A running coil can drop a gallon or more of water an hour on a humid day. The primary pan drains through a trapped line; draw-through units need a trap deep enough to overcome fan suction, or water won't leave. Equipment over finished space gets a secondary pan or a float switch that shuts the unit down when water backs up. Algae and sludge in pans and traps cause many ceiling leaks.
Drain pan is full to the lip, the trap's plugged with slime, blow it out and put a tablet in.
Also heard as
- condensate pan
- condensate drain pan
Related terms
Evaporator
The coil or heat exchanger where low-pressure liquid refrigerant boils off, absorbing heat from air or water.
Fan coil
A small terminal unit with a fan, a filter and a water coil that heats or cools one room or zone.
Latent heat
Heat tied up in moisture, added or removed when water evaporates or condenses without changing air temperature.