A Weathersfield neighbor recently discovered that accumulating dirt and mulch had buried his HVAC system’s condensation drainpipes.  This caused moisture to back up into the duct system in the crawl space.  Normally, the excess moisture our air conditioning units release is removed through the condensation drain pipe that runs from the unit to outside the home’s foundation.  But, if the end of the drain pipe is blocked, this moisture can’t drain away and can back up into the crawl space and even the duct system.  This can create mold and mildew in the crawl space and the home. 

What can you do?  Walk around the foundation of your home.  Look for the drain pipe (2 pipes if you have two HVAC units).  They are usually on the side or back of the house, low to the ground.  Or, ask your HVAC service to locate these pipes during your next HVAC maintenance service.  Keeping those drain pipes clear is simple but important preventive maintenance.