CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

[WanMan]

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Whether you use a dedicated AC unit or a heat pump the condition of passing moist air across a cold coil will result in the moisture being removed from said air and condensate. That condensate is usually handled via a pump if below grade. The pump typically can use a rigid PVC pipe, or a flexible hose--as in my case.

The drywallers came in and did their thing, including the mudding. That mud has a lot of moisture, which the heatpump removed accordingly. The condensate accumulated and the pump tried to pump it out the hose. After the drywall then came the acid stainers who did the concrete. This left the doors and windows to the basement, and the humid air outside, for about a week.

A lot of condensate resulted and a pinched condensate hose reach a point where the water compressed what air was in the hose until it reach equilibrium. After that the condensate overflowed into a catch pan. The condensate flowed into the catch pan until it reach a level whereby a kill switch shut the heatpump off. Ouch.

Gotta get the HVAC guy over here to fix it. He also needs to do his finish work, including installing the grills for the registers, uncovering one register that got buried, etc. Its a good thing that this was caught now and before the painters start their work.

My advice for those who will install HVAC in their basement for a project to finish their basement should include a rigid hose. Its not going to be 'fun' trying to find a viable solution for me.

[Jester]

Ouch! That sucks! I have seen people use a small condensate pump with 3/4 PVC to pump out the condensation from what ever( A/C, Dehumidifier, etc) They are inexpensive and tiny. Also if you have no other plumbing in the basement you can get a under sink tank and pump and install a sink. This you could also plumb the condensate line into, and have a wet sink/bar. These cost about $175 and are stocked at Menard's.


Jester

Scott

[Belcherwm]

I have a copper line. I use the pump for my flow-through humidifier during the winter. I've got heat tape on the line to keep it from freezing up since I pump it outside. Good luck and get it right.

[ecrabb]

Pump? What are you guys talking about? My PVC condensate line gravity-feeds right into my floor drain!

No, seriously... Why do you guys have to pump water out of your basements? Are the sanitary sewer lines not far below grade or something?

SC

[Belcherwm]

My waste line goes to the septic in the front of the house. Leaves the house about 4 ft from the basement floor and it is across the house from where the AC is. We're on a hill so the back of the basement is a walk out above grade where the condensate is expelled.

[WanMan]

The sewer lines are three feet under the ground, but my basement is walkout and that is a good nine foot drop below street-level grade. This means the basement floor is actually five feet plus below sewer grade. As such, this condensate water and also the ejector pump tank must eject water to a higher elevation.

[WanMan]

The electrical outlet the condensation pump was plugged into wasn't working. I thought this outlet was installed by the HVAC guy, but I might be wrong. The understanding for the electrician was that he'd wire the lights to panel breakers and come back for the finish work later (after drywall, flooring, painting, etc.).

I had disconnected the hose leading from the pump to outdoors and let the 3-4' worth of water column drain into the catch pan. I connected a temp hose to the pump and ran it out the basement door. I then plugged the pump into a known working outlet and it started pumping the water contained in the PVC pipe coming from the heatpump.

I then took a wet/dry vacuum and got about three gallons of water out of the pan. As soon as I did that (only took 20-30 seconds of vacuuming) the kill switch reversed and the system came on. I came back a little while later and apparently the pump isn't doing a terrific job. I vacuumed even more water out of the catch pan. Called the HVAC guy a week ago and still no follow-up. Nice. Must be the busy season.