Is a Water Line Needed For HVAC?

After the hot air is picked up from your room, it passes through an evaporator and then to the compressor where it is turned into gas. It then passes through some copper coils and is taken to the condenser where the gas is turned back into liquid. For this reason, most HVAC systems have a condensate drain line where the water escapes out of your house.

The drain lines are usually constructed using PVC material and are sometimes passed along the ceiling. Bearing in mind that the material is prone to cracking and clogging, massive water damage is therefore imminent. Since most HVAC drain lines are separate from the main plumbing line of the house, it is important to install a water line for the HVAC. This article gives reasons why doing this is important.

To Stop Flooding

Close up of house heating system with many steel pipes, manometer

Most HVAC systems are stored in a separate room from the main house. Due to the continued condensation and failure of the drain line of the system, massive flooding may occur in the equipment room. When this goes unnoticed for so long, the flooded water may even find its way into your living space. The clogged drain line of the system can also flood your ceiling and this will cause massive damage to the ceiling, drywall, and wood framing. As a result, you will be forced to incur huge repair costs, and you could deal with mold and mildew problems. To prevent this scenario, a separate water line is needed, just in case the drain line of the system fails.

To Prevent Equipment Damage

When the drain line of your HVAC system fails, water may flood the equipment room. A couple of days of flooding of the room may even submerge the equipment. Water may also find its way into some mechanical parts of the equipment, causing malfunction and the HVAC will eventually break down. When this happens, your HVAC equipment will be damaged and you will have to incur hefty repair and maintenance costs. To prevent damaging your equipment through flooding, it is always good to have a separate water line since the drain line of the system can fail at any time. Besides, it will also prevent unnecessary repair and maintenance costs and increase the shelf life of the equipment.

To Prevent the Growth of Mold and Mildew

Leaking, clogged and broken drain line of an HVAC system is a major source of moisture in the house. When this happens, you will have to deal with the issue of the growth of mold and mildew in the equipment room and the crawl spaces. Mold is the leading single cause of allergies and some respiratory-related conditions like asthma. This, therefore, means that you and your family’s health will be in jeopardy. A musty smell in your storage room or the crawl space is a clear indication that mold is growing because of moisture presence caused by the failed drain line. To avoid mold growth, ensure you have a separate water line as a backup for when things go wrong with the drain line of the HVAC system.

To Prevent Structural Damage

Building a house is an investment that takes a huge toll on your budget. A failed, clogged or cracked drain line of your HVAC system places your house at the risk of massive structural damage. This happens when water damages the drywall, the ceiling, and wood rot. Water problems could also lead to the growth of mold and mildew, both of which damage the wood framing. Structural damage is very expensive to repair, bearing in mind the cost of the materials and labor. When this happens, structural damage is not your only concern; accidents can also occur when the ceiling or the drywall caves in. at the same time, your monthly energy bills will skyrocket due to the damaged insulator. This is where a spate water line comes in; to act as a backup for your failed drain line and prevent all these problems.

Some people may argue that a high-quality HVAC comes with a good condensation drain line. This cannot be further from the truth – the better the system, the better the drain line. However, the nature of life is that no matter how good something is, it is deemed to fail at some point in time. So now, to answer your question; yes, a water line is needed for HVAC. As you go looking for someone to do the installation, ensure to verify their credentials otherwise the waterline will not serve the intended purpose.