Some Air Conditioners-Pumps

AC Drainage Pumps

When cooling, air conditioners create condensation which must be removed. In most AC units in Waves, this removal is by gravity drainage into a few ducts around the apartments.

However, in some segments of the building, there are no convenient ducts and the units will have drainage pumps installed.

The pumps have been, very inconveniently, installed in the ceiling, or into wall cavities just below the AC units with no access for maintenance/replacement. Holes need to be cut into the walls to access the failed pumps.  AC units thus far with the problems have been those in the living rooms. Those in the bedrooms seem to all have the gravity drainage piping.  Even with the gravity drainage, some maintenance is desirable each year to ensure there is no blockage due to build up of dust and lint.

When a pump fails, water overflows into the wall cavity and ends up ruining your carpets/flooring. Hopefully your contents insurer will cover the resultant damage.

For those with pumps, the best solution is to have a serviceman install an external pump where needed. The below shows an example of one within Waves. Another option in some cases is to add a gravity fed drain pipe to a laundry drain where the laundry is directly behind the air conditioner wall unit.

Flexi Hoses

Hoses May Need Replacing

You will have flexi hoses in your Unit. These are susceptible to bursting as they age. A burst hose will cause damage and insurance woes.

The at-risk  “FLEXI HOSES” are those that connect to basin and sink mixers, and to toilet systems . The replacement of these hoses has been recommended by Chubb Insurance each 10 years.

Time to Renew

The Body Corporate strongly recommends that you arrange a licensed plumber to attend to all flexi hose replacements in your unit by the end of 2020.

Please email the BC when your unit has had its hoses replaced and we shall record the details.

This will assist minimise our Strata Insurance and perhaps save you the $1,000 insurance excess in the event of a claim.

Under Sink

Isolation Valves

It is also recommended that additional isolation valves be installed where flexi hoses connect to your water supply at the wall.

These should be where the flexi hoses connect to wall piping, usually in your bathroom, laundry and kitchen cabinets.

These small inexpensive valves offer extra protection enabling rapid isolation of failed hoses and are recommended by all insurers and plumbers.

 

 

Isolation Valve