Overheard a plumber say most AC drain lines in Atlanta just need a shop vac, not a $200 service call

I was at the Ace Hardware on Ponce last Saturday picking up furnace filters and this plumber was telling the clerk how 90% of the clogged drains he gets called for are just gunk buildup you can clear with a shop vac from the outdoor unit. He said the vinegar flush every spring is the real trick. I spent 10 bucks on a bottle of white vinegar instead of calling someone out. Has anyone else tried this instead of the annual service?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_joel13d ago

90% of clogged drains are just gunk you can clear with a shop vac" sounds like the plumber just talked himself out of a job. Guess I’ll keep my $200 for beer and a bottle of vinegar instead.

johnson.adam11d ago

Shop vac works on simple clogs but misses a lot of the deeper stuff like tree roots or collapsed pipe sections. I've seen people spend hours sucking at a drain only to find the real blockage is ten feet down where the pipe bellied out. Plus that vinegar and beer trick does nothing against hard mineral buildup or grease that's solidified deep in the line. Sometimes the $200 saves you from a flooded basement and a much bigger repair bill later.