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Pumping condensate from air conditioning evaporator

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Pumping condensate from air conditioning evaporator James 06-04-2007
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Posted by James on June 4, 2007, 7:33 am
I am installing a split easy-fit air conditioning system in my house,
and I have a need for the pipework between the indoor and outdoor
unit
to go above the height of the indoor evaporator (basically, up into
the loft, and then across to the external wall).

I believe that I need to install a small condensate pump to assist
the
flow of drained condensate. (it only needs to pump about 12 inches
above the height of the evaporator).

My question is... does the condensate pump have to be installed at a
similar height to the bottom of the evaporator unit? i.e. at the same
level as the contents of the drainage reservoir in the evaporator? Or
can it be installed at a higher level, and somehow maintain a head of
water to syphon the condensate from the evaporator?

Also, I noticed that most of the mini condensate pumps seem to come
as
two parts, one of which can be fitted within the evaporator's
drainage
tray, and one that can be put into trunking in line with the drainage
tube. Is this an either/or option? I don't particularly want to take
the evaporator apart and install things in it, so I'd like to just
have something in the trunking.

Thanks for any suggestions / advice!

James


Posted by Mo Hoaner on June 5, 2007, 7:42 am

>I am installing a split easy-fit air conditioning system in my house,
> and I have a need for the pipework between the indoor and outdoor
> unit
> to go above the height of the indoor evaporator (basically, up into
> the loft, and then across to the external wall).
>
> I believe that I need to install a small condensate pump to assist
> the
> flow of drained condensate. (it only needs to pump about 12 inches
> above the height of the evaporator).
>
> My question is... does the condensate pump have to be installed at a
> similar height to the bottom of the evaporator unit? i.e. at the same
> level as the contents of the drainage reservoir in the evaporator? Or
> can it be installed at a higher level, and somehow maintain a head of
> water to syphon the condensate from the evaporator?

You can put it up to 29 (actually, 29.92) inches above the drain pan on the
evaporator. Water will flow upward due to capillary action. You need to use
a small diameter, rigid plastic pipe. You've heard us talk about 29 inches
of vacuum - same concept.

> Also, I noticed that most of the mini condensate pumps seem to come
> as
> two parts, one of which can be fitted within the evaporator's
> drainage
> tray, and one that can be put into trunking in line with the drainage
> tube. Is this an either/or option? I don't particularly want to take
> the evaporator apart and install things in it, so I'd like to just
> have something in the trunking.
>
> Thanks for any suggestions / advice!
>
> James

All you need to do is make sure that the condensate pump side of the
capillary tube stays under water in the pump.

Good luck on your project!



Posted by Lloyd E. Sponenburgh on June 5, 2007, 8:40 am

> You can put it up to 29 (actually, 29.92) inches above the drain pan on
> the evaporator. Water will flow upward due to capillary action. You need
> to use a small diameter, rigid plastic pipe. You've heard us talk about 29
> inches of vacuum - same concept.


COUGH! So, his evaporator condenses liquid mercury, not water? Oh.... how
small does that rigid plastic pipe need to be? Two thousanths bore; three?.

> All you need to do is make sure that the condensate pump side of the
> capillary tube stays under water in the pump.

Yep, with a capillary tube on the suction side, you should be able to pump
maybe a gallon a month.

Who ARE you? Why are you giving advice. You're even less qualified than I
am to do it.

(Or are you pulling this guy's leg -- and wallet?)

LLoyd


Posted by on June 5, 2007, 8:51 am
On Tue, 5 Jun 2007 08:40:19 -0400, "Lloyd E. Sponenburgh"

>
>> You can put it up to 29 (actually, 29.92) inches above the drain pan on
>> the evaporator. Water will flow upward due to capillary action. You need
>> to use a small diameter, rigid plastic pipe. You've heard us talk about 29
>> inches of vacuum - same concept.
>
>
>COUGH! So, his evaporator condenses liquid mercury, not water? Oh.... how
>small does that rigid plastic pipe need to be? Two thousanths bore; three?.
>
>> All you need to do is make sure that the condensate pump side of the
>> capillary tube stays under water in the pump.
>
>Yep, with a capillary tube on the suction side, you should be able to pump
>maybe a gallon a month.

        Actually, with the newest carbon-fiber capillary tubes using
nano-technology, you can run it up to 3 meters high above the sump
level, and there's so much capillary action that it actually spits up
a fountain 12 inches high at the leaving end, all by itself.

        Great for watering plants, or keeping Grandma cool in the
summertime.


--
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Posted by jamesgangnc on June 5, 2007, 3:01 pm
> I am installing a split easy-fit air conditioning system in my house,
> and I have a need for the pipework between the indoor and outdoor
> unit
> to go above the height of the indoor evaporator (basically, up into
> the loft, and then across to the external wall).
>
> I believe that I need to install a small condensate pump to assist
> the
> flow of drained condensate. (it only needs to pump about 12 inches
> above the height of the evaporator).
>
> My question is... does the condensate pump have to be installed at a
> similar height to the bottom of the evaporator unit? i.e. at the same
> level as the contents of the drainage reservoir in the evaporator? Or
> can it be installed at a higher level, and somehow maintain a head of
> water to syphon the condensate from the evaporator?
>
> Also, I noticed that most of the mini condensate pumps seem to come
> as
> two parts, one of which can be fitted within the evaporator's
> drainage
> tray, and one that can be put into trunking in line with the drainage
> tube. Is this an either/or option? I don't particularly want to take
> the evaporator apart and install things in it, so I'd like to just
> have something in the trunking.
>
> Thanks for any suggestions / advice!
>
> James

Most small condensate pumps are not self priming and need to be
installed so that they are submerged in water to work. If you must
have the pump above then you will need to use a self priming pump and
a remote float switch. Self priming pumps are more expensive and
usually don't have the life expectancy of none self priming pumps.


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