Patent Publication Number: US-2023141086-A1

Title: Drain cleaner apparatus

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Pat. Application No. 63/277,323 filed in the U.S. Pat. and Trademark Office on Nov. 9, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field 
     The present disclosure relates generally to air-conditioning systems, and more particularly to providing cleaner chemical compositions into condensate drain lines of air handlers of air-conditioning systems without manual intervention. 
     Description of Related Art 
     Air-conditioning systems may include an air handler, also referred to as an air handling unit (AHU) that may circulate and cool air within a space and/or structure. An air handler may move air, via operation of an air mover such as a blower or fan, to flow in thermal communication with a heat exchanger such as an air coil. The air handler may circulate a refrigerant through the heat exchanger to absorb (e.g., remove) heat from the flow of air to cool the air, and the air-conditioning system may circulate the refrigerant through a heat exchanger to discharge the absorbed heat into a heat sink (e.g., the ambient environment). 
     In some cases, cooling air due to the heat exchanger absorbing heat from the air may result in condensation of moisture (e.g., condensate) out of the cooled air at the heat exchanger. The condensate may be collected and discharged from the air handler via a condensate drain line. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to some example embodiments, a drain cleaner apparatus for dispensing a cleaning composition into a condensate drain line of an air handler of an air conditioning system may include an apparatus reservoir configured to hold the cleaning composition, a connector interface configured to couple with the condensate drain line to cause an apparatus outlet of the drain cleaner apparatus to be in fluid communication with an opening of the condensate drain line, a dispenser device that is configured to be actuated to selectively dispense an amount of the cleaning composition from the apparatus reservoir and through the apparatus outlet, and a controller configured to actuate the dispenser device to cause the amount of the cleaning composition to be dispensed through the apparatus outlet without manual intervention. 
     The dispenser device may include at least one valve that is configured to be selectively opened based on a control signal generated by the controller to establish a flow path through the at least one valve from the apparatus reservoir to the apparatus outlet. 
     The dispenser device may include a dispenser reservoir that is configured to hold the amount of the cleaning composition, a first valve between the apparatus reservoir and the dispenser reservoir and configured to be actuated to selectively open or close a first flow path between the apparatus reservoir and the dispenser reservoir, and a second valve between the dispenser reservoir and the apparatus outlet and configured to be actuated to selectively open or close a second flow path between the dispenser reservoir and the apparatus outlet. The controller may be configured to actuate the dispenser device based on causing the first valve to open the first flow path for a first period of time, to enable the dispenser reservoir to be filled with the amount of the cleaning composition from the apparatus reservoir, and, in response to an elapse of the first period of time, causing the first valve to close the first flow path to isolate the dispenser reservoir from the apparatus reservoir and causing the second valve to open the second flow path to enable the amount of the cleaning composition to flow from the dispenser reservoir to the apparatus outlet. 
     The dispenser device may include a pump that is configured to operate for a particular period of time to move the amount of the cleaning composition from the apparatus reservoir to the apparatus outlet, based on a control signal generated by the controller. 
     The drain cleaner apparatus may further include a structure connector that is configured to connect the drain cleaner apparatus to an external structure to at least partially hold the drain cleaner apparatus in place in relation to the opening of the condensate drain line. 
     The structure connector may include a magnetic bracket configured to magnetically attach to a metal surface of the external structure, and a set of lateral and vertical adjustable brackets configured to adjustably position the magnetic bracket, in both a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, in relation to a remainder of the drain cleaner apparatus. 
     The drain cleaner apparatus may further include a moisture sensor configured to extend through the opening into the condensate drain line based on the connector interface being connected to the condensate drain line. The moisture sensor may be configured to generate a signal based on contacting condensate backup in the condensate drain line. 
     The drain cleaner apparatus may further include a bypass device that is configured to be actuated to cause the air conditioning system to shut down based on the signal generated by the moisture sensor. 
     The controller may be configured to cause the bypass device to be actuated to cause the air conditioning system to shut down in response to the signal generated by the moisture sensor. 
     The drain cleaner apparatus may further include a containment tube configured to extend through the opening into the condensate drain line based on the connector interface being connected to the condensate drain line. The moisture sensor may be located within an interior of the containment tube such that the containment tube is configured to isolate the moisture sensor from generating the signal based on the cleaning composition being dispensed by the dispenser device through the apparatus outlet, and expose the moisture sensor to the condensate drain line through an open end of the containment tube, to enable the condensate backup to pass into the interior of the containment tube to contact the moisture sensor. 
     The drain cleaner apparatus may be configured to cause a float switch of the air handler to actuate to cause the air conditioning system to shut down based on the signal generated by the moisture sensor. 
     The apparatus reservoir may be configured to receive a cartridge. The cartridge may include a cartridge reservoir configured to hold the cleaning composition, and a cartridge outlet. The drain cleaner apparatus may be configured to couple with the cartridge so that the cartridge reservoir is in fluid communication with the dispensing device via the cartridge outlet. 
     The drain cleaner apparatus or the cartridge may include a check valve that is configured to open in response to the drain cleaner apparatus coupling with the cartridge to establish the fluid communication between the cartridge reservoir and the dispensing device via the cartridge outlet. 
     The controller may be configured to actuate the dispenser device in response to an elapse of a particular period of time. 
     The controller may be configured to repeatedly actuate the dispenser device at a fixed time interval that is the particular period of time, based on monitoring a timer that increments a timer value at a fixed frequency, actuating the dispenser device in response to the timer value reaching a particular time value corresponding to the elapse of the particular period of time, and resetting the timer value to an initial timer value in response to actuating the dispenser device. 
     The controller may be configured to monitor a counter that increments a counter value in response to each actuation of the dispenser device, and generate a depletion signal in response to the counter value reaching a particular counter value that corresponds to at least partial depletion of a fixed reservoir of the cleaning composition. 
     The drain cleaner apparatus may further include a counter reset interface that is configured to cause the counter value to be reset to an initial counter value in response to human interaction with the counter reset interface. 
     The drain cleaner apparatus may further include a network communication interface device that is configured to establish a network communication link with a remote computing device. The controller may be configured to cause the depletion signal to be transmitted to the remote computing device via the network communication link. 
     The drain cleaner apparatus may further include a network communication interface device that is configured to establish a network communication link with a remote computing device. The controller may be configured to cause the counter value to be reset to an initial counter value in response to receiving a reset signal from the remote computing device via the network communication link. 
     The drain cleaner apparatus may further include a network communication interface device that is configured to establish a network communication link with a remote computing device. The controller may be configured to transmit a warning signal to the remote computing device via the network communication link in response to detection of the signal generated by the moisture sensor. 
     The drain cleaner apparatus may further include a network communication interface device that is configured to establish a network communication link with a remote computing device. The controller may be configured to cause the air conditioning system to shut down, in response to receiving a shutdown command signal from the remote computing device via the network communication link. 
     The drain cleaner apparatus may further include a network communication interface device that is configured to establish a network communication link with a remote computing device. The controller may be configured to cause the dispensing device to selectively dispense the amount of the cleaning composition in response to a dispensing command signal received from the remote computing device via the network communication link. 
     According to some example embodiments, a method for operating a drain cleaner apparatus to dispense a cleaning composition into a condensate drain line of an air handler of an air conditioning system, where the drain cleaner apparatus is coupled with the condensate drain line such that an apparatus outlet of the drain cleaner apparatus is in fluid communication with an opening of the condensate drain line, may include controlling a dispenser device of the drain cleaner apparatus to cause the dispenser device to selectively dispense an amount of the cleaning composition from an apparatus reservoir of the drain cleaner apparatus and through the apparatus outlet without manual intervention. 
     The method may further include causing the air conditioning system to shut down based on processing a signal generated by a moisture sensor of the drain cleaner apparatus that extends through the opening into the condensate drain line. 
     The method may further include causing the air conditioning system to shut down based on processing a signal received from a remote computing device via a network communication interface of the drain cleaner apparatus. 
     The dispenser device may include a dispenser reservoir that is configured to hold the amount of the cleaning composition, a first valve between the apparatus reservoir and the dispenser reservoir and configured to be actuated to selectively open or close a first flow path between the apparatus reservoir and the dispenser reservoir, and a second valve between the dispenser reservoir and the apparatus outlet and configured to be actuated to selectively open or close a second flow path between the dispenser reservoir and the apparatus outlet. The method may further include actuating the dispenser device based on causing the first valve to open the first flow path for a first period of time, to enable the dispenser reservoir to be filled with the amount of the cleaning composition from the apparatus reservoir, and, in response to an elapse of the first period of time, causing the first valve to close the first flow path to isolate the dispenser reservoir from the apparatus reservoir and causing the second valve to open the second flow path to enable the amount of the cleaning composition to flow from the dispenser reservoir to the apparatus outlet. 
     The method may further include actuating the dispenser device in response to an elapse of a particular period of time. 
     The method may further include repeatedly actuating the dispenser device at a fixed time interval that is the particular period of time, based on monitoring a timer that increments a timer value at a fixed frequency, actuating the dispenser device in response to the timer value reaching a particular time value corresponding to the elapse of the particular period of time, and resetting the timer value to an initial timer value in response to actuating the dispenser device. 
     The method may further include monitoring a counter that increments a counter value in response to each actuation of the dispenser device, and generating a depletion signal in response to the counter value reaching a particular counter value that corresponds to at least partial depletion of a fixed reservoir of the cleaning composition. 
     The method may further include causing the counter value to be reset to an initial counter value in response to receiving a reset signal. 
     The drain cleaner apparatus may include a network communication interface device that is configured to establish a network communication link with a remote computing device. The method may further include causing the air conditioning system to shut down, in response to receiving a shutdown command signal from the remote computing device via the network communication link. 
