A/C Condensate Line Making a Swamp in my Yard

[SilverStoned1.8T]

So the air handler for my heat pump is in my attic. My condensate line runs down the wall and exits the house at about chest height next to the outside unit, then there is a 90 and about two feet of pipe. The water just drips constantly from the pipe since it has been so hot and humid lately. It is pooling right at my foundation, which I assume isn't good, and is making a swamp out of the grass next to my outside unit in about a four foot area. What can I do about this? Should I dig a hole and make a dry well with stone?

[barry2952]

If it drips into a tub the water will evaporate as fast as you're producing it, in most cases. The more surface area the better.

[spookygeek]

I had a similar problem and just routed it to my half bath on the main level (easy to get to from my unfinished basement). Instead of dumping outside it goes into my sink in a Y above the trap in the sink and goes right down the drain.

BRENT

[spockcat]

I had a similar problem and just routed it to my half bath on the main level (easy to get to from my unfinished basement). Instead of dumping outside it goes into my sink in a Y above the trap in the sink and goes right down the drain.

BRENT

Not a plumber but is it possible that you are also venting sewer gas up through that condensate line?

If it drips into a tub the water will evaporate as fast as you're producing it, in most cases. The more surface area the better.

The mosquitoes like that too! Probably better to make a stone filled dry well for the water.

[barry2952]

Not a plumber but is it possible that you are also venting sewer gas up through that condensate line?



The mosquitoes like that too! Probably better to make a stone filled dry well for the water.

You're probably right.

If he taps in before the trap he would be OK. I don't think there are stock fittings for that, though. It wouldn't be any different than a dishwasher tap on a disposal.

[G-rocco]

Collect it in a rain barell and use it to water your plants?



Or something like this?

[Chilledman]

I had a similar problem and just routed it to my half bath on the main level (easy to get to from my unfinished basement). Instead of dumping outside it goes into my sink in a Y above the trap in the sink and goes right down the drain.

BRENT

This is actually illegal ....

Your sewer bill is based off your water usage .
Your dumping more water in your drain that is not being counted at the water meter.


No one cares just stating some info

- Its looked at more on the commercial industrial level for there AC systems and rain run off side of stuff then a single condensate line from a 3 ton ac system

[barry2952]

This is actually illegal ....

Your sewer bill is based off your water usage .
Your dumping more water in your drain that is not being counted at the water meter.


No one cares just stating some info

- Its looked at more on the commercial industrial level for there AC systems and rain run off side of stuff then a single condensate line from a 3 ton ac system

That's the way they're done around here. There's actually a benefit to doing that if it's dumped into a floor drain that feeds perimeter drain as the soil needs to be somewhat damp around the footing. Aren't most floor drains connected to the soil and not the sewer?

[Egilbe]

That's the way they're done around here. There's actually a benefit to doing that if it's dumped into a floor drain that feeds perimeter drain as the soil needs to be somewhat damp around the footing. Aren't most floor drains connected to the soil and not the sewer?

Usually a dry well.

I like the idea of the rain barrel. Make sure the top is covered and sealed so mosquitoes don't have a place to breed. Use the water for a garden or your lawn.

[winstonsmith84]

This is actually illegal ....

Your sewer bill is based off your water usage .
Your dumping more water in your drain that is not being counted at the water meter.

How do they account for urine?


Mine dumps into a soil pipe. There is a trap on it. I've never had an issue with swamp gas.

[484]

This is actually illegal ....

Your sewer bill is based off your water usage .
Your dumping more water in your drain that is not being counted at the water meter.


No one cares just stating some info

This pisses me the heck off. The township recently did inspections to make sure no illegal drains like this exist.

If they're gonna be that precise about it, I want a damned refund on the water I use to wash the car or water the yard.

Edit: BLB, pretty sure the average person uses up more water for drinking, cooking, any houseplants and misc. outdoor usage, than they can generate in pee.

[barry2952]

We have two water meters, one for domestic use, the other for the boiler, hot-tub, outdoor spigots and sprinkler system. The second meter is about half-rate because you're not dumping water in the sewer.

[484]

I wish.

It's a town of 1800 people. I don't think they're organized enough to care.

[spockcat]

We have two water meters, one for domestic use, the other for the boiler, hot-tub, outdoor spigots and sprinkler system. The second meter is about half-rate because you're not dumping water in the sewer.

Isn't there a separate monthly charge for each meter? In our condo in FL we have metered water and the portion of the charge for the meter is more than the water we normally use. And how much they charge for the meter is based on meter size.

[barry2952]

Isn't there a separate monthly charge for each meter? In our condo in FL we have metered water and the portion of the charge for the meter is more than the water we normally use. And how much they charge for the meter is based on meter size.

Our average summer water bill is $500 a quarter. The savings more than pays for the second meter.

[Mk1Racer]

This is actually illegal ....

Your sewer bill is based off your water usage .
Your dumping more water in your drain that is not being counted at the water meter.


