Bongo drum after pouring vinegar/water down drain pipe

[Steve_K2]

Not an emergency, not even a problem, just trying to understand what's going on.

2-story house. AC air handler in an upstairs "closet." Drains to downstairs bathroom sink. Am sure plumbers have seen many homes like this.

Every two months or so, along with changing the filter, I mix water and 9% vinegar to pour down the drain pipe.

Right after pouring it into the funnel, I hear what sounds like a bongo drum, about two beats per second for about a half minute, then slowing down until after about a minute the drumming is gone.

Am I doing any good with the vinegar/water mix? It didn't prevent a blockage in the wall yesterday, after the bathroom sink P-trap -- not hair, as the sink always has a strainer -- fortunately fixed with a simple snake.

And what's making that drumming?

 

[Geofd]

Try a wet vac from the sink end or if your wet vac has two openings to put the hose in try blowing air into it from the unit side, we use a (kenetic) air gun that does the trick

 

[BlueSkyHigh]

And what's making that drumming?

Not sure about the bongos but that's pretty cool. I am not sure the vinegar is doing anything bad, or good for that matter, but I think a mixture of bleach and water would be a good idea to keep bacteria and other creepy things knocked down.

 

[Steve_K2]

"a mixture of bleach and water would be a good idea" (Wish I knew how to add a quote so it's in its own box.)

I used to think so, too, until my 5-year-old evaporator had to be replaced. The tech who did the work said it had rusted due to chlorine fumes, and I've since seen don't-use-bleach confirmed many times on line.

 

[BlueSkyHigh]

"a mixture of bleach and water would be a good idea" (Wish I knew how to add a quote so it's in its own box.)

I used to think so, too, until my 5-year-old evaporator had to be replaced. The tech who did the work said it had rusted due to chlorine fumes, and I've since seen don't-use-bleach confirmed many times on line.

Hit the "reply" button in the post you are interested in and it will add the quote for you. You can edit the quote to your liking as well. Thanks for the info on the fumes part. I only flush the drain system outside of the evaporator but the fumes may be able to get back up into the evaporator using via the drain tube.

 

[havasu]

the "reply" button

Or click and drag curser to highlight certain words from another post, and the reply box will pop up.

 

[Steve_K2]

Or click and drag curser to highlight certain words from another post, and the reply box will pop up.

Yup, that's the ticket. Thanks.