If an A3 error code is being displayed on your Daikin air conditioner, your drain line most probably needs to be cleaned or unclogged.
The purpose of the condensate drain on your air conditioner (AC) is to get rid of the moisture that accumulates during the air conditioning process.
If there is a blockage somewhere in this drain line, your Daikin air conditioner will display an A3 error code as a result of the blockage or the resulting component issues.
What is a condensate drain in an air conditioner and how does it work?
When your air conditioner is functioning the way it should, the excess moisture that is collected around the coils will drip into a condensate pan in the unit. This condensate pan is usually not very deep, and only collects a small amount of water at a time, before it is drained.
The condensate drain on your air conditioner will be connected to this pan or, in the case of portable air conditioners – to the internal tank, and it will be a sort of pipe or hose that can be opened to drain outside or into your house’s plumbing system.
Daikin air conditioner error code A3
You should ensure that the drainage system of your air conditioner is part of your regular maintenance and cleaning routine for the unit.
However, over time, all sorts of blockages and issues can build up in a drain line and cause blockages or obstructions that can prevent your air conditioner from operating properly.
Daikin air conditioners are no exception to this rule, and if your Daikin air conditioner model is displaying an A3 error code, this means that there is a problem somewhere in the drain line of your unit.
The A3 error indicates a “Drain Level Control System Abnormality”, and this will prevent your air conditioner from working until the error has been cleared.
This drain level control system abnormality can be caused by a number of things, like the drain being clogged, or having an upward slope, a defective drain pump, or a defective float switch.
However, most of these issues start with a dirty or clogged drain line and this is why it is vital that you clean and unclog the drain line to see if this will clear the A3 error code from your Daikin air conditioner.
How to clean your Daikin air conditioner drain line with vinegar to clear the A3 error code
If you suspect that the A3 error on your Daikin air conditioner is appearing because you have not cleaned your drain line in a while and that there may be some mould build-up in the line, then a regular cleaning with some distilled white vinegar will help.
For this process, you only need a cup, a funnel, distilled white vinegar, and a towel. You then just need to find the screw cap near the air handler unit of your air conditioner, which will allow you to access the drain line.
You can then simply pour the vinegar into this opening, using the funnel, to get rid of any mould that may be growing inside the drain line. You can put the towel down underneath the drain line to catch any spillage along the way.
How to unclog your Daikin air conditioner drain line with a vacuum to clear the A3 error code
If the blockage in your Daikin air conditioner drain line, which is causing the A3 error code, seems to be larger than mould growth, then you can unclog the entire drain line quickly using a vacuum.
For this process, you need a wet/dry shop vacuum and a rag. Then, to unclog the drain line, you simply need to connect the vacuum to the portion of the air conditioner drain line, where the moisture drips out to the outside of your home.
Use the rag to make sure that the connection between the vacuum and the drain line is as air-tight as possible.
How to unclog your Daikin air conditioner drain line with a drain brush to clear the A3 error
You can also remove larger blockages from your air conditioner drain line with a drain brush.
To do this, you need to find the screw-plug opening near the air handler unit of your air conditioner, or you can cut the PVC pipe a few feet down from where the “U”-shaped bend is in the drain line with a pipe cutter.
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Once you have access to the drain line, you simply need to work the drain brush through the drain line towards the bend in the pipe and then wiggle it back and forth to break up the blockage.