Your AC is Sweating

🏡 Welcome to The Proactive Home

You are officially in.
This is the weekly newsletter for Lowcountry homeowners who would rather stay ahead of problems than scramble to fix them later.

Every issue gives you one quick and relevant tip. No fluff. No overwhelm. Just smart advice you can act on in five minutes or less.

Let’s start with something that matters immediately.

🔧 This Week’s Fix: Clear Your Condensate Drain Line

What it is
Your air conditioner removes moisture from the air and drains it outside through a small white PVC pipe. That pipe begins at your indoor air handler and exits near your outdoor unit. It is called the condensate drain line.

Why it matters
When the line clogs, water backs up into the unit. It can overflow into your attic, hallway, or crawlspace with no warning. This is one of the most common and costly summer issues in the Lowcountry. Your system runs often, and humidity levels stay high. That creates the perfect storm for hidden overflow.

What causes the clog
We have seen all of it. Algae. Mold sludge. Rust particles. Mud dauber nests. Bits of insulation. And once, yes, an actual tree frog. We used a shop vac to rescue him. He survived. Your ceiling might not.

What to do

1. Find your indoor air handler. It is usually in an attic, hallway closet, or utility space

2. Look for a small white PVC pipe with a cap on top. Remove the cap

3. Pour in one cup of distilled vinegar. Let it sit for 30 minutes

4. Follow with warm water

5. Walk outside and find the drain pipe near your AC unit. You should see steady drainage

If nothing comes out, or if it bubbles and backs up, you may already have a clog. At that point, you can use a wet dry vac to clear it from the outdoor side. It often takes less than thirty seconds to fix the problem completely.

🕒 Five-Minute Task of the Week

Use a Sharpie and label the pipe:

Flush with vinegar once a month

That one sentence could save you from thousands in repairs.

🧰 Tool Spotlight

RIDGID 12-Gallon Wet Dry Shop Vac
If you ever get a clog, this vac can pull it out from the outside in seconds. We use it. We trust it. It works.

👉 Buy it here

📍 Lowcountry Watchlist

Humidity is climbing and AC systems are running all day. This is when condensate problems start. If you have never cleaned that line before, do it today. You are already ahead of most.

You just protected your home. That is how this works.

Five minutes. Zero stress. Real impact.

Next week, we will tackle another overlooked but essential fix for your Lowcountry home. Until then, check that drain line and give yourself credit for staying ahead of the curve.

Have a home maintenance question or concern?
Reply to this email. We are here, we are local, and we are listening.