Automated hvac condensation drain injection system and method

Abstract

An automated HVAC condensation drain injection system for inhibiting or preventing the growth of microorganism and preventing clogging for a condensation drain line is disclosed. The automated HVAC condensation drain injection system includes an agent disposed within an agent reservoir. An HVAC air handler is in fluid communication with a condensation drain line to direct the flow of condensation from a drip tray of the HVAC air handler to a drain line exit port. A programmable pump draws a predetermined volume of the agent from the agent reservoir and injects a predetermined volume of the agent through an injection system and into the condensation drain line.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An automated HVAC condensation drain injection system, comprising:
 an agent disposed within an agent reservoir;   an HVAC air handler in fluid communication with a condensation drain line to direct the flow of condensation from a drip tray of the HVAC air handler to a drain line exit port;   a programmable pump to draw a predetermined volume of the agent from the agent reservoir and to pump the predetermined volume of the agent through an injection system and into the condensation drain line.   
     
     
         2 . The automated HVAC condensation drain injection system of  claim 1 , wherein the injection system includes a first end connected to the agent reservoir and a second end connected to the condensation drain line. 
     
     
         3 . The automated HVAC condensation drain injection system of  claim 2 , wherein the second end terminated in an injection port. 
     
     
         4 . The automated HVAC condensation drain injection system of  claim 3 , wherein the injection port connects to an access port, the access port connected to the condensation drain line to provide a sealed and fluid connection between injection system and the condensation drain line. 
     
     
         5 . The automated HVAC condensation drain injection system of  claim 1 , wherein the agent prohibits or impedes the growth of a microorganism to prevent the clogging of the condensation drain line. 
     
     
         6 . The automated HVAC condensation drain injection system of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller in operable communication with the programmable pump. 
     
     
         7 . The automated HVAC condensation drain injection system of  claim 6 , wherein the controller includes a user interface to permit the input of operational instructions. 
     
     
         8 . The automated HVAC condensation drain injection system of  claim 7 , wherein the operations instructions comprise a frequency and a volume of the agent. 
     
     
         9 . The automated HVAC condensation drain injection system of  claim 8 , wherein the frequency corresponds to a time period between when the volume of agent is injected. 
     
     
         10 . An automated HVAC condensation drain injection system to prevent the growth of microorganisms and the clogging of a condensation drain line, the system comprising:
 an agent disposed within an agent reservoir;   an HVAC air handler in fluid communication with a condensation drain line to direct the flow of condensation from a drip tray of the HVAC air handler to a drain line exit port;   a programmable pump to draw a predetermined volume of the agent from the agent reservoir and to pump the predetermined volume of the agent through an injection system and inject the predetermined volume of the agent into the condensation drain line;   a secondary tank filled with an antifreeze agent to prevent the condensation from being frozen within the condensation drain line;   a computer system including an application program in communication with a user computing device, the application program in communication, via a network, to a controller in operable communication with the programmable pump, the application program including computer-readable instructions to establish operational instructions to inject the predetermined volume of the agent into the condensation drain line at a predetermined frequency;   one or more sensors to sense if the condensation drain line has become clogged, wherein the controller receives location data related to an environment wherein the programmable pump is positioned, and the location data to determine the amount and the frequency used to establish the operational instructions.   
     
     
         11 . The automated HVAC condensation drain injection system of  claim 10 , wherein the injection system includes a first end connected to the agent reservoir and a second end connected to the condensation drain line. 
     
     
         12 . The automated HVAC condensation drain injection system of  claim 11 , wherein the second end terminated in an injection port. 
     
     
         13 . The automated HVAC condensation drain injection system of  claim 12 , wherein the injection port connects to an access port, the access port connected to the condensation drain line to provide a sealed and fluid connection between injection system and the condensation drain line. 
     
     
         14 . The automated HVAC condensation drain injection system of  claim 13 , wherein the agent prohibits or impedes the growth of a microorganism to prevent the clogging of the condensation drain line. 
     
     
         15 . The automated HVAC condensation drain injection system of  claim 14 , wherein the controller includes a user interface to permit the input of operational instructions. 
     
     
         16 . The automated HVAC condensation drain injection system of  claim 15 , wherein the operations instructions comprise a frequency and a volume of the agent. 
     
     
         17 . The automated HVAC condensation drain injection system of  claim 16 , wherein the frequency corresponds to a time period between when the volume of agent is injected. 
     
     
         18 . The automated HVAC condensation drain injection system of  claim 10 , wherein the user computing device permits the interaction with the application program to allow for remote control of the programmable pump. 
     
     
         19 . The automated HVAC condensation drain injection system of  claim 10 , wherein the second end of the injection system is connected to the drip tray of the HVAC air handler. 
     
     
         20 . A method for an automated HVAC condensation drain injection system, the method comprising the steps of:
 inputting, via a user, an agent into an agent reservoir;   inputting, via a user interface, one or more operational instructions into a controller;   storing, via a memory, the one or more operation instructions;   setting, via the controller, a timer to count from a frequency established by the one or more operations instructions;   transmitting, via the controller, a signal to a programmable pump to instruct the programmable pump to operate once the frequency has elapsed;   injecting, via the programmable pump, the agent into a condensation drain line; and   receiving, via the controller, one or more signals from one or more sensors to determine if the condensation drain line is or to determine if the condensation drain line in at risk of being frozen; and   injecting an antifreeze from a secondary tank if the condensation drain line is at risk of being frozen.