Tundish anyone?

No, it’s not an exotic new form of cuisine! Many suites are fitted with a tundish where condensation drip-lines from the air conditioners empty into the building’s waste-water system. It’s like a tiny little sink with a waste-pipe that connects to the waste-water system.

Like any sink, the waste can get blocked if it’s not maintained every now-and-then. Even though it seems like it’s “only water” dripping through, bacteria and air-borne yeasts will also build up over time into a jelly-like sludge that can block the pipe and cause your tundish to overflow.

Fortunately, maintenance is simple! Just unscrew the cover and carefully pour a jug of warm (not too hot!) water into the tundish. If it’s not blocked, that should be enough to wash through any build-up of sludge. If it does become blocked, a mild liquid drain-cleaner can be used to dissolve larger sludge buid-ups. Always follow the manufacturers instruction and wear gloves and goggles when applying these kind of caustic products. If in any doubt, just call in a professional plumber.