air conditioning drain pan

-- Steady & Reliable Manufacturer --

Brief Product Description

Cixi Chenfeng Electric manufactures air conditioning drain pans for the full range of central AC equipment, including split system air handlers, packaged rooftop units and ducted fan coil units. As a factory that fabricates both electrical components and sheet metal parts for the HVAC industry, we build drain pans that are sized and finished for the specific equipment platform they serve, rather than offering a single generic shape across every application.

Our production process starts with material selection, galvanized steel, stainless steel or aluminum depending on the installation environment, followed by CNC punching and forming to create the pan body, and welding or folding to seal the corners. Drain outlet position and size are set to the customer's specification so the pan connects directly to the equipment's existing condensate line without field modification.

We supply air conditioning drain pans to HVAC equipment OEMs building new units, to contract manufacturers assembling equipment under a brand owner's design, and to parts distributors stocking replacement inventory for service technicians. For OEM customers we can develop dedicated tooling around a specific unit platform, and for distributors we can offer a curated range of common sizes that cover the most frequently serviced equipment in the field. Every pan is inspected for dimensional accuracy, and custom or stainless steel orders can be leak-tested before packing and shipment.

Product Overview

An air conditioning drain pan sits beneath the evaporator coil or cooling section of an AC unit and collects the condensate that forms as warm, humid air passes over the cold coil surface. The pan needs to hold that water without leaking, direct it toward a drain outlet without pooling, and survive continuous exposure to moisture without corroding through over the equipment's service life, which for central AC systems is often measured in more than a decade.

We build our drain pans with that service life in mind. Pan depth and internal slope are set so water reaches the drain outlet rather than sitting in low spots where mineral deposits and biological growth can accumulate over time. Seams are welded on stainless steel pans for a fully sealed joint, and galvanized pans use a folded and sealed corner construction validated for water-tightness. We select gauge thickness based on the pan's size and the load it may see during installation and service, since a pan that flexes or oil-cans under foot traffic during maintenance is more prone to seam failure over time.

Quality control covers dimensional inspection against the approved drawing, visual and physical inspection of welds and seams, and leak testing for custom and stainless steel production runs. We also review the drain outlet connection detail closely, since a pan that fits the cabinet perfectly but does not align correctly with the existing drain line creates an installation problem that shows up only after the part reaches the customer's assembly line or the field.

For customers replacing a supplier or bringing a new AC platform to market, we start with a drawing or sample review, confirm material and finish, and produce first-article samples for approval before committing to full tooling and production. This keeps the qualification process controlled and gives the customer a physical part to check against their equipment before larger volumes are ordered.

Specification

Product Type	Central air conditioning condensate drain pan
Materials	Galvanized steel, 201/304 stainless steel, aluminum
Thickness	0.4 mm – 1.5 mm depending on pan size
Construction	Formed body with welded or folded & sealed corners
Drain Outlet	Positioned and sized to match customer's existing drain line
Surface Finish	Passivation, powder coating, or mill finish
Applicable Equipment	Split air handlers, rooftop package units, ducted fan coils
Leak Testing	Standard for custom and stainless steel orders
Customization	Drawing-based or sample-matched dimensions
MOQ / Lead Time	Negotiable by part; standard sizes ship faster than custom tooling

Application

Air conditioning drain pans are used wherever a cooling coil produces condensate that needs to be collected and drained away, including residential split system air handlers, light commercial rooftop units, and larger ducted fan coil installations in commercial buildings. They are typically installed directly beneath the evaporator coil, secured to the cabinet or chassis, and connected to a drain line that routes condensate to a floor drain, condensate pump, or building drainage system.

Specifying the right pan starts with confirming the coil footprint and cabinet depth, then the drain outlet position and connection type, and finally the material and finish appropriate to the installation environment. For equipment that will see higher humidity or coastal/corrosive air exposure, stainless steel is generally the safer long-term choice over galvanized steel.

Advantages

As the manufacturer, Cixi Chenfeng controls every step from material sourcing to final inspection, which means consistent wall thickness, weld quality and dimensional accuracy across every batch, not just the first sample. Working directly with us also shortens the communication loop for drawing changes or new variants, since our engineering and tooling teams are on the same production floor.

We support both OEM programs built around a specific equipment platform and open-market supply for distributors who need dependable stock of common drain pan sizes, giving customers flexibility as their sourcing needs change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between a drain pan and a drip pan?
A: The terms are often used interchangeably; both refer to the pan under a cooling coil that collects condensate. We can build either term's specification to your drawing or sample.

Q: Can you match the drain outlet to our existing drain line?
A: Yes, send us the outlet position, size and thread or fitting type and we will build the pan to connect without field modification.

Q: Do you offer both standard sizes and custom tooling?
A: We offer common standard sizes for popular equipment platforms and can also develop custom tooling for OEM-specific designs.

Q: Is stainless steel required for coastal or high-humidity installations?
A: Stainless steel is generally recommended in those environments for its stronger long-term corrosion resistance compared with galvanized steel.

Q: How is the pan tested for leaks?
A: Custom and stainless steel production orders are leak-tested before packing; we can extend this to other orders on request.

Q: Can you supply drain pans for both new equipment builds and replacement stock?
A: Yes, we work with OEMs building new units as well as distributors stocking replacement pans for field service.

Q: What information do you need to quote a custom drain pan?
A: A drawing or sample part, target material and finish, and expected order volume are enough for us to start a quotation.

Q: How long does a typical order take from approval to shipment?
A: Standard sizes ship faster since tooling exists; custom parts require tooling and sample approval first, which adds development time to the initial order.