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HVAC Condensate Drains into Bilge

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 6:45 am
by RWS
I've heard many comments about having a separate sump to drain the A/C condensate and pump overboard.

My factory setup allows the condensate to drain directly into the forward bilge.

So I need a small container with a little bilge pump & float switch, enough hose for an anti siphon loop and another thru hull?

Any suggestions, comments and advice on how to best accomplish this will be appreciated.

Thanks,

RWS

Re: HVAC Condensate Drains into Bilge

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 7:30 am
by ready123
Do you have an existing sump for the shower? On my President both A/C condensate trays are piped into that sump.

Re: HVAC Condensate Drains into Bilge

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 10:24 am
by larryeddington
sump and pump devices are made for land based a/cs to use when a drain is not convenient. That said the ones I am aware of are not intended for marine below decks application, (read boom) there probably are some out there. A simple large canister with a small float equipped bilge pump could be installed to take care of it, IMO, or just run it to a through the hull on the side depending on where and how high in the boat the a/c evaporator is located so water cannot back up from outside, voilà, no pump needed.

Re: HVAC Condensate Drains into Bilge

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 8:55 pm
by Big D
There are several different makes and sizes but this is basically what you're looking for. You can plumb sinks, AC, showers, etc. They have ports for many different hose sizes built in. Ensure the unit you get has a built in check valve or add a stand-alone one in-lineclose to the box.
http://www.whalepumps.com/marine/produc ... ump-System

Re: HVAC Condensate Drains into Bilge

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 12:08 am
by yorklyn
i used a rule shower sump. have my shower and condensate going to it. has a small bilge pump and float switch that cycles as water enters the box. mine is wired to a switch at the panel that can also be shut off if the boat is left and the ac is off.

Re: HVAC Condensate Drains into Bilge

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 9:20 am
by ready123
larryeddington wrote:That said the ones I am aware of are not intended for marine below decks application, (read boom) there probably are some out there.
You haven't seen the marine one's that use bilge pumps & floats?...... either home built or like BigD's super duper one :)

Re: HVAC Condensate Drains into Bilge

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 11:41 am
by larryeddington
You haven't seen the marine one's that use bilge pumps & floats?......


Just saying' I personally had not seen any purpose built condensate pumps, like those in the surface world A/C industry. The shower device would work perfectly or one put together with bilge pump, after all a bilge pump is really a sump pump by another name. :)

Re: HVAC Condensate Drains into Bilge

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 4:29 pm
by comodave
Mermaid makes a "condensator" that uses the cooling water to suction the condensate drain and put the condensate into the cooling water which is then pumped overboard. I have one, but have not completed the A/C install yet so I can not say how well it works. This is a way to get rid of the condensate without having a sump pump.

Re: HVAC Condensate Drains into Bilge

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 5:20 pm
by jhalb
Mine drains into my shower sump. Simple and works.