/BY ROY BERENDSOHN/
↓ ASK ROY
(^46) July/August 2019 _ PopularMechanics.com
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Send your home and yard questions to:
[email protected]
@askroypm
Is there a way to stop
the condensate drain
on our a/c from getting
plugged all the time?
Mary Kay A., Herndon, Virginia
It’s a fairly common problem, especially in severe hot–
humid climates and in houses with long condensate
drains. The water from the drain pan trickles slowly
through that long, dark line. It never gets sufficient speed
or volume to clean it out. Instead, the drain line is always
moist and dark. Every bit of dust sticks to the wall of the
line and before you know it, you’ve got a slimy blockage.
You’ve got several options to keep that it clear. First,
if the condensate drain is vented, temporarily block the
vent and use a shop vacuum (set up to handle liquids) to
vacuum the drain out every few weeks. You can also place
biocide tablets in the condensate pan. They suppress
slime-forming fungi and are less corrosive than bleach.
Even after
I followed
the steps
in your
lawnmower
tune-up article,
my mower is
still hard
to start.
Now what?
Rowan M., Denver, Colorado
Could also be an ignition problem. To check, buy
see a highly visible electrical arc
between the tester contacts. A
weak spark may be due to a bad
ignition coil, a failed (open) stop
switch or a bad ignition module.
If the spark and fuel check
out, you might have a damaged
key on the f lywheel. This soft
metal part can shear off or be
damaged if the mower blade hits
a rock or stump. If that’s the case, grab your service
manual. And maybe teach your teenager about the
importance of avoiding those rocks.