     The drain cleaner apparatus may include a network communication interface device that is configured to establish a network communication link with a remote computing device. The method may further include actuating the dispensing device in response to a dispensing command signal received from the remote computing device via the network communication link. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The various features and advantages of the non-limiting embodiments herein may become more apparent upon review of the detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are merely provided for illustrative purposes and should not be interpreted to limit the scope of the claims. The accompanying drawings are not to be considered as drawn to scale unless explicitly noted. For purposes of clarity, various dimensions of the drawings may have been exaggerated. 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic view of an air-conditioning system according to some example embodiments. 
         FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  are schematic views of a drain cleaner apparatus according to some example embodiments. 
         FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  are schematic views of a drain cleaner apparatus and a cartridge according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  4    is a schematic view of a drain cleaner apparatus including a dispenser device that further includes first and second valves and a dispenser reservoir according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  5    is a schematic view of a drain cleaner apparatus including a moisture sensor according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  6    is a schematic view of a drain cleaner apparatus including a structure connector according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  7    is a schematic view of a drain cleaner apparatus and a remote computing device communicatively coupled via a network communication link according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  8    is a flowchart illustrating a method of operation of the drain cleaner apparatus according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  9    is a flowchart illustrating a method of operation of the drain cleaner apparatus according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG.  10    is a schematic view of a computing device according to some example embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Some detailed example embodiments are disclosed herein. However, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative for purposes of describing example embodiments. Example embodiments may, however, be embodied in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to only the example embodiments set forth herein. 
     Accordingly, while example embodiments are capable of various modifications and alternative forms, example embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit example embodiments to the particular forms disclosed, but to the contrary, example embodiments are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of example embodiments of the inventive concepts. 
     Example embodiments are described herein with reference to cross-sectional illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments (and intermediate structures) of example embodiments. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, example embodiments should not be construed as limited to the shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, including those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. 
     It will be understood that elements and/or properties thereof (e.g., structures, surfaces, directions, or the like), which may be referred to as being “perpendicular,” “parallel,” “flush,” or the like with regard to other elements and/or properties thereof (e.g., structures, surfaces, directions, or the like) may be “perpendicular,” “parallel,” “flush,” or the like or may be “substantially perpendicular,” “substantially parallel,” “substantially flush,” respectively, with regard to the other elements and/or properties thereof. 
     Elements and/or properties thereof (e.g., structures, surfaces, directions, or the like) that are “substantially perpendicular” with regard to other elements and/or properties thereof will be understood to be “perpendicular” with regard to the other elements and/or properties thereof within manufacturing tolerances and/or material tolerances and/or have a deviation in magnitude and/or angle from “perpendicular,” or the like with regard to the other elements and/or properties thereof that is equal to or less than 10% (e.g., a. tolerance of ± 10%). 
     Elements and/or properties thereof (e.g., structures, surfaces, directions, or the like) that are “substantially parallel” with regard to other elements and/or properties thereof will be understood to be “parallel” with regard to the other elements and/or properties thereof within manufacturing tolerances and/or material tolerances and/or have a deviation in magnitude and/or angle from “parallel,” or the like with regard to the other elements and/or properties thereof that is equal to or less than 10% (e.g., a. tolerance of ±10%). 
     Elements and/or properties thereof (e.g., structures, surfaces, directions, or the like) that are “substantially flush” with regard to other elements and/or properties thereof will be understood to be “flush” with regard to the other elements and/or properties thereof within manufacturing tolerances and/or material tolerances and/or have a deviation in magnitude and/or angle from “flush,” or the like with regard to the other elements and/or properties thereof that is equal to or less than 10% (e.g., a. tolerance of ±10%). 
     It will be understood that elements and/or properties thereof may be recited herein as being “the same” or “equal” as other elements, and it will be further understood that elements and/or properties thereof recited herein as being “identical” to, “the same” as, or “equal” to other elements may be “identical” to, “the same” as, or “equal” to or “substantially identical” to, “substantially the same” as or “substantially equal” to the other elements and/or properties thereof. Elements and/or properties thereof that are “substantially identical” to, “substantially the same” as or “substantially equal” to other elements and/or properties thereof will be understood to include elements and/or properties thereof that are identical to, the same as, or equal to the other elements and/or properties thereof within manufacturing tolerances and/or material tolerances. Elements and/or properties thereof that are identical or substantially identical to and/or the same or substantially the same as other elements and/or properties thereof may be structurally the same or substantially the same, functionally the same or substantially the same, and/or compositionally the same or substantially the same. 
     It will be understood that elements and/or properties thereof described herein as being the “substantially” the same and/or identical encompasses elements and/or properties thereof that have a relative difference in magnitude that is equal to or less than 10%. Further, regardless of whether elements and/or properties thereof are modified as “substantially,” it will be understood that these elements and/or properties thereof should be construed as including a manufacturing or operational tolerance (e.g., ±10%) around the stated elements and/or properties thereof. 
     When the terms “about” or “substantially” are used in this specification in connection with a numerical value, it is intended that the associated numerical value include a tolerance of ±10% around the stated numerical value. When ranges are specified, the range includes all values therebetween such as increments of 0.1%. 
       FIG.  1    is a schematic view of an air conditioning system  100  according to some example embodiments. The air conditioning system  100 , which may be interchangeably referred to as an air conditioner system, air conditioner, or the like, may be configured to provide cooling of air within an interior of a structure  1  and may be at least partially located within the structure  1 , but example embodiments are not limited thereto. The air conditioning system  100  may be included as a part of a Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, but example embodiments are not limited thereto, and in some example embodiments the air conditioning system  100  may be separate from any heating system. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , the air conditioning system  100  may include an air handler  102  and a condenser assembly  104  that are configured to draw return air  106  from an interior of the structure  1 , cool (e.g., absorb heat from) the drawn return air  106  into conditioned air  114 , and discharge (e.g., supply) the conditioned air  114  back into the interior of the structure  1 . The air handler  102  may include, within a housing  101  that may at least partially comprise metal (e.g., steel), an air intake  103 , an air filter  105 , an air mover  108  (e.g., fan, blower, etc.), a heat exchanger  110  (e.g., evaporator coil), an expansion valve  111 , a drip pan  122 , a condensate drain line  124  (also referred to herein as a condensate drain conduit, condensate drain pipe, etc.), a controller  140 , a float switch  160 , and an air outlet  112 . The condenser assembly  104  may include a compressor  150 , a second heat exchanger  152  (e.g., condenser coil), and an air mover  154  (e.g., fan, blower, etc.). 
     It will be understood that example embodiments of an air conditioning system, air handler, condenser assembly, or the like may have different arrangements of devices therein and may omit or add to the aforementioned elements of the air conditioning system  100  as shown in  FIG.  1   . It will be understood, for example, that elements shown as being included in the air handler  102  may in some example embodiments be located in the condenser assembly  104  (e.g., the controller  140  may be located in the condenser assembly  104  instead of the air handler  102 ). As shown, the condenser assembly  104  may be located external to the structure  1  while the air handler  102  is located internal to the structure  1 , but example embodiments are not limited thereto. 
     In some example embodiments, the air conditioning system  100  may draw return air  106  into the air handler  102  via the air intake  103  and through the air filter  105 , where the air filter  105  may be any known air filter that is configured to remove some matter (e.g., particulate matter, including dust) from the return air  106 . The air mover  108  (e.g., blower) may induce the flow of air into, through, and out of, the air handler  102 . The air mover  108  may cause return air  106  to be drawn through the air filter  105  to remove some matter and may move (e.g., blow) the return air  106  through the air mover  108  and to the heat exchanger  110 . The return air  106  may flow in thermal communication with (e.g., in contact with outer surfaces of) one or more coils of the heat exchanger  110  so that heat is removed from the return air  106  to cool the return air  106  into conditioned air  114 . The air handler  102  may move the conditioned air  114  out of the air handler  102  and back into an interior space of the structure  1  via the air outlet  112 . 
     The air conditioning system  100  may circulate a working fluid (e.g., a refrigerant, including known R22 refrigerant, R410A refrigerant, or any known refrigerant) between the heat exchangers  110  and  152  to remove heat from the return air  106  when the return air  106  flows in thermal communication (e.g., through and/or in contact with one or more coils of) the heat exchanger  110 . The heat exchanger  110  may include any known heat exchanger used for an air conditioning system, for example an evaporator coil exchanger that includes one or more coils of one or more tubes through which the working fluid flows (e.g., as a cooled liquid). The heat exchanger  110  may cause heat to be transferred from the return air  106  and into the working fluid when the return air  106  is caused to flow across (e.g., in contact with, in thermal communication with, etc.) the one or more coils, thereby resulting in the working fluid becoming heated (e.g., heated into a low-pressure gas). The heated working fluid may be drawn, via fluid line  116  (e.g., fluid conduit, pipe, etc.) into the condenser assembly  104 . 
     The air conditioning system  100  may include, in the condenser assembly  104 , a compressor  150  (which may be any known compressor) that induces flow of the working fluid through the air conditioning system  100 . The compressor  150  may draw the heated working fluid from the fluid line  118  and may compress the heated working fluid into a high-pressure gas. The heated working fluid may pass (e.g., flow), for example as the high-pressure gas, from the compressor  150  to the heat exchanger  152  (which may be any known heat exchanger and may be referred to as a condenser coil). The air mover  154  may cause ambient air  192  from the ambient environment  190  to be drawn across (e.g., in thermal communication with) one or more tubes of the heat exchanger  152  to remove heat from the heated working fluid passing through the one or more tubes of the heat exchanger  152 , thereby discharging the heat originally removed from the return air  106  into the ambient environment  190  which serves as a heat sink for the air conditioning system  100 . As a result, the working fluid passing through the heat exchanger  152  may be cooled back into a liquid. The working fluid may then pass (e.g., flow, circulate, etc.) back to the air handler  102  via a fluid line  118 , where the working fluid may pass through an expansion valve  111  (which may be any known expansion valve) to cool the working fluid which then passes into the heat exchanger  110  to remove additional heat from return air  106 . 
     As noted above, the circulation of working fluid through the heat exchanger  110 , heat exchanger  152 , fluid lines  116  and  118 , and expansion valve  111  may be induced by operation of the compressor  150 . 
