Re: Refrigerator monitor ideas?

["Robert Green" <ROBERT_GREEN1963@xxxxxxxxx>]

"Nick Hull" <nhull@xxxxxxx> wrote in message news:nhull-

<stuff snipped>

> How about a dirt cheap solution; string.  Thread a string from the
> freezer to the drain pan andup to where you can get to it.  The string
> has a small knot and a big knot.  When you pull the string the small
> knot in the freezer pulls all the way down the drain tube and clears it
> and the big knot stops the string from coming out.  Then open the
> freezer and pull the string back until the small knot is back inside the
> freezer.  Do it once a month or so as PM.

Not a bad idea, Nick, and one I had seriously considered at first.  But the
design of the drain line is actually quite more ingenious than I had
realized.  It's got what amounts to a built-in sedimentation tray (a little
water has to build up in the connector piece before it flows out the drain
tube).  You can see that it works because that section of the "shuttle"
connector gets *very* cruddy at the bottom but the tube itself stays clear.

They also put a small vertical tab right before the connector empties into
the drain tube that catches hair and thready sorts of debris.  It's always
at this point a clog builds up.  If I accelerate the inspection schedule, I
can usually catch it before it clogs completely.

I'd just like some kind of heads up that it's becoming blocked.  In the
summer time, when I switch the hose from evaporator floor pan to floor drain
I usually give the drain tube a power wash by inserting some surgical tubing
that fits snugly inside the drain tube connector attached to a soda bottle.
One squeeze usually blows out any nasties.

This year I got caught flatfooted by the increased number of shedding
rescued puppies my wife is caring for. The airborne contaminant load went
through the roof (and into the drain tube, too)!   There isn't very good
airflow in that part of the basement.  That's great when there's dog stink
involved, not so great for getting air to the filter furnace for dust
scrubbing.

--
Bobby G.