No one cares just stating some info

- Its looked at more on the commercial industrial level for there AC systems and rain run off side of stuff then a single condensate line from a 3 ton ac system

This actually depends on where you are. Where I live, everyone pays a flat rate per quarter, for sewer. It actually sucks for me, as I pay the same rate w/ my 3 Br / 2 Bth house as someone w/ a 5 Br / 5.5 Bth house. If it wouldn't be a PITA, I'd route my dowmspouts to the sewer, just to make sure I'm getting my money's worth!

[484]

Our average summer water bill is $500 a quarter. The savings more than pays for the second meter.

And I'm whining about $250/quarter. Wow.

[GeoffD]

Our average summer water bill is $500 a quarter. The savings more than pays for the second meter.

I had the hot water hose to my washing machine burst, run for at least 2 weeks flooding everything, and still only had an $800 water/sewer bill for 6 months. My usual bill is $65 every 6 months. Are you one of those people who has an automatic sprinkler system running during a downpour?

[barry2952]

I had the hot water hose to my washing machine burst, run for at least 2 weeks flooding everything, and still only had an $800 water/sewer bill for 6 months. My usual bill is $65 every 6 months. Are you one of those people who has an automatic sprinkler system running during a downpour?

If I'm not home, yes. I used to have a rain sensor that make all the pipes in the house shake as it cycled on and off a million times a second.

I have a heavily landscaped 1-acre lot, and I like things to be green.

[GeoffD]

This actually depends on where you are. Where I live, everyone pays a flat rate per quarter, for sewer. It actually sucks for me, as I pay the same rate w/ my 3 Br / 2 Bth house as someone w/ a 5 Br / 5.5 Bth house. If it wouldn't be a PITA, I'd route my dowmspouts to the sewer, just to make sure I'm getting my money's worth!

My Vermont place charges by bedroom. I pay $185 every 6 months for sewer for 2 bedrooms. In the early 1990's, I also had to pay another chunk of money every 6 months to retire the bond used to build the plant. They're about to reconstruct the waste treatment plant so that's going to shoot way up soon.

[Mk1Racer]

My Vermont place charges by bedroom. I pay $185 every 6 months for sewer for 2 bedrooms. In the early 1990's, I also had to pay another chunk of money every 6 months to retire the bond used to build the plant. They're about to reconstruct the waste treatment plant so that's going to shoot way up soon.

It's $105/quarter where I live. The fact that it is not based on the # of bedrooms, or the # of bathrooms is nuts. They can't base it on water usage, because there are still a number of people in town that have wells (myself included). That, and the water company is a separate company from the sewer authority (municipal entity). My old g/f's house had two different meters. One was supposed to supply the general house water, and the other was for the sprinkler system and the garden hoses. The previous owner was a plumber, and did all the work himself. He had some hidden valves that let him rum the house off the sprinkler meter.

[robr2]

And I'm whining about $250/quarter. Wow.

I'm whining about $250 a year. Dang "tween" daughter and her 30 minute showers.

[barry2952]

I may have misrepresented my bill. That's for the summer period. It drops to about $200 a quarter off watering season.

I had a problem with my water pressure being too high to accommodate all the sprinkler systems in the area. During the summer they would crank it over 100psi. We came home twice to exploded Grohe faucets. I was told that they were made to a lower psi standard for the European market. The solution was to add a PRV (pressure reducing valve) to prevent further blowout. They installed all of that (the lower closest pipework)at no charge. There were 3 1" valves, a check valve, small expansion tank, a pressure reducing valve. A screened clean-out, 2 3/8" ball valves and two pressure meters before and after the PRV. My tax dollars at work.

[Bladecatcher]

Good God.

Barry - Are you able to drill a well on your property? Free water for, well... watering.

[barry2952]

There have been 5 wells drilled on this property since 1959. They have all been spoiled by sand. One lot over has stream access, but there hasn't been much water this year.

[GeoffD]

I may have misrepresented my bill. That's for the summer period. It drops to about $200 a quarter off watering season.

I don't get it. How can two people use that much water? Do you fill that stainless hot tub in your basement every day?

[barry2952]

I don't get it. How can two people use that much water? Do you fill that stainless hot tub in your basement every day?

I water the lawn 8 months a year, or more.

With an ozonator the hot tub requires very few water changes.

[Mk1Racer]

I may have misrepresented my bill. That's for the summer period. It drops to about $200 a quarter off watering season.

I had a problem with my water pressure being too high to accommodate all the sprinkler systems in the area. During the summer they would crank it over 100psi. We came home twice to exploded Grohe faucets. I was told that they were made to a lower psi standard for the European market. The solution was to add a PRV (pressure reducing valve) to prevent further blowout. They installed all of that (the lower closest pipework)at no charge. There were 3 1" valves, a check valve, small expansion tank, a pressure reducing valve. A screened clean-out, 2 3/8" ball valves and two pressure meters before and after the PRV. My tax dollars at work.

100psi plus on residential water supply???

[barry2952]

100psi plus on residential water supply???

Hence, the PRV.

[naiku]

Collect it in a rain barell and use it to water your plants?

This is what I keep meaning to do, just need to get around to picking up a barrel. I also dump about 30+ gallons of water outside on a weekly basis when changing water on my fish tank. I plan to drain that into a barrel as well to use on a garden.