     As further shown, the air conditioning system  100  may include a controller  140  that is configured to control elements of the air conditioning system  100 , including for example controlling operation of the air handler  102 , condenser assembly  104 , or any part thereof. As described further below, the controller  140  may be implemented by a computing device, including a memory storing a program of instructions and a processor configured to execute the program of instructions. While the controller  140  is shown as being included within the housing  101  of the air handler  102 , it will be understood that the controller  140  may be located external to the housing  101  and, in some example embodiments, may be located within the condenser assembly  104  or may be attached to an exterior of the air handler  102  for ease of manual access. 
     Still referring to  FIG.  1   , when heat is removed from the return air  106  based on the return air  106  passing in thermal communication with the heat exchanger  110 , water may condense out of the cooled return air as condensate  120  at the heat exchanger  110 . The air handler  102  may include a drip pan  122  located beneath the heat exchanger  110 , and the condensate  120  may fall under gravity to collect in the drip pan  122 . The air handler  102  may further include a condensate drain line  124  having an inlet opening  128  coupled to the drip pan  122  (e.g., a bottom surface where the drip pan  122  has an inclined surface that is angled downwards towards the inlet opening  128  of the condensate drain line  124 ) and an outlet opening  130  that is external to the structure  1  and open to the ambient environment  190 , as shown. Condensate  120  collected in the drip pan  122  may pass under gravity to the inlet opening  128  of the condensate drain line  124 , and the condensate drain line  124  may direct the condensate  120  to flow out of the air handler  102  and out of the structure  1  to the ambient environment  190  via the outlet opening  130  of the condensate drain line  124 . 
     In some example embodiments, the condensate drain line  124  may become clogged due to buildup of various substances within the condensate drain line. Such substances may include, for example, mold, algae, mildew, bacteria, and/or fungi. When the condensate drain line becomes clogged, backflow and/or overflow of condensate  120  out of the condensate drain line  124  may occur. For example, condensate  120  may accumulate in the drip pan  122  due to the clogging and may eventually overflow over the sides of the drip pan  122 . Such overflow of condensate  120  out of the drip pan  122  may cause damage to the air handler  102  and/or to the structure  1 , including water damage to structural members of the structure  1 , water damage to elements of the air handler  102 , flooding of the structure  1  and/or the air handler  102 , or the like. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , the air conditioning system  100  may include a float switch  160  that is located in the drip pan  122  and/or in the condensate drain line  124  (as shown). The float switch  160  may be a switch that is configured to be actuated based on backflow and/or overflow of condensate  120  in the condensate drain line  124 . For example, the float switch  160  may be any known float switch and may be configured to be closed or opened (e.g., actuated) based on accumulation of condensate  120  in the drip pan  122  to at least a threshold volume held therein. The float switch  160  may be communicatively (e.g., electrically) coupled to the controller  140 , and the controller  140  may be configured to shut down some or all of the air conditioning system  100  (e.g., shut down the air mover  108 , the compressor  150 , and/or the air mover  154 ) in response to the float switch  160  being actuated, thereby reducing or preventing damage being caused in the structure and/or air conditioning system  100  due to the condensate  120  accumulation. 
     Still referring to  FIG.  1   , in some example embodiments a drain cleaner apparatus  200  may be coupled to the condensate drain line  124  at an opening  125  into the condensate drain line  124  (e.g., a cleanout opening of the condensate drain line  124 ), where the drain cleaner apparatus  200  is configured to dispense a cleaning composition into the condensate drain line  124 . As described herein, the drain cleaner apparatus  200  may be configured to dispense a cleaning composition into the condensate drain line  124  to reduce, remove, and/or prevent clogging of the condensate drain line  124  due to the presence of various potential clogging substances (e.g., mold, algae, mildew, bacteria, and/or fungi) therein. 
     In some example embodiments, the drain cleaner apparatus  200  may be configured to dispense the cleaning composition into the condensate drain line  124  without human intervention (e.g., automatically), for example to dispense discrete amounts (e.g., a particular amount, which may be a particular volume and/or particular mass) of the cleaning composition at a particular (or, alternatively, predetermined) fixed time interval, thereby reducing or preventing clogging of the condensate drain line  124  due to the presence of various potential clogging substances (e.g., mold, algae, mildew, bacteria, and/or fungi) therein while reducing or minimizing human intervention and/or effort expended to implement the dispensing. Because the drain cleaner apparatus  200  is configured to dispense the cleaning composition (e.g., repeatedly at a fixed time interval) without human intervention, the buildup of potential clogging substances (e.g., mold, algae, mildew, bacteria, and/or fungi) in the condensate drain line  124  may be reduced, removed, or prevented. This may thereby reduce or prevent the likelihood of condensate  120  backup and/or overflow which might otherwise result in shutdown of at least the air handler  102  and/or air conditioning system  100 , flooding damage to the air handler  102  and/or structure  1 , or the like. Because human intervention is not required to implement the dispensing of the cleaning composition, particularly dispensing of the cleaning composition repeatedly at a fixed time interval, the likelihood of condensate drain line  124  clogging due to a missed or forgotten manual dispensing of cleaning composition by a human operator is reduced or prevented, thereby improving operational performance of the air conditioning system  100  and reducing workload by a human operator. 
       FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  are schematic views of a drain cleaner apparatus  200  according to some example embodiments. Referring to  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  in reference to  FIG.  1   , the drain cleaner apparatus  200  is configured to dispense a cleaning composition  230  into a condensate drain line  124  of the air handler  102  shown in  FIG.  1   . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B , the drain cleaner apparatus  200  may include an apparatus reservoir  202  configured to hold the cleaning composition  230 , an apparatus outlet  206  (e.g., opening), and a dispenser device  204  that is configured to be actuated (e.g., operated) to selectively dispense an amount (e.g., a particular amount, which may be a particular volume and/or a particular mass) of the cleaning composition  230  from the apparatus reservoir  202  and through the apparatus outlet  206 . The drain cleaner apparatus  200  may further include a connector interface  208  that is configured to couple with the condensate drain line  124  to cause the apparatus outlet  206  of the drain cleaner apparatus  200  to be in fluid communication with (e.g., open to) the opening  125  (e.g., cleanout opening) of the condensate drain line  124 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B , the apparatus reservoir  202  may include an inner surface  202 S defining an interior volume space in which cleaning composition  230  may be held within a housing  201  of the drain cleaner apparatus  200 . The apparatus reservoir  202  may further include an outlet  202 A that is configured to be in fluid communication with the dispenser device  204  to enable cleaning composition  230  to flow from the apparatus reservoir  202  to the dispenser device  204 . The apparatus reservoir  202  may further include a cover  203  (e.g., a hatch) that may be opened or removed to enable filling or refilling of the apparatus reservoir  202  with cleaning composition  230 . However, it will be understood that in some example embodiments, the cleaning composition  230  may be provided within a cartridge container (e.g., “cartridge”) that may be received into and held within the apparatus reservoir  202  instead of being poured directly into the apparatus reservoir  202  from outside the drain cleaner apparatus  200 . 
     Still referring to  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B , the dispenser device  204  is a device that may be actuated (e.g., operated, based on an electrical control signal) to selectively open or close at least one fluid path from the apparatus reservoir  202  (e.g., via outlet  202 A) to the apparatus outlet  206  to enable at least an amount of the cleaning composition  230  to be dispensed through the apparatus outlet  206 . 
     The dispenser device  204  may be configured to dispense an amount of cleaning composition  230  that is a particular amount (e.g., a particular volume, particular mass, etc.) so that the drain cleaner apparatus  200  may dispense a particular amount of cleaning composition  230  (e.g., repeatedly at a fixed time interval). For example, in some example embodiments, the amount of cleaning composition  230  as described herein that is dispensed when the dispenser device  204  is actuated once may be 3 oz of cleaning composition  230 , and the dispenser device  204  may be configured to be actuated to cause the particular amount of cleaning composition  230  from the apparatus reservoir  202  to the apparatus outlet  206 . 
     The connector interface  208  is configured to couple (e.g., removably couple, detachably couple, reversibly couple, etc.) the drain cleaner apparatus  200  with the condensate drain line  124  so that the apparatus outlet  206  is in fluid communication with the opening  125  into the condensate drain line  124 , for example as shown in  FIG.  2 B . As shown, the connector interface  208  is configured to couple with the opening end of the condensate drain line  124  to cause the apparatus outlet  206  to be directly adjacent to, and directly open to, the opening  125  into the condensate drain line  124 , so that the actuation of the dispenser device  204  to dispense an amount of the cleaning composition  230  from the apparatus reservoir  202  to the apparatus outlet  206  further causes the amount of the cleaning composition  230  to flow into the condensate drain line  124  through the apparatus outlet  206  and the opening  125  into the condensate drain line  124 . 
     In some example embodiments, the connector interface  208  may be any connector that is configured to couple at least the housing  201  of the drain cleaner apparatus  200  with the condensate drain line  124 . In some example embodiments, the connector interface  208  may be a friction fit connector interface that includes an inner surface having an inner diameter that corresponds to the outer diameter of the opening end of the condensate drain line  124 , so that the connector interface  208  is configured to establish a friction fit connection with the opening  125 . The connector interface  208  may further include a seal, O-ring, or the like along the inner surface of the connector interface  208  to further establish a connection with the opening  125 . In some example embodiments, the connector interface  208  includes a threaded connector, bayonet connector, or the like that is configured to be coupled with a complementary connector interface of the condensate drain line  124  (e.g., a threaded connector, bayonet connector, or the like at the opening  125  of the condensate drain line  124 ). In some example embodiments, the connector interface  208  may include an adaptor (e.g., a variable inner diameter connector) that is configured to couple the drain cleaner apparatus  200  to various condensate drain lines  124  having various outer diameters. In some example embodiments, the connector interface  208  is configured to at least partially transfer a structural load (e.g., weight) of the drain cleaner apparatus  200  to the condensate drain line  124 , so that the drain cleaner apparatus  200  is configured to be at least partially structurally supported in place on the condensate drain line  124 . 
