Save Your Ceiling With An A/C Drain Pan Overflow Device

Your air conditioning works hard to keep the Fayetteville-area heat at bay, and the humidity in our area can produce a lot of condensation in the system. If your air conditioner is installed in the attic or on the second floor, that condensation can do a lot of damage to the ceiling below if the A/C drain pan overflows.

Even if the leak is a minor one, allowing just a small amount of moisture to seep into that space between your floor and the ceiling below, mold and mildew can become an issue. Whether you have a wet patch or a moldy mess, your ceiling will need repair, a task that can be quite costly. So it makes sense to take precautions to ensure that any overflow from a clogged condensate drain stays in the drain pan. Drain pan overflow devices are an inexpensive way to save your ceiling from A/C-related water damage.

Drain pan overflow devices, also commonly called ceiling savers, are installed in the air conditioner drain pan to protect against overflow. Two basic types are available:

• Mechanical switches use a float system, triggered as the water level in the drain pan rises. Depending upon the type of mechanical overflow device you have installed, triggering the switch can either sound an alarm to alert you that the drain pan is in danger of overflow or automatically shut down your air conditioner to avoid further water accumulation in the drain pan.
• Electronic switches use sensors or water detection circuits to trigger a relay switch, shutting down the system when a leak or potential overflow situation is detected.

Both types of A/C drain pan overflow devices are inexpensive components, and installation is a quick and simple job for an experienced HVAC professional. So installing this invaluable safeguard for your ceilings won’t cost you much, especially when compared to the expense involved in mold remediation or ceiling repair.

If you live in the Fayetteville or Raleigh area, please feel free to contact us at Blanton’s Air, Plumbing & Electric for more information on having ceiling savers installed on your A/C system.