Condensate pumps

Apalchen

Well-Known Member
I installed my last mini split to drop condensate water outside. But it’s gotten really cold since I had it on. I have two mini splits in that room and have been using the other while the lights are dimmed.

Anyways I have a condensate pump I’m not using but does any have experience with one. I need to move the water up and through the attic and back down to a drain that is roughly 30 feet away. Is a condensate pump strong enough to push water up like 10-12 feet and then I guess just angle the pipe I use down at a small angle toward the drain pipe?

What size piping should I use and do they make like a check valve that will keep the water from coming backward when pump kicks off?
 
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bk78

Well-Known Member
Like from a boat? Hmm did it come with a 120 volt plug or how did you wire it up. I like this idea.
This is the one I use. Once the water gets to 2” in the run off container it triggers the pump to come on. You don’t need to take a bunch of room up with the container then either, mine is like 18” x 12”

 

Bookush34

Well-Known Member
Those condensation pumps won’t push it that far. I use to use them for my waste water from hempy buckets.
but they only lasted 2 grows tops. So I went a different route.
 

Apalchen

Well-Known Member
This is the one I use. Once the water gets to 2” in the run off container it triggers the pump to come on. You don’t need to take a bunch of room up with the container then either, mine is like 18” x 12”

Thanks man I appreciate it, what kind of power supply did you use ?
 

magnetik

Well-Known Member
I use this condensate pump with my dehu. Its rated for a 20ft lift. They have some that are rated for 15ft iirc.. so depending on what condensate pump you have will determine how high it can pump. I'm only going a few feet but havent had to worry about backflow. As far as I've noticed the pump stops flow and some water remains in the tube until the next pump out.
 

trambles

Well-Known Member
I'm in the same boat cuz I'm in a garage without a drain.
What I do is drain my dehu and a/c runoff into a 50 gallon barrel. Inside the barrel is a sump pump with a float switch. I ran the line from the pump back into my house and to the basement drain.
Condensate pump won't give you the lift you need.
Also if your gonna pump vertically be sure you put a one way valve on the line at the exit of the sump pump so that when the pump shuts off all the water in the line doesn't drain back down.
 

trambles

Well-Known Member
Another thing you can do is reuse the condensate. I do that to supplement my feed water. It's nearly zero PPM and clean. U cany drink but it's fine for the plants
 

trambles

Well-Known Member
I'd be hesitant on using that little pump in that little resevoir. Where and tear on electric motors happens on start up. If ur draining a decent amount of water then that pump will cycle on and off continuously; it will fail and leave you with a mess. Bilge pumps aren't meant to handle that load.
Use a sump pump in a barrel.
 

bk78

Well-Known Member
I'd be hesitant on using that little pump in that little resevoir. Where and tear on electric motors happens on start up. If ur draining a decent amount of water then that pump will cycle on and off continuously; it will fail and leave you with a mess. Bilge pumps aren't meant to handle that load.
Use a sump pump in a barrel.


Bilge pumps are meant to cycle on and off to remove water when needed I thought? Crazy how boats would put trust in such items too.

Anything electric can fail at any time, this isn’t new news at all.
 

bk78

Well-Known Member
Thanks man appreciate it, had power out for two days here. So been dealing with generator and finally trying to get everything back on track. I was able to keep my humidity and temps good but not enough power on generator to run lights. So far everything seems fine.
Damn dude that blows. Hope everything gets back to normal for you quickly
 

Nizza

Well-Known Member
if worried about failure, set it up so you can have a backup pump that has a float switch higher than the other pump
 
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