     In some example embodiments, the drain cleaner apparatus  200  includes an structure connector  220  that is configured to connect the drain cleaner apparatus  200  to an external structure (e.g., a housing  101  of the air handler  102  as shown) to at least partially hold the drain cleaner apparatus  200  in place in relation to the opening  125  of the condensate drain line  124  (e.g., at least partially structurally support the drain cleaner apparatus  200  on the opening  125 ). As described further herein, the structure connector  220  may have various structures. For example, the structure connector  220  may include an adhesive connector, a magnet, or the like to couple with the housing  101  of the air handler  102 . 
     In some example embodiments, the dispenser device  204  may include at least one valve that is configured to be actuated to be selectively opened (e.g., to selectively open a flow path  204 A through the at least one valve) based on a control signal generated by the controller  210  to establish a flow path  204 A through the at least one valve and through which the cleaning composition  230  may flow (e.g., a flow path  204 A from the apparatus reservoir  202  to the apparatus outlet  206 ). For example, a valve of the dispense device  204  as described herein may include an electromechanically operated valve, including a solenoid valve, which may be selectively actuated based on a control signal from the controller  210 . 
     In some example embodiments, the dispenser device  204  may include a pump (e.g., any known positive displacement pump) that is configured to operate for a particular period of time to move the amount of the cleaning composition  230  from the apparatus reservoir  202  to the apparatus outlet  206 , based on a control signal generated by the controller  210 . 
     As described herein, a cleaning composition  230  may be any known chemical composition (e.g., solution, liquid, fluid, etc.) that may be configured to clean (e.g., remove) potential clogging substances (e.g., mold, algae, mildew, bacteria, and/or fungi) from an inner surface of the condensate drain line  124 . In some example embodiments, the cleaning composition  230  may be a chemical substance that is or includes a chelating agent (e.g., chelant) including, for example, sodium hexametaphosphate, that is configured to remove potential clogging substances from the inner surface of the condensate drain line based on chelation upon contact with the potential clogging substances. For example, the cleaning composition  230  may be a liquid solution that includes 3%-7% sodium hexametaphosphate, by weight of the total weight of the cleaning composition  230 . Based on the drain cleaner apparatus  200  being configured to dispense cleaning composition  230  through the apparatus outlet  206 , where the cleaning composition  230  is dispensed into the condensate drain line  124 , the drain cleaner apparatus  200  may be configured to enable removal of potential clogging substances (e.g., mold, algae, mildew, bacteria, and/or fungi) from an inner surface of the condensate drain line  124  by the cleaning composition  230 , which may thereby reduce or prevent the occurrence of backflow and/or overflow of the condensate drain line  124  due to clogging. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B , the drain cleaner apparatus  200  may include a power supply  212  that is configured to supply electrical power to devices included therein, including the controller  210 , the dispenser device  204 , a network communication interface  224 , a sensor (not shown in  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B , shown in  FIG.  5   ), or the like. As shown, the power supply  212  may include a battery  214 , which may include any known rechargeable battery (e.g., a lithium ion battery). As further shown, in some example embodiments the power supply  212  may include a wired power connection  216  which may be configured to couple to a power outlet provided at the structure  1  and/or the air handler  102 . The power supply  212  may further include a charging circuit  218  that may be configured to recharge the battery  214  from the wired power connection  216  and may be configured to enable the battery  214  to supply power to operate the drain cleaner apparatus  200  in the absence of electrical power being received via the wired power connection  216 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B , the controller  210  may be configured to actuate the dispenser device  204  to cause a particular amount of the cleaning composition  230  to be dispensed from the apparatus reservoir  202  and through the apparatus outlet  206  without manual intervention. For example, the controller  210  may be configured to cause an electrical signal to be generated and transmitted to the dispenser device  204  to cause the dispenser device  204  to actuate, selectively opening or closing a flow path  204 A therethrough, to thus cause a particular amount of the cleaning composition  230  to be dispensed. 
     The controller  210  may include a memory (e.g., a solid state drive, or SSD) storing a program of instructions, and the controller  210  may include a processor (e.g., a Central Processing Unit, or CPU) configured to execute the program of instructions to implement any functionality of the controller  210  according to any example embodiments. However, example embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, in some example embodiments, the controller  210  may include circuitry that is configured to implement a timer circuit (e.g., a clock, timer, or any combination thereof) and is configured to generate a signal to actuate the dispenser device  204  based on the timer circuit counting a particular time interval. 
     In some example embodiments, the controller  210  is configured to actuate the dispenser device  204  (e.g., actuate at least one valve, pump, or the like therein) to cause the dispenser device  204  to dispense an amount of cleaning composition  230  through the apparatus outlet  206  to be dispensed into the condensate drain line  124 . In some example embodiments, the controller  210  may be configured to generate a signal to cause at least a portion of the dispenser device  204  (e.g., a valve, pump, etc.) to be operated (e.g., a valve opened, a pump operating) for a particular period of time that is associated, at the controller  210 , with causing a particular amount of cleaning composition  230  to be dispensed by the dispenser device  204 . The controller  210  may cause a particular amount of cleaning composition  230  to be dispensed based on accessing a look-up-table that is stored in a memory of the controller  210 , where the look-up-table is empirically generated and associates a period of time of actuation of at least a portion of the dispensing device (e.g., a period of time of generation of a control signal) with dispensing of a corresponding amount of cleaning composition  230  by the dispenser device  204 . The controller  210  may determine a particular amount of cleaning composition  230  to be dispensed, access the look-up-table to determine a corresponding duration or period of applied control signal to the dispenser device  204 , and then generate a control signal that is transmitted to the dispenser device  204  to cause at least a portion of the dispenser device  204  to be actuated for the corresponding duration or period. 
     In some example embodiments, the controller  210  is configured to actuate the dispenser device  204  to cause an amount of cleaning composition  230  (e.g., 3 oz) to be dispensed in response to an elapse of a particular period of time (e.g., 7 days, or 168 hours). The controller  210  may be configured to actuate the dispenser device  204  repeatedly upon repeated elapse of the particular period of time, which may be referred to as a “fixed time interval” (e.g., a fixed time interval of 7 days). In some example embodiments, the apparatus reservoir  202  may be configured to hold a total volume of 36 oz, so that the drain cleaner apparatus  200  may be configured to dispense 3 oz of cleaning composition  230  every 7 days for a period of 12 weeks (84 days). 
     The controller  210  may be configured to repeatedly actuate the dispenser device  204  at a fixed time interval (e.g., 7 days), based on monitoring a timer that increments a timer value at a fixed frequency, actuating the dispenser device  204  in response to the timer value reaching a particular time value corresponding to the elapse of the particular period of time, and resetting the timer value to an initial timer value (e.g., 0 days) in response to actuating the dispenser device  204 . For example, the controller  210  may include and/or implement a clock and/or timer that counts a period of elapsed time from an initial timer value (e.g., increments from 0 days) at a fixed frequency (e.g., counts days, hours, minutes and/or seconds at a fixed frequency of days, hours, minutes and/or seconds). In response to determining that a threshold timer value is reached (e.g., a timer value corresponding to the particular period of time and/or fixed time interval of 7 days), the controller  210  may generate a signal to cause the dispenser device  204  to actuate to cause an amount of the cleaning composition  230  to be dispensed through the apparatus outlet  206  and further re-set the timer value so that the controller  210  may subsequently cause the dispenser device  204  to dispense another amount of the cleaning composition  230  upon a re-elapse of the particular period of time. The controller  210  may be configured to perform this process repeatedly so long as electrical power is supplied to the controller  210  (e.g., from power supply  212 ), so that the process may be performed (e.g., repeatedly at a fixed time interval) without human intervention. 
     In some example embodiments, the controller  210  is configured to implement a counter that increments a counter value, starting from an initial value (e.g., 0), in response to each actuation of the dispenser device  204 . As a result, where the controller  210  repeatedly actuates the dispenser device  204  at a fixed time interval, the controller  210  may track the number (e.g., quantity) of dispensings of an amount of cleaning composition  230  (e.g., the number of actuations of the dispenser device  204 ) over time. Therefore, where the drain cleaner apparatus  200  is configured to hold a particular total amount of cleaning composition  230  (e.g., 36 oz), the controller  210  may track the counter value to determine when the total amount of cleaning composition  230  available to be dispensed is about to be depleted or is depleted and may generate a signal (e.g., a depletion signal) in response to the counter value reaching a value that corresponds to partial or complete (e.g., total, final, etc.) depletion of the cleaning composition  230  held by the drain cleaner apparatus  200 . 
     For example, where the drain cleaner apparatus  200  is configured to hold a particular total amount of cleaning composition  230  that is 36 oz, and where the controller  210  is configured to cause the dispenser device  204  to dispense an amount of 3 oz of cleaning composition  230  at a fixed time interval of 7 days, the total amount of cleaning composition  230  may be depleted upon completion of 12 dispensings. The controller  210  may store a threshold counter value of 10, 11, or 12 that corresponds to partial depletion, near-depletion, or total depletion of the total amount of cleaning composition  230  held in the drain cleaner apparatus  200 . The controller  210  may implement and/or monitor a counter that increments a counter value in response to each actuation of the dispenser device  204 , and generate a depletion signal in response to the counter value reaching a particular counter value that corresponds to at least partial depletion of a fixed reservoir of the cleaning composition (e.g., 10, 11, or 12). As described herein, the controller  210  may transmit the depletion signal to a display interface (e.g., an LED, an audio speaker), which may be included in the drain cleaner apparatus  200  or may be included in a remote computing device, to provide a depletion warning. The controller  210  may further or alternatively be configured to cause the depletion signal to a remote computing device (e.g., via a network communication interface  224  as described herein) in order to inform a remote human user supported by the remote computing device of the partial or complete depletion (e.g., final depletion) of the total amount of cleaning composition  230  held in the drain cleaner apparatus  200 . The human user may then be informed of the partial or complete depletion so that the human user may take action to replenish the cleaning composition held in the drain cleaner apparatus  200 . 
