Craft Group

Your air conditioner works hard to keep you cool, but it also makes water by condensing air. Drain pans are what you need to catch that water. Choosing between metal and plastic is not a significant consideration. Why it matters which drain pan you choose People don't worry about their AC drain pan until something goes wrong. If a pan cracks or rusts, it can cause water damage that costs thousands to fix. The condensate drain pan is under your indoor unit and catches all the water that your AC pulls from the air. Your system may accumulate several gallons every day in the summer. You should know this about both choices. Plastic Drain Pans: The Best Value The first cost of plastic pans is lower. Most new air conditioners have them since they are cheaper to make. It looks like a win that they won't rust. Plastic can hold moisture without breaking down chemically. But plastic has several problems:  Temperature fluctuations cause cracks to form over time UV light makes them fragi...

Your air-cooled condensing unit sits outside year-round, working hard to keep your home comfortable. But some units last decades while others break down after just a few years. What makes the difference? Location Matters More Than You Think Where you place your unit changes everything. Units sitting in direct sunlight all day work twice as hard. The constant heat beats down on components, wearing them out faster. Shade helps, but not from shrubs or fences too close by. Your unit needs airflow. Pack plants around it, and you're choking off the circulation it needs to breathe. Salt air near the ocean? That's tough on metal parts. The corrosion creeps in slowly but surely. Clean Coils Mean Happy Units Dirty coils kill condensing units faster than almost anything else. When dirt, leaves, and grime coat the coils, your system can't release heat properly. Think about it this way - you're asking your unit to work in a heavy winter coat during summer. Something's got to gi...