC man had to pay.

      Problem was, (according to him {first time and second time}) was a diverter. Apparently it snaps into place. The first time he came to fix it he said thought he had snapped into place all the way. Second time, after all the damage< he said that it wasnt seated all the way and the loose end was dripping back into the duct. I have no idea what it looks like, I know that we both went up into the attic and he removed an access panel at the top of the plenum. He saw it almost immediately, so it must be in the main plenum right by the evaporator coil.

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