     Additionally, the drain cleaner apparatus  200  may include a counter reset interface  222  (e.g., a button) that is configured to cause the counter value to be reset to an initial counter value (e.g., 0) in response to human interaction with the counter reset interface  222  (e.g., in response to a human user pushing the button after replenishing the total amount of cleaning composition  230  held in the drain cleaner apparatus  200 ). 
     Still referring to  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B , the drain cleaner apparatus  200  may include a network communication interface  224  that is communicatively coupled to the controller  210 . It will be understood that the network communication interface  224  may be separate from the controller  210  as shown or may be included in and/or implemented by the controller  210 . The network communication interface  224  may be any known network communication transceiver, including a wireless network communication transceiver such as a WI-FI transceiver, 5G cellular network communication transceiver, an ad hoc network communication transceiver such as a Bluetooth® transceiver, any combination thereof, or the like. 
     The controller  210  may be configured to establish a network communication link (which may be a wired network communication link, a wireless network communication link, an ad hoc wireless network communication link, or the like) with a remote computing device as described herein and may engage in one-way or two-way communication with the remote computing device via the network communication link. 
     In some example embodiments, the controller  210  may communicate signals over the network communication link that indicate operations of the controller  210  (e.g., indicating actuation of the dispenser device  204  at particular points in time, a present timer value, a present counter value, etc.). In some example embodiments, the controller  210  may communicate the depletion signal (generated in response to the counter value reaching a threshold value) to the remote computing device via the network communication link. 
     In some example embodiments, the controller  210  may be configured to perform operations in response to receiving signals from the remote computing device via the network communication link. For example, the controller  210  may be configured to cause the counter value of the counter value to be reset to an initial counter value (e.g., 0) in response to receiving a reset signal from the remote computing device via the network communication link (which may be transmitted by the remote computing device in response to a human user replenishing the total amount of cleaning composition  230  held in the drain cleaner apparatus  200 ). 
       FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  are schematic views of a drain cleaner apparatus  200  and a cartridge  300 , also referred to interchangeably as a “cleaner cartridge,” “cleaning composition cartridge,” or the like according to some example embodiments. Referring to  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  in reference to  FIG.  1   , the drain cleaner apparatus  200  is configured to dispense a cleaning composition  230  into a condensate drain line  124  of the air handler  102  shown in  FIG.  1   . The drain cleaner apparatus  200  shown in  FIGS.   3 A and  3 B  may include some or all of the same elements as the drain cleaner apparatus of any of the example embodiments. 
     In some example embodiments, the drain cleaner apparatus  200  may be configured to receive and couple with a cartridge  300  that contains (e.g., holds) the cleaning composition  230  within a cartridge reservoir  304  such that a flow path is established between the cartridge reservoir  304  and the dispenser device  204 . The cartridge  300  may be provided instead of the cleaning composition  230  being poured into, and directly held within, the apparatus reservoir  202  in contact with the inner surface  202 S thereof, for example as shown in  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B . Replenishment of the cleaning composition  230  held in the drain cleaner apparatus  200  may be simplified based on the cleaning composition  230  being held in the cartridge  300 , as replenishment of the total cleaning composition  230  held in the drain cleaner apparatus  200  may involve replacing a cartridge  300  that is coupled to the drain cleaner apparatus  200  based on being inserted into the apparatus reservoir  202  instead of directly pouring the cleaning composition  230  directly into the apparatus reservoir  202 . Such simplification may include reducing or preventing inadvertent spilling of cleaning composition  230  during the replenishment process. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B , the cartridge  300  may include a cartridge housing  302  that has at least an inner surface  302 I defining a cartridge reservoir  304  which may hold the cleaning composition  230  therein. In some example embodiments, the cartridge reservoir  304  may have a particular volume, for example 36 oz and thus may be configured to hold the particular volume (e.g., 36 oz) of cleaning composition  230 . 
     As further shown, the apparatus reservoir  202  and the cartridge  300  may be sized and shaped so that the cartridge  300  may be received at least partially into the apparatus reservoir  202  to establish a sliding contact fit between the outer surface  302 S of the cartridge housing  302  and the inner surface  202 S of the apparatus reservoir  202 , for example so that the cartridge  300  occupies all or substantially all of the internal volume space of the apparatus reservoir  202  when the cartridge  300  is coupled to the drain cleaner apparatus  200 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B , the cartridge  300  may have a greater volume than the apparatus reservoir  202  and may protrude out of the opening 202O of the apparatus reservoir  202  when the cartridge  300  is received into the apparatus reservoir  202  and coupled with the drain cleaner apparatus  200 . Such protrusion of the cartridge  300  may enable easier human access to grasp the cartridge  300  to simplify replacement of cartridges  300 , but example embodiments are not limited thereto: in some example embodiments the cartridge  300  may be located entirely within the apparatus reservoir  202  when the cartridge  300  is coupled to the drain cleaner apparatus  200 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B , the drain cleaner apparatus  200  may include the apparatus reservoir  202  which is configured to receive the cartridge  300  to enable the cartridge  300  to be coupled with the drain cleaner apparatus  200 , but example embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, in some example embodiments, the apparatus reservoir  202  may be entirely absent from the drain cleaner apparatus  200 , and the cartridge  300  may couple with a port that is exposed at the outer surface of the housing  201  of the drain cleaner apparatus  200  to put the cartridge reservoir  304  in fluid communication with the dispenser device  204 . 
     As shown, the cartridge  300  may have a cartridge housing  302  that defines a cartridge outlet  302 A through which the cleaning composition  230  may exit the cartridge reservoir  304  when a flow path is established between the cartridge reservoir  304  and the dispenser device  204 . 
     The cartridge outlet  302 A may include a connector interface configured to establish a connection with the dispenser device  204 , and the dispenser device  204  or the apparatus reservoir  202  may further include a complementary connector interface to enable a complementary connection with the cartridge  300 . Such connector interfaces may include any known connector interface, for example a friction fit connector, a threaded connector, a bayonet connector, any combination thereof, or the like. 
     As further shown, at least one of the cartridge  300  or the drain cleaner apparatus  200  may include a check valve  306  that is configured to be opened based on the drain cleaner apparatus  200  being coupled with the cartridge  300  (e.g., in response to establishing a threaded connection, bayonet connection, friction fit connection, or the like between the drain cleaner apparatus  200  and the cartridge  300 ). The check valve  306  may be configured to actuate to open a flow path between the cartridge reservoir  304  and the apparatus reservoir  202  and/or between the cartridge reservoir  304  and the dispenser device  204  in response to the drain cleaner apparatus  200  being coupled with the cartridge  300 , so that the cartridge reservoir  304  is in fluid communication with the dispenser device  204  via the cartridge outlet  302 A. 
     While, in  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B , the check valve  306  is shown as being a part of the cartridge  300  such that the check valve  306  is fixed to the cartridge housing  302  (e.g., via adhesive and/or the cartridge housing  302  being a plastic material (e.g., high density polyethylene or HDPE) that is formed to at least partially enclose the check valve  306 ), example embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, in some example embodiments, the check valve  306  may be fixed to the apparatus reservoir  202  and/or the dispenser device  204 . The check valve  306  may be included in a connector that is configured to couple with the cartridge  300  to establish the coupling between the drain cleaner apparatus  200  and the cartridge  300 . For example the check valve  306  may be included in a threaded connector, bayonet connector, friction fit connector, or the like. In another example, the check valve  306  may be removably (e.g., detachably) coupled to the apparatus reservoir  202  and/or the dispenser device  204  via a set of complementary connectors (e.g., threaded, bayonet, etc.), and the check valve  306  may be detached from the drain cleaner apparatus  200  and coupled to the cartridge  300  prior to coupling of the drain cleaner apparatus  200  with the cartridge  300 , and the check valve  306  may be detached from the cartridge  300  subsequent to removal of an empty cartridge  300  from the drain cleaner apparatus  200  and then attached to a new, full cartridge  300  prior to coupling of the full cartridge  300  to the drain cleaner apparatus  200 , such that a check valve  306  may be re-used between separate cartridges  300 . 
     Accordingly, in some example embodiments, the apparatus reservoir  202  may be configured to receive a cartridge  300  that includes a cartridge reservoir  304  configured to hold the cleaning composition  230 , and a cartridge outlet  302 A, and the drain cleaner apparatus  200  may be configured to couple with the cartridge  300  so that the cartridge reservoir  304  is in fluid communication (e.g., via an open flow channel) with the dispenser device  204  via the cartridge outlet  302 A. Additionally, in some example embodiments, the drain cleaner apparatus  200  or the cartridge  300  may include a check valve  306  that is configured to open in response to the drain cleaner apparatus  200  coupling with the cartridge  300  to establish the fluid communication between the cartridge reservoir  304  and the dispenser device  204  via the cartridge outlet  302 A. 
     It will be understood that the dispenser device  204 , the controller  210 , the power supply  212 , and/or the network communication interface  224  of the drain cleaner apparatus  200  of  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  may be configured to operate similarly to the described operation thereof as presented herein with reference to the example embodiments shown in  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B , except that replenishment of cleaning composition  230  held in the drain cleaner apparatus  200  is implemented via replacing the cartridge  300  coupled to the drain cleaner apparatus  200  instead of directly pouring cleaning composition  230  into the apparatus reservoir  202 . It will further be understood that the dispenser device  204 , the controller  210 , the power supply  212 , and/or the network communication interface  224  of the drain cleaner apparatus  200  of any of the example embodiments may be configured to operate similarly to the described operation thereof as presented herein with reference to the example embodiments shown in  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B . 
       FIG.  4    is a schematic view of a drain cleaner apparatus  200  including a dispenser device  204  that further includes first and second valves  402  and  404  and a dispenser reservoir  406  according to some example embodiments. Referring to  FIG.  4    in reference to  FIG.  1   , the drain cleaner apparatus  200  is configured to dispense a cleaning composition  230  into a condensate drain line  124  of the air handler  102  shown in  FIG.  1   . 
