How to tell if a condensate pump is working?

Determining whether your residential HVAC condensate pump is working correctly involves conducting a simple visual and manual functional test. First, observe the water level inside the clear or translucent plastic collection reservoir while your air conditioner is running; the water should rise gradually until it hits a designated activation line, which triggers the float switch to turn on the motor and pump the water out through the discharge tubing. Second, you can perform a manual test by pouring a cup of clean water directly into the reservoir tank until the float rises to the top. You can troubleshoot electrical power using a multimeter if it fails to engage. You can verify that the pump is fully operational when the motor kicks on immediately, drains the reservoir completely, and shuts off quietly.