HVAC-Talk: Heating, Air & Refrigeration Discussion banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

Condensation into the Sewer

Jump to Latest
1 - 20 of 43 Posts
P

pines

· Registered
Joined
·
74 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
Under what circumstances can I get condensation into the sewer?

We are installing roof top packaged units. We would like to find the easiest legal way to dump water down the conveniently located sewer vents.

How about if we use a pump and or a check valve?
 
#2 ·
just looked at my 2006 mechanical code book regarding condensate disposal and it doesn't say much on the topic. i can't imagine any problems with doing it via pumps, but there's more educated people on this site than me and i'm sure you'll get some feedback from them (maybe by tommorow due to the late post). are these new installs or replacements? (i was wondering where the old ones discharged to if these are replacements). where does rainwater go to that hits the roof? (read: guttering close by?)
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
I want it in the sewer


I want to run the condensation into the sewer because the sewer is close to the ac unit. It is convenient and it will save on material and labor and reduce the length of pipe crossing the roof and eliminate the need to run pipes down the sides of the buildings. And with this setup, if we see water coming down on the ground we know we have a problem.

Q. Can we run a ¾” line through a simple “P” trap and into the sewer?
 
#5 ·
You will have to check your local code authority for this answer, as in many locations it is not legal to dump condensate into the sewer system. Why not just run it to the roof scuppers or just let it drain onto the roof.? Does it rain there?
 
#6 ·
pines said:

I want to run the condensation into the sewer because the sewer is close to the ac unit. It is convenient and it will save on material and labor and reduce the length of pipe crossing the roof and eliminate the need to run pipes down the sides of the buildings. And with this setup, if we see water coming down on the ground we know we have a problem.

Q. Can we run a ¾” line through a simple “P” trap and into the sewer?
Click to expand...
OK I'll ask the same as beenthere since this is not a good answer
Why would you want to run the drain lines of a RTU into the sewer lines.
Click to expand...
does the roof leak...:eek: ...the building has no gutters,.....:confused: .. where does the rain water go......:D
 
#7 ·
pines said:

I want to run the condensation into the sewer because the sewer is close to the ac unit. It is convenient and it will save on material and labor and reduce the length of pipe crossing the roof and eliminate the need to run pipes down the sides of the buildings. And with this setup, if we see water coming down on the ground we know we have a problem.

Q. Can we run a ¾” line through a simple “P” trap and into the sewer?
Click to expand...
most juristictions require a trap and a safewaste connection to a sewer pipe. check you're local plumbing code. what exactly is wrong with spilling the condensate to the roof and letting roof drains or gutters pick it up?
 
#8 ·
A:eek: lmost every commercial job i go on , wether its a new installation or an original with the building unit, the condensate is MOST of the time just run with one 90 comming out of the drain pan and drained directly onto the roof....or sometime someone actually goes to the truck to get a joint of pvc and will run it a few feet away from the unit and call it good.
 
Save
Like Like
#12 ·
The only times I've seen the condensate not drain out of a P trap and directly onto the roof is at KFC where they run PVC all the way to a drain, and at Applebee's where they actually run it through the roof down into a sewer drain somewhere. I've seen where someone at Applebee's has cut the drain line (probably plugged), and set a pan under it (on the roof). WTF? It will overflow anyways from rain or condensate.:rolleyes:
 
#13 ·
I ran into a situation in a commercial building with a mitsubishi. My boss had someone just drill a hole in a vent pipe and siliconed it. Dumba$$ woulda got away with it but the vent was not really a vent. It was a power drain. The first day they installed the drain we got a service call about our drain leaking. The pumps pressure forced its way throu the silicone.The plumber told me i would have to find a natural gravity fed drain. Unfortunatly i had to runn 200' of tubing. I had to get a T y with a built in check valve. The drain even had to be trapped. To prevent sewage fumes from entering the building. never new vapor can flow throu a 3/8 plastic tubing filled with water.

Always on rooftop systems just hand tighten the male adapter. glue on a street 90 and ptrap. Water is gonna dry on that hot black roof.
 
#16 ·
acmech13 said:
Yet vent pipes are venting what? If you follow the pipe down its a drain.
Click to expand...
Yeah I agree, but it's a technicallity. If you let people drain condensate into vent pipes, where do you draw the line. A 1 ton unit won't produce too much condensate, but a 30 ton will turn that vent pipe into an all out drain.
 
#18 ·
your not filling it with water thou condensate trickles down it. I know its against code but it happens all the time. On alot of jobs the plumbers waite for there final inspection and then hook our lines into there vents or drains
 
#20 ·
you will fit into one of these classifications

a professional
or
a hacker






acmech13 said:
your not filling it with water thou condensate trickles down it. I know its against code but it happens all the time. On alot of jobs the plumbers waite for there final inspection and then hook our lines into there vents or drains
Click to expand...
 
1 - 20 of 43 Posts
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
About this Discussion
42 Replies
17 Participants
Last post:
beenthere
HVAC-Talk: Heating, Air & Refrigeration Discussion
posts
5M
members
275K
Since
2000
The #1 HVACR Community
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
AOP Residential HVAC/Refrigeration(Beenthere Zone) General Discussion Tech to Tech Chat - Residential Controls Refrigeration & Ice Making