     The drain cleaner apparatus  200  shown in  FIG.  4    may include some or all of the same elements as the drain cleaner apparatus of any of the example embodiments. For example, the example embodiments shown in  FIG.  4    include an apparatus reservoir  202  configured to directly hold cleaning composition  230 , similarly to the example embodiments shown in  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B , but it will be understood that the drain cleaner apparatus  200  shown in  FIG.  4    may be configured to couple with a cartridge  300  as shown in  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  instead of cleaning composition  230  being directly held (e.g., poured into) the apparatus reservoir  202  and/or the apparatus reservoir  202  may be entirely absent (e.g., where the dispenser device  204  is configured to couple with a cartridge  300  that is external to housing  201 ). Conversely, it will be understood that the drain cleaner apparatus  200  according to any of the example embodiments (e.g., the example embodiments shown in  FIGS.  2 A and  3 B , the example embodiments shown in  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B , or the like) may include the dispenser device  204  as shown in  FIG.  4   . 
     Referring to  FIG.  4   , in some example embodiments, the dispenser device  204  may include a dispenser reservoir  406  that is configured to hold the particular amount of the cleaning composition  230  that is to be dispensed when the dispenser device  204  is actuated. For example, the dispenser reservoir (which may be a container having two openings  406 A and  406 B as shown) may have an internal volume of exactly or about 3 oz. 
     The dispenser device  204  may include a first valve  402  between the apparatus reservoir  202  and the dispenser reservoir  406 . The dispenser device  204  may further include a second valve  404  between the dispenser reservoir  406  and the apparatus outlet  206 . As shown, the dispenser reservoir  406  may be directly between the first and second valves  402  and  404 , where a first opening  406 A of the dispenser reservoir  406  is connected to an outlet of the first valve  402  and the second opening  406 B of the dispenser reservoir  406  is connected to an inlet of the second valve  404 . The first and second valves  402  and  404  may each be any known type of valve, including for example a solenoid valve. 
     In some example embodiments, the first valve  402  is configured to be actuated (e.g., based on a control signal generated by the controller  210 ) to selectively open or close a first flow path  402 A between the apparatus reservoir  202  and the dispenser reservoir  406 , and the second valve  404  may be configured to be actuated (e.g., based on a separate control signal generated by the controller  210 ) to selectively open or close a second flow path  404 A between the dispenser reservoir  406  and the apparatus outlet  206 . 
     In some example embodiments, the controller  210  may be configured to actuate the dispenser device  204  based on causing the first valve  402  to open the first flow path  402 A for a first period of time, to enable the dispenser reservoir  406  to be filled with an amount of the cleaning composition  230  from the apparatus reservoir  202 . The controller  210  may cause the first valve  402  to remain open for a first period of time that is sufficiently long to fill the dispenser reservoir  406  from the apparatus reservoir  202  (and/or cartridge  300  in example embodiments where the drain cleaner apparatus  200  is configured to be coupled to a cartridge  300  as described with regard to  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B ) regardless of the amount of cleaning composition  230  held in the apparatus reservoir  202  (directly and/or via a cartridge  300  coupled to the drain cleaner apparatus  200 ), so that the dispenser reservoir  406  holds an amount of cleaning composition  230  that corresponds to (e.g., matches) the internal volume of the dispenser reservoir  406 . 
     In some example embodiments, the controller  210  may be configured to, in response to an elapse of the first period of time, cause the first valve  402  to close the first flow path  402 A to isolate the dispenser reservoir  406  from the apparatus reservoir  202 , and cause the second valve  404  to open the second flow path  404 A to enable the amount of the cleaning composition  230  held in the dispenser reservoir  406  to flow from the dispenser reservoir  406  to the apparatus outlet  408 . As a result, the dispenser device  204  may be configured to cause an amount of cleaning composition  230  that is dispensed at each actuation of the dispenser device  204  to be controlled to be a particular amount which corresponds to the specific internal volume of the dispenser reservoir  406 , so that the drain cleaner apparatus  200  is configured to improve the uniformity of the amount of cleaning composition  230  dispensed at each actuation of the dispenser device  204 . 
       FIG.  5    is a schematic view of a drain cleaner apparatus  200  including a moisture sensor  500  according to some example embodiments. Referring to  FIG.  5    in reference to  FIG.  1   , the drain cleaner apparatus  200  is configured to dispense a cleaning composition  230  into a condensate drain line  124  of the air handler  102  shown in  FIG.  1   . 
     The drain cleaner apparatus  200  shown in  FIG.  5    may include some or all of the same elements as the drain cleaner apparatus of any of the example embodiments. For example, the example embodiments shown in  FIG.  5    include an apparatus reservoir  202  configured to directly hold cleaning composition  230 , similarly to the example embodiments shown in  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B , but it will be understood that the drain cleaner apparatus  200  shown in  FIG.  5    may be configured to couple with a cartridge  300  as shown in  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  instead of cleaning composition  230  being directly held (e.g., poured into) the apparatus reservoir  202  and/or the apparatus reservoir  202  may be entirely absent (e.g., where the dispenser device  204  is configured to couple with a cartridge  300  that is external to housing  201 ). Additionally, the drain cleaner apparatus  200  shown in  FIG.  5    may include the dispenser device  204  shown in  FIG.  4   . Conversely, it will be understood that the drain cleaner apparatus  200  according to any of the example embodiments (e.g., the example embodiments shown in  FIGS.  2 A and  3 B , the example embodiments shown in  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B , the example embodiments shown in  FIG.  4   , or the like) may include some or all of the elements of the drain cleaner apparatus  200  as shown in  FIG.  5   . 
     Referring to  FIG.  5   , in some example embodiments, the drain cleaner apparatus  200  may include a moisture sensor  502  configured to extend through the opening  125  into the condensate drain line  124  based on the connector interface  208  being connected to the condensate drain line  124 . The moisture sensor  502  may be any known moisture sensor, for example a sensor device that is configured to receive electrical power from power supply  212  (either directly or via controller  210  and including a switch that is closed in response to contact with a liquid such as water). The moisture sensor  502  may thus be configured to generate a signal based on contacting condensate backup in the condensate drain line  124 . 
     Such a signal may be used (e.g., may be processed by controller  210 ) to make a determination that a backflow and/or overflow of condensate  120  in the condensate drain line  124  is occurring and/or is about to occur. The signal may be used to prompt a shutdown of at least a portion of the air conditioning system  100  (e.g., at least the air handler  102 , including shutdown of at least one of the air mover  108 , compressor  150 , and/or air mover  154 ) which may reduce or stop accumulation of condensate  120  in the drip pan  122  and the condensate drain line  124 , which may therefore reduce or prevent damage to the air handler  102  and/or structure  1  that may otherwise result from the backflow and/or overflow of condensate  120  in the condensate drain line  124 . 
     In some example embodiments, the drain cleaner apparatus  200  may include a bypass device  506  that is configured to be actuated to cause at least the air handler  102  to shut down based on the signal generated by the moisture sensor  502 . Such a bypass device may be a float switch bypass device that, when actuated, generates a signal that is transmitted to the controller  140  of the air conditioning system  100  and bypasses the float switch  160  of the air conditioning system  100  to serve as a float switch signal and thus cause the controller  140  to shut down some or all of the air conditioning system  100  (e.g., at least the air handler  102 ), which may include shutting down at least one of the air mover  108 , compressor  150 , and/or air mover  154 . 
     In the example embodiments shown in  FIG.  5   , the bypass device  506  is a separate device in a housing  508  that is attached to the housing  201  of the drain cleaner apparatus  200 , but example embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, the bypass device  506  may be included in and/or may be implemented by the controller  210 , such that the controller  210  may generate a signal that causes the controller  140  to shut down some or all of the air conditioning system  100  (e.g., at least the air handler  102 ), which may include shutting down at least one of the air mover  108 , compressor  150 , and/or air mover  154 . In some example embodiments, the controller  210  may be communicatively coupled between the moisture sensor  502  and the bypass device  506  (e.g., switch), and the controller  210  may be configured to actuate the bypass device  506  in response to the controller  210  processing a signal generated by the moisture sensor  502  to determine that the bypass device  506  is to be actuated. 
     In some example embodiments, the bypass device  506 , the controller  210 , and/or the network communication interface  224  may be communicatively coupled to the controller  140  of the air conditioning system to enable communication of a shutdown signal to the controller  140  in response to the signal generated by the moisture sensor  502 . Such a communication coupling may be a wired communication link between the drain cleaner apparatus  200  and the controller  140 , a wireless network communication link between the drain cleaner apparatus  200  and the controller  140 . For example, the air conditioning system  100  may include a network communication interface  142  separate from, included in, and/or implemented by controller  140 , and the controller  210 , and/or the network communication interface  224  may be communicatively coupled to the controller  140  of the air conditioning system via a network communication link (e.g., wireless network communication link) between network communication interface  224  and a corresponding network communication interface  142  coupled to, included in, and/or implemented by controller  140  of the air conditioning system  100 . 
     Still referring to  FIG.  5   , the drain cleaner apparatus  200  may include a containment tube  504  configured to extend through the opening  125  into the condensate drain line  124  based on the connector interface  208  being connected to the condensate drain line  124 . As shown, the moisture sensor  502  may be located within an interior of the containment tube  504 , and the containment tube  504  may have an open end  503  that is exposed to the interior of the condensate drain line  124 . As a result, the containment tube  504  may be configured to isolate the moisture sensor  502  from generating a signal based on the cleaning composition  230  being dispensed by the dispenser device  204  through the apparatus outlet  206 , thereby reducing or preventing the risk of a false-positive signal being generated by the moisture sensor  502 . The containment tube  504  may further be configured to expose the moisture sensor  502  to the condensate drain line  124  through the open end  503  of the containment tube  504 , to enable a condensate  120  backup in the condensate drain line  124  to pass into the interior of the containment tube  504  to contact the moisture sensor  502  and thus enable the moisture sensor  502  to generate the signal indicating condensate  120  backflow/overflow. 
