Main drain clogged

I have a Rheem system and I noticed water coming out of the secondary drain onto my roof. When I inspected the unit in the crawlspace, I noticed the main condensate pan was full and overflowing into the secondary pan underneath it. When I removed the cap on the vertical pipe where the U trap is, there was a lot of whitish/tan globs blocking the pipe. I took a piece of wire and cleared the glob and the water began to drain, though not as quickly as it should for a 1/2-3/4" pvc pipe. I suspect there's more of the soft globby stuff in the trap and perhaps along the drain pipe where it eventually goes into my bathroom sink below. The glob looks like the soft whitish stuff you find in your car's windshield washer reservoir after a long period of time if you only use water. It's not hard or crusty, but seems like jello consistency. Would pouring in some kind of drain cleaner clean out the globby stuff? (I recall seeing similar soft buildup inside my sink trap when I clean it out from time to time and I imagine a liquid drain cleaner removes that stuff as well as hair, etc.) What do you suggest using? I can't pour the stuff in and leave it overnight like most regular drain cleaners suggest so anything that works faster (and safe to use on plastic pipe and rubber hose that connects the drain to the sink drain) would be appreciated. Thank you very much in advance!

 

Pour some bleach down the pipes. Water on you roof???

 

Probably a roof mounted unit with primary drain plumbed to sewer, secondary just dumps on roof. Common here in AZ.

 

Hey Gunguy, He mentioned a unit in the crawlspace?

 

Hmmm, well, there was a discussion a while back where what many call an attic is referred to as a crawlspace if it's not tall enough to stand up and move around in. http://www.dictionary.com/browse/crawlspace
Seems like it was common in CA to refer to it as a crawlspace?

Only way I can figure there would be condensate on the roof (though I did miss the crawlspace reference initially ).

 

Thanks Gunguy, never heard that before, but makes sense.

 

Yes, that's exactly the way it is done here; the main goes to the drain in a bathroom sink (just above the trap) and the secondary comes out just under the eaves of the roof). Contrary to skaggsje suggestion, I've read a number of posts saying that bleach didn't work on their clogs. Would liquid drain cleaner work better? BTW, you got ARs, .45, 9mm, what? I have M&P15, K9, Rem 870 in 20 and Ruger 10-22 & MKIII.

 

Try bleach first, if that does not work, try liquid drain cleaner, if that does not work, you have to use air compressor to blow it out, if that does not work, you will have to use a snake or cut the pipe and find the clog.