Hi, We are dealing with an issue similar to this one, only the HVAC closet is on the ground floor - the lines were cloged and the emergency line was also not working. The water not only backed up to the pan, but also drained into the pedestal box and one of the HVAC lines that hung below the unit. In our experience, it is never a good thing to have the AC off. Regardless of how dry it seems, mold can grow in humid areas. I would recommed you get the pan installed and have your HVAC guy out to keep it running. In the meantime, I agree with another posting on getting the dehumidifier in. Regarding the insurance company. They are basically trying to save the company money only and do not have your best interest at heart. I haven't heard of any insurance company painting whole rooms or casing not damaged by the incident. In your case, it might be better just to either do the rest yourself or have whomever painting finish the rest - via an additional quote - so you know exactly what they want to charge. I hope you get good sincere workers in there. On another note, the home we are working on also had window leaks. Everything went unchecked and the maintenance person that did painting and caulking simply covered and filled rot up. The house now has primary and secondary termite colonies, not something to take lightely and a true lesson for the absentee owners (vacation home). I would seriously think about visiting your vacant home periodically - make sure your windows are not leaking, weather stripping on doors is in good shape, your HVAC will need monitoring. You will also want to think about a few other things. When a house is vacant, the sewer line does not get flushed out - there's a trap (elbow) at each fixture - sink, toilet, tub, etc. I believe this would be the case with your own septic system, so please ignore if you are on some city or county sytem (unless someone corrects me there). To continue, your best bet is to flush the toilets and run water in your sinks and tubs - not for long, just a few seconds. It just simply puts water back in the elbow, preventing sewer gases from coming into the house. Prevention can go along way. As they say, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" Good luck, I hope you can sell. Remember curb appeal also - make sure the yard is taken care of - it does go along way and when someone stops by if they see its taken care of outside, they will assume it has been inside. Small details will also get noticed. Go room by room and just check small details, do cabinet and regular doors hang and shut correctly, what about drawers - these are things that people will look at, minor yes but if they can't pull apart your house, it may satisfy them with what they see first hand. Another HVAC tip - even though the house is not getting used, make sure to change the filters. You could get the reusable ones or just use the paper ones. At our house we purchased reusable and vacum and then rinse the extra dust out (they have a plastic frame with washable screen). Check around the perimiter of your home outside also - keep it clear. If there's a moisture issue, try and get it diverted or fixed, termites love moisture. Well, hopefully I have been helpful. - Rachael

If you had both outlets open and uncapped, it is possible that the air movement over the coil would prohibit water from coming out the drain outlets due to a negative pressure situation. Put a tissue over the drain with or W/O the ptrap and you will see this effect. Now, the same would go for one outlet open and the other capped. The p trap when it has water in it prevents this negative pressure and water can drain. I would p-trap the secondary also for the above reason.

Thanks guys. I am more on the 1.5 x 2 feet side. I am not much in the tub frame either just one skinny section is to allow for what looks like the drain coming up in the air. I feel better after reading this! Just looked so daunting up there but I noticed of course the "beams" or joists whatever they are called that run horizonally weren't damaged or moved at all so my guess is the tub support relies more on this..My opening is shaped like an L but I would guestimate it at about the 1.5 x 2 - maybe a hair more b/c of the cut out for the drain but not much...Think I am ok? Thanks Melissa

I have the same exact issue I just bought this house, and there is dirt black moisture dirt. soil underneath the bathtub but mice can come in through my wall there’s instillation around bathtub. and I have really really bad aunts every single morning in my bathroom which is on the opposite side of that wall. what can I do to fix this I do not want ants in my house for the next 30 years I can’t deal every single morning I got like 50 aunts in my sink next to the floor that’s just not going away.