     While  FIG.  5    shows the bypass device  506 , in some example embodiments the bypass device  506  and housing  508  may be omitted and the controller  210  may be communicatively coupled to the float switch  160  of the air handler  102  and may be configured to cause the float switch  160  to actuate to cause some or all of the air conditioning system  100  to shut down (e.g., based on operation of the controller  140  in response to float switch  160  actuation) based on the signal generated by the moisture sensor  502 . 
     In some example embodiments, the drain cleaner apparatus  200  may include a network communication interface  224  that is configured to establish a network communication link with a remote computing device, as described herein, and the controller  210  may be configured to generate and transmit a warning signal to the remote computing device via the network communication link in response to detection of the signal generated by the moisture sensor  502 . As a result, the drain cleaner apparatus  200  may be configured to warn a human user supported by the remote computing device of the occurrence of the detected backflow/overflow of condensate  120  in the condensate drain line  124 . 
       FIG.  6    is a schematic view of a drain cleaner apparatus  200  including a structure connector  220  according to some example embodiments. Referring to  FIG.  6    in reference to  FIG.  1   , the drain cleaner apparatus  200  is configured to dispense a cleaning composition  230  into a condensate drain line  124  of the air handler  102  shown in  FIG.  1   . 
     The drain cleaner apparatus  200  shown in  FIG.  6    may include some or all of the same elements as the drain cleaner apparatus of any of the example embodiments. For example, the example embodiments shown in  FIG.  6    include an apparatus reservoir  202  configured to directly hold cleaning composition  230 , similarly to the example embodiments shown in  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B , but it will be understood that the drain cleaner apparatus  200  shown in  FIG.  6    may be configured to couple with a cartridge  300  as shown in  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  instead of cleaning composition  230  being directly held (e.g., poured into) the apparatus reservoir  202  and/or the apparatus reservoir  202  may be entirely absent (e.g., where the dispenser device  204  is configured to couple with a cartridge  300  that is external to housing  201 ). Additionally, the drain cleaner apparatus  200  shown in  FIG.  6    may include the dispenser device  204  shown in  FIG.  4   . Additionally, the drain cleaner apparatus  200  shown in  FIG.  6    may include the moisture sensor  502 , containment tube  504 , and/or bypass device  506  as shown in  FIG.  5   . Conversely, it will be understood that the drain cleaner apparatus  200  according to any of the example embodiments (e.g., the example embodiments shown in  FIGS.  2 A and  3 B , the example embodiments shown in  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B , the example embodiments shown in  FIG.  4   , the example embodiments shown in  FIG.  5   , or the like) may include some or all of the elements of the drain cleaner apparatus  200  as shown in  FIG.  6   . 
     In some example embodiments, the drain cleaner apparatus  200  may include a structure connector  220  that includes a coupler  602  that is configured to attach to an outer surface of an external structure, such as an outer surface of a housing  101  of the air handler  102 . The coupler  602  may include a magnetic bracket (e.g., any known magnet) that is configured to magnetically attach to a metal surface of the external structure (e.g., a metal surface of the housing  101 ). The coupler  602  may enable the structure connector  220  to couple to the external structure to hold the drain cleaner apparatus  200  in place in relation to the condensate drain line  124 . 
     In some example embodiments, the structure connector  220  may include a set of lateral and vertical adjustable brackets  604 A and  604 B, respectively. The lateral and vertical adjustable brackets  604 A and  604 B may each be an adjustable actuator and/or an adjustable bracket (e.g., adjustable mounting bracket), including for example an adjustable tooth bracket (e.g., an adjustable tooth gear, adjustable worm screw and/or worm gear, adjustable rack and pinion, etc.) that is configured to adjustably position the coupler  602 , in both a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, respectively, in relation to a remainder of the drain cleaner apparatus  200 . As a result, the set of lateral and vertical adjustable brackets  604 A and  604 B, together with the coupler  602 , may enable adjustable positioning of the drain cleaner apparatus  200  in relation to the external structure (e.g., air handler  102 ) to which the coupler  602  is attached and/or in relation to the condensate drain line  124 . 
       FIG.  7    is a schematic view of a drain cleaner apparatus  200  and a remote computing device  700  communicatively coupled via a network communication link  702  according to some example embodiments. Referring to  FIG.  7    in reference to  FIG.  1   , the drain cleaner apparatus  200  is configured to dispense a cleaning composition  230  into a condensate drain line  124  of the air handler  102  shown in  FIG.  1   . 
     The drain cleaner apparatus  200  shown in  FIG.  7    may include some or all of the same elements as the drain cleaner apparatus of any of the example embodiments. For example, the example embodiments shown in  FIG.  7    include an apparatus reservoir  202  configured to directly hold cleaning composition  230 , similarly to the example embodiments shown in  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B , but it will be understood that the drain cleaner apparatus  200  shown in  FIG.  7    may be configured to couple with a cartridge  300  as shown in  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  instead of cleaning composition  230  being directly held (e.g., poured into) the apparatus reservoir  202  and/or the apparatus reservoir  202  may be entirely absent (e.g., where the dispenser device  204  is configured to couple with a cartridge  300  that is external to housing  201 ). Additionally, the drain cleaner apparatus  200  shown in  FIG.  7    may include the dispenser device  204  shown in  FIG.  4   . Additionally, the drain cleaner apparatus  200  shown in  FIG.  7    may include the moisture sensor  502 , containment tube  504 , and/or bypass device  506  as shown in  FIG.  5   . Additionally, the drain cleaner apparatus  200  shown in  FIG.  7    may include the structure connector  220  as shown in  FIG.  6   . Conversely, it will be understood that the drain cleaner apparatus  200  according to any of the example embodiments (e.g., the example embodiments shown in  FIGS.  2 A and  3 B , the example embodiments shown in  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B , the example embodiments shown in  FIG.  4   , the example embodiments shown in  FIG.  5   , the example embodiments shown in  FIG.  6   , or the like) may include some or all of the elements of the drain cleaner apparatus  200  as shown in  FIG.  7   . 
     In some example embodiments, the drain cleaner apparatus  200  includes a network communication interface  224  (e.g., a wireless network communication transceiver) that is configured to establish a network communication link with a remote computing device  700 . The remote computing device  700  may be configured to support a human user. 
     As shown, the remote computing device  700  may include a processor  720  (e.g., a CPU), a memory  730  (e.g., a SSD), a power supply  740  (e.g., a rechargeable battery), a network communication interface  750  (e.g., a wireless network communication transceiver), and an interface  760  that may include a display device (e.g., an LED display panel, an OLED display panel, or the like) a button, a touchscreen display device, any combination thereof, or the like that are communicatively and/or electrically coupled via a bus connection  710 . 
     At least some of the remote computing device  700 , including for example the processor  720 , the memory  730 , the network communication interface  750 , or any combination thereof, may be included in, and/or may be implemented by one or more instances (e.g., articles, pieces, units, etc.) of processing circuitry such as hardware including logic circuits; a hardware/software combination such as a processor executing software; or a combination thereof. For example, the processing circuitry more specifically may include, but is not limited to, a central processing unit (CPU), an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a digital signal processor, a microcomputer, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a System-on-Chip (SoC), a programmable logic unit, a microprocessor, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or any other device or devices capable of responding to and executing instructions in a defined manner. It will be understood that any type of non-transitory computer readable storage device may be used as the memory  730  in addition or alternative to an SSD. In some example embodiments, the processing circuitry may include a non-transitory computer readable storage device, or memory (e.g., memory  730 ), for example a solid state drive (SSD), storing a program of instructions, and a processor (e.g., processor  720 ) that is communicatively coupled to the non-transitory computer readable storage device (e.g., via a bus connection  710 ) and configured to execute the program of instructions to implement the functionality of some or all of any of the devices and/or mechanisms of any of the example embodiments and/or to implement some or all of any of the methods of any of the example embodiments. It will be understood that, as described herein, an element (e.g., processing circuitry, digital circuits, any part of the remote computing device  700 ) will be understood to implement the functionality of said implemented element (e.g., the functionality of the remote computing device  700 ). 
     As shown, the network communication interface  224  of the drain cleaner apparatus  200  may be configured to establish a network communication link  702  with the remote computing device  700  (e.g., with network communication interface  750 ) and may be configured to implement one-way or two-way communication between the drain cleaner apparatus  200  and the remote computing device  700 . 
     In some example embodiments, the controller  210  is configured to generate and transmit signals to the remote computing device  700  via the wireless network communication link  702 . 
     In some example embodiments, the controller  210  may communicate signals over the network communication link  702  that indicate operations of the controller  210  (e.g., indicating actuation of the dispenser device  204  at particular points in time, a present timer value, a present counter value, etc.). In some example embodiments, the controller  210  may communicate the depletion signal (generated in response to the counter value reaching a threshold value) to the remote computing device  700  via the network communication link  702 . 
     In some example embodiments, the controller  210  may be configured to perform operations in response to receiving signals from the remote computing device  700  via the network communication link  702 . Such signals may be generated at the remote computing device  700  based on operation of at least a portion of the remote computing device  700  (e.g., based on operation of the processor  720 ), which may be based on human user interaction with at least a portion of an interface of the remote computing device  700  (e.g., the display screen interface  760 , which may be a touchscreen display). For example, the remote computing device  700  may generate a reset signal based on human interaction with a touchscreen display interface  760  to indicate that the amount of cleaning composition  230  held in the drain cleaner apparatus  200  has been replenished (e.g., via replacement of a cartridge  300  coupled to the drain cleaner apparatus  200 ). The remote computing device  700  may transmit the reset signal to the drain cleaner apparatus  200  via the network communication link  702 , and the controller  210  may be configured to cause the counter value of the counter value to be reset to an initial counter value (e.g., 0) in response to receiving the reset signal from the remote computing device  700  via the network communication link  702 . As a result, a human user may be able to remotely reset the counter value used by the drain cleaner apparatus  200  in response to cleaning composition  230  replenishment without direct interaction with the drain cleaner apparatus (e.g., via a button on the drain cleaner interface). 
