IFlo Smart Automated A/C Drain Line Cleaner Review: Easy Maintenance

Central air conditioning is becoming more and more essential in this overheated, modern world, but anyone who lives with one can tell you what happens when an air conditioner’s drain line gets clogged and the drain pan overflows. When that happened to series creator Joe McDonnell, the overflow filled his walls with dirt and caused thousands of dollars in damage.

The event led him to create the iFlo Smart Automated A/C Drain Line Cleaner, reviewed here, which is designed to combat a common problem with air conditioning systems: the growth of Zooglea, a sticky bacteria that thrives in humid air conditioning systems. This is known to cause the Air conditioning drain lines clogged. Zooglea – commonly referred to as “drain snot” – can form quickly. Instead of dealing with a small leak or a slow drain, homeowners can be faced with a sudden overflow of gallons of condensate that shows no sign of stopping.

What is the iFlo Smart Automatic Air Conditioner Drain Cleaner?

Christopher Null/Foundry

Christopher Null/Foundry

Christopher Null/Foundry

iFlo is a DIY kit that requires a certain level of comfort when working with your HVAC system, but Joe McDonnell promises you can complete the installation in under five minutes. The app haltingly walks you through the process, but I found watching tiny embedded videos on my phone to be less educational than simply watching this 97-second tutorial on YouTube. The text version: Determine where to place the iFlo mounting bracket based on proximity to the system’s PVC drain line. Attach the adhesive backed mounting plate to the air handler and then connect the included flexible plastic hose to the drain line.

If you have an open or closed drain pipe, you can simply attach the included adapter directly to this pipe and route the flexible hose to this adapter. If you don’t, you’ll have to drill a hole in the drain line and connect another adapter to make it work, which is a slightly more daunting process. All the tools you need for both jobs (except a drill) are included. Luckily I was able to use the (easier) first method; However, I had to attach the iFlo hardware to the top of various warning stickers on my HVAC unit because there was no clear space where the hoses would go.

With the hose in place, the almost final step is to connect the iFlo device to the mounting plate and connect the flexible hose between the iFlo and the adapter in your drain line. Finally, the bottle of iFlo bioenzymatic cleaning fluid is connected to the iFlo dispenser hardware, which is powered by four AA batteries. (Pro tip: You’ll need to twist the bottle harder than you think so it seals securely in the system.) After scanning a QR code on the bottle using the iFlo app, you’re ready to start dispensing the magic juice start your air conditioning.

How does it work?

Christopher Null/Foundry

Christopher Null/Foundry

Christopher Null/Foundry

The beauty of iFlo – and indeed its only truly “smart” feature – is that dosing occurs automatically, on a smart schedule, and only when the time is right. I installed the system in January, but after registering information about my home’s location, the iFlo app determined that the first release wouldn’t happen until mid-March. Why? Because of the geolocation features that track temperature and humidity: iFlo knows that the air conditioning isn’t running right now, so there’s no real chance for Zooglea to build up in my sewer system. Once the air conditioning starts running and the humidity reaches 75 percent — the magic number, according to Joe McDonnell — the iFlo cleaner begins flowing about every three weeks.

The bad news is that a 36-ounce bottle of cleaner only lasts for three months. I have two air conditioners, one of which is in a very hard to reach location in the attic, so I decided to skip installing iFlo on it and instead opt for an easily accessible air conditioner in a downstairs closet. For me, the risk of an overflow simply didn’t compare to the hassle (and personal risk) of climbing into the attic several times a year to replace the iFlo cleaning fluid. After publishing this article, iFlo introduced a 6-month cartridge for $45.

Christopher Null/Foundry

Christopher Null/Foundry

Christopher Null/Foundry

If you opt for manual dosing – by holding down the button on the front of the iFlo for a few seconds – you’ll pay even more. Of course, $45 a year is a lot cheaper than replacing drywall and carpet due to an air conditioning leak, but if your system isn’t prone to buildup, this may not be as important. You can also simply purchase some air conditioner drain line cleaner and squirt it into the drain line as needed. Note that iFlo’s cleaning solution only works with the hardware unless you somehow hack open the custom dispenser on the bottle.

Should you buy the iFlo Smart Automated A/C Drain Line Cleaner?

While it’s just a little unique about iFlo today, Joe McDonnell says he hopes to eventually add additional features to it via a connection to your HVAC system that can monitor performance, detect condensate overflows, and more. While the iFlo is wired with additional connectors that are not currently in use, connecting these to your air system will likely require some level of professional commitment. I’ll come back with an update when that day comes. Until then, I’ll be happy to have Zooglea-free air conditioning, at least in half of my house.

Updated May 10, 2024: iFlo now offers their drain cleaner in a larger bottle that should last 6 months.

Correction, January 31, 2024: iFlo was invented by Joe McDonnell, not Joe McDonald as originally reported. We regret the error.