Fail Evaporator Pan Safety Switch

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Fail Evaporator Pan Safety Switch

by Jami
(Florida)

We had a new Goodman SSX 16 SEER ac unit installed in our home in august 2009. Model number is AEPF426016CA; serial number is 097735419. We have had it serviced like we should with the last service on 6-25-11. However the June service was by a new HVACs company rather than the one who installed the central ac unit in 2009.

We do not have a condensation line/drain. We have a drain line though. On the outside of the ac unit is a floater (safe-t-switch). This is supposed to pop up when there is a clog in the line which then would turn off the hvac unit.

However, it did not work and we had a flood which unfortunately went under the baseboards and into the room that shares a wall with the central ac unit. 3000 later I'm still trying to figure out who is responsible for the failed safe-t switch.

Is it Goodman, the installation company or the manufacturer? Now, when the HVACs Company came out the day of the flood they asked if my line had really been flushed. If I had no clog then this wouldn't happen. However, the floater should have worked also!

I showed him the paperwork from his ac company that said the line was flushed. He proceeded to flush this line again. So again, who is responsible? I have a 2 year old central ac unit that I have had serviced regularly. So I don't think I'm responsible as the consumer!

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Fail Evaporator Pan Safety Switch

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THE RIGHT ANSWER!
by: Anonymous

Jami,

The other answers were all posted by morons apparently because none of them make sense and they are all wrong. Maybe they were reading a different thread.

The bottom line is that the safety switch failed, that is why they call it a safety switch, it is meant to keep you and your property safe in case of a clog in your condensate drain line.

There are only 2 reason these switches do not shut off the system and prevent an overflow as intended.
It was either installed wrong or it is defective.

If it was wired wrong, it will not shut off the system. If it was not installed perfectly level, they will sometimes stick and not allow the rising water to lift the float and cut power as designed. In either case the installer of the switch would be liable.

If the switch was wired and mounted properly and still allowed an overflow, then it must be a defective switch, which can be easily confirmed with a multi-meter and 30 seconds of testing it. If this is the case, the manufacturer is liable.

A faulty switch is easy to prove by the test and recovery of your $3000 is possible with some legwork. A faulty install however is much much harder to prove since the switch has already been removed.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

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The switch
by: Anonymous

The safety swith is an add on and has nothing to do with Goodman

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Drain Line
by: Anonymous

Drain lines have nothing to do with the equipment brand.

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condenstation backup
by: Anonymous

Generally found is the primary drain is ran into a guest bath sink just above the trap. What happens is the sink drain line becomes clogged which causes the a/c evap. coil drain to back up. The overflow switch should had stopped it before it did any damage. These items are sold or installed as a requirement of local code or as a precautionary item. I would find out what caused the drain to back up. The overflow switch carries no assurances or acceptance of liability. However I would think your homeowners insurance would cover this incident.

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Evaporator pan
by: Dadan

The secondary evaporator pan have safety switch that supposed to shut off the condenser unit if the water reach a specific level in the evaporator pan. Attic air handler units are recommended to have it.

“On the outside of the ac unit is a floater (safe-t-switch). This is supposed to pop up when there is a clog in the line which then would turn off the hvac unit.” Since, the safety switch didn’t shut off the condenser unit, it either malfunction or not wire correctly.

I doubt it wire wrong. I really don’t know, who is responsible for the flood.

Dadan

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thanks daden, here is more info
by: Anonymous

well i was told that all units come with a condensation line. but one ac guy said we had a drain line. for whatever reason the line was clogged although it was flushed 6/25/11 (the flood occurred on 8/1/11). So i'm not sure what you meant by the fail safety switch? So are you saying it is the installation company that may be responsible??

also, our unit is in the house, which since this has happened I have found out that is rare. Except for my neighborhood. If I ever buy a new house I will make sure the ac is in the garage!!!

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Safety Switch Fail
by: Dadan

Where is your air handler unit located? Is in attic or basement? If air handler unit is in the attic, in some area, local code required it has a safety switch to turn the condenser unit off. I?m guessing your air handler unit is in a small closet.

When a HVACs contractor installs a new central ac unit, they expect it to work, not fail. A fail safety switch is a fail a safety switch, it happens. Sorry, you weren?t expecting to hear that. I'm not good with pointing finger.

Clog drains line within two years, what kind of environment the central ac in. I pretty sure you know who is responsible for the drain line. What I don't understand is this "We do not have a condensation line/drain. We have a drain line though" ????

Read more on Central Air Units Condensate Drain Line
I hope I answer your question

Dadan

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Fail Evaporator Pan Safety Switch

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