     Referring to  FIGS.  5  and  7   , in some example embodiments, the controller  210  may be configured to generate and transmit a warning signal to the remote computing device  700  via the network communication link  702  in response to detection of a signal generated by the moisture sensor  502 . As a result, the drain cleaner apparatus  200  may be configured to warn a human user supported by the remote computing device  700  of the occurrence of the detected backflow/overflow of condensate  120  in the condensate drain line  124 . 
     In some example embodiments, the controller  210  may be configured to cause some or all of the air conditioning system  100  to shut down in response to receiving a shutdown command signal from the remote computing device  700  via the network communication link  702 . For example, the remote computing device  700  may display a warning notification to a supported user (e.g., via display screen interface  760 ) in response to receiving the warning signal to the remote computing device  700 . The remote computing device  700  may enable the human user to interact with the interface  760  (e.g., a touchscreen display) to command the remote computing device  700  to transmit a shutdown signal to the drain cleaner apparatus  200  in response to the warning signal via the network communication link  702 . The remote computing device  700  may transmit the shutdown signal to the drain cleaner apparatus  200  via the network communication link  702 . The controller  210  may generate a signal to cause some or all of the air conditioning system  100  to shut down (e.g., transmit a signal to the controller  140  via a network communication link  790  with a network communication interface of the air conditioning system  100  that may be included in and/or implemented by controller  140 ) to cause the controller  140  to shut down some or all of the air conditioning system  100 , actuate the bypass device  506  and/or the float switch  160 , etc.) in response to receiving the shutdown signal. 
     In some example embodiments, the remote computing device  700  may enable the human user to interact with the interface  760  (e.g., via a touchscreen display) to command the remote computing device  700  to transmit a dispensing signal to the drain cleaner apparatus  200  to cause the controller  210  to implement an immediate actuation of the dispenser device  204  to immediately dispense an amount of the cleaning composition  230 , thereby allowing more frequent or user-commanded dispensings of cleaning composition. The remote computing device may transmit the dispensing signal to the drain cleaner apparatus  200  via the network communication link  702 , and the controller  210  may actuate the dispenser device  204  in response to receiving the dispensing signal. 
       FIG.  8    is a flowchart illustrating a method of operation of the drain cleaner apparatus according to some example embodiments. The method shown in  FIG.  8    may be implemented by any example embodiment of the drain cleaner apparatus  200  according to any example embodiments. 
     It will be understood that operations of the method shown in  FIG.  8    may be changed in order relative to what is shown in  FIG.  8   . It will further be understood that one or more operations of the method shown in  FIG.  8    may be omitted from the method shown in  FIG.  8   . It will further be understood that one or more operations may be added to the method shown in  FIG.  8   . 
     The method shown in  FIG.  8    includes a method for operating a drain cleaner apparatus  200  according to any of the example embodiments to dispense a cleaning composition  230  into a condensate drain line  124  of an air handler  102 , where the drain cleaner apparatus  200  is coupled with the condensate drain line  124  such that an apparatus outlet  206  of the drain cleaner apparatus  200  is in fluid communication with an opening  125  of the condensate drain line  124 . As shown, the method of  FIG.  8    includes controlling a dispenser device  204  of the drain cleaner apparatus  200  to cause the dispenser device  204  to selectively dispense an amount (e.g., 3 oz) of the cleaning composition  230  from an apparatus reservoir  202  of the drain cleaner apparatus  200  and through the apparatus outlet  206  without manual intervention (e.g., without human intervention). It will be understood that some or any of the operations shown in  FIG.  8    may be performed (e.g., performed by controller  210 ) without human intervention (e.g., some or any operations may be performed by controller  210  based on programming of the controller  210  and may be performed independently of any commands or signals received at the controller  210  based on human interaction with an interface (e.g., button, touchscreen display, etc.). 
     At S 802  and S 804 , a timer of the controller  210  may count (e.g., increment a timer value at a fixed frequency) from an initial timer value (e.g., 0). At S 806 , the controller  210  compares the timer value with a threshold (e.g., particular) timer value (e.g., 7 days) that may be stored at the controller  210  and determines whether the present timer value has reached (e.g., is equal to or greater than) the threshold timer value. If not, the controller  210  permits the timer to continue to increment at S 804 . If so, at S 808 , the controller  210  actuates the dispenser device  204  in response to cause the dispenser device  204  to dispense a particular amount of cleaning composition  230  (e.g., 3 oz), thereby actuating the dispenser device  204  in response to an elapse of a particular period of time. 
     The amount of cleaning composition  230  that is dispensed at S 808  may be based on structural features of the dispenser device  204  and control thereof. For example, referring to  FIG.  4   , in example embodiments where the dispenser device  204  includes a dispenser reservoir  406  that is configured to hold the amount of the cleaning composition (e.g., 3 oz internal value), a first valve  402  between the apparatus reservoir  202  and the dispenser reservoir  406  and configured to be actuated to selectively open or close a first flow path  402 A between the apparatus reservoir  202  and the dispenser reservoir  406 , and a second valve  404  between the dispenser reservoir  406  and the apparatus outlet  206  and configured to be actuated to selectively open or close a second flow path  404 A between the dispenser reservoir  406  and the apparatus outlet  206 , the actuating of the dispenser device at S 808  may include generating a signal to cause the first valve  402  to open the first flow path  402 A for a first period of time (e.g., 5 seconds), to enable the dispenser reservoir  406  to be filled (e.g., completely filled) with the amount of the cleaning composition  230  (e.g., an amount corresponding to the internal volume of the dispenser reservoir  406 ) from the apparatus reservoir  202 , and, in response to an elapse of the first period of time, causing the first valve  402  to close the first flow path  402 A to isolate the dispenser reservoir  406  from the apparatus reservoir  202  and causing the second valve  404  to open the second flow path  404 A to enable the amount of the cleaning composition to flow from the dispenser reservoir  406  to the apparatus outlet  206  and thus to be dispensed through opening  125  into the condensate drain line  124 . 
     At S810, in response to the actuating at S 808 , the controller  210  causes the timer to reset to the initial timer value (0) and resume counting to enable a repeated performance of S 802 -S 808  (at least partially depending upon an outcome of the determination at S 826 , described further below), thereby repeatedly actuating the dispenser device  204  at a fixed time interval that is the particular period of time, based on monitoring a timer that increments a timer value at a fixed frequency at S 802 -S 806 , actuating the dispenser device  204  at S 808  in response to the timer value reaching a particular time value corresponding to the elapse of the particular period of time, and resetting the timer value to an initial timer value at S810 in response to actuating the dispenser device at S 808 . 
     At S 812 , in response to the actuating at S 808 , the controller  210  causes a counter to count (e.g., increment) a counter value from an initial counter value (e.g., 0), thereby tracking a quantity of actuations (S 808 ) and thus a cumulative amount of cleaning composition  230  dispensed. 
     At S 814  the controller  210  compares the counter value with a threshold (e.g., particular) counter value (e.g., 10, 11, 12, etc.) that may be stored at the controller  210  and determines whether the present counter value has reached (e.g., is equal to or greater than) the threshold counter value. If not, the controller  210  returns to S 802  and continues the method. If so, at S 816 , the controller  210  generates a warning signal. The controller  210  may monitor multiple possible threshold values, including a partial depletion threshold counter value (e.g., 10 and/or 11) and a final depletion threshold counter value (e.g., 12) and the controller  210  may generate a particular warning signal (e.g., indicating partial depletion or final depletion (e.g., complete depletion) of cleaning composition  230  held in the drain cleaner apparatus  200 ) based on which threshold is determined to be reached at S 814 . 
     At S 818 , a determination is made regarding whether to reset the counter to the initial counter value. The determination may include a determination of whether a reset signal that indicates a command to reset the counter value is received. Such a determination may be based upon receiving a reset signal, which may be received from a counter reset interface  222  of the drain cleaner apparatus  200  (e.g., a button) and/or from a remote computing device  700  via a network communication link  702  (e.g., via network communication interface  224 ). If a reset is determined to be commanded at S 818  (e.g., a reset signal is determined to be received at S 818 ), at S 820  the controller  210  resets the counter value to the initial counter value. If not, at S 822  a further determination is made regarding whether the threshold determined to be reached at S 814  is a final depletion threshold (e.g., 12) that indicates complete depletion (e.g., final depletion) of cleaning composition  230  in the drain cleaner apparatus  200 . If not, (e.g., a partial depletion threshold of 11 was determined to be reached at S 814 ), then the method returns to S 802 . If so, at S 824  the controller  210  may inhibit further operation of the dispenser device  204  (e.g., disable the dispenser device  204 ) until a determination is made at S 818  to perform a reset at S 820  (e.g., until a reset signal is determined to be received at S 818 ). Such operations at S 822  and S 824  may reduce or prevent the likelihood of the drain cleaner apparatus  200  continuing to actuate the dispenser device  204  in the absence of cleaning composition  230  in the drain cleaner apparatus  200 . At S 824 , the controller  210  may further generate another warning signal indicating that the dispenser device  204  is inhibited (e.g., disabled). Additionally or alternatively, such an indication may be included in the warning signal generated at S 816  in response to a determination at S 814  that a final threshold counter value is reached. 
     At S 826 , a determination is made regarding whether a dispensing command is received, for example based on human interaction with an interface (e.g., button) of the drain cleaner apparatus  200  and/or based on a dispensing signal being receive from a remote computing device  700  via a network communication link based on a dispensing of cleaning composition  230  being commanded at the remote computing device  700 . If not, the method continues at S 802 . If so, the method moves to S 808  and the controller  210  actuates the dispenser device  204 . 
       FIG.  9    is a flowchart illustrating a method of operation of the drain cleaner apparatus according to some example embodiments. The method shown in  FIG.  9    may be implemented by any example embodiment of the drain cleaