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vickevette

Is condensate toxic?

vickevette
15 years ago

We have a central air conditioner with the coil mounted in line with our gas furnace on the second floor of our home. There was a condensate pump with a clear plastic tube that ran through the attic, and outside.

The tubing collapsed (probably due to heat in the attic), and the pump failed. When we had a repairman out to install a new pump, he said that rather than run flexible plastic tubing all the way through the attic, he could run pvc pipe to a nearby bathroom drain pipe.

This seemed like a great solution, and we did it. Later, a friend told us that he thinks the condensation from the air conditioner (and apparently, his furnace also produces liquid condensation in winter) is highly acidic, and would damage our septic system (by killing the bacteria that make the septic work).

I'm not sure why "condensation" from an air conditioner, or a furnace would be toxic. It is odd that the system was not routed into the nearby bathroom drain initially though--so I'm wondering if there is something to the idea that the condensation shouldn't go into the septic system.

Any thoughts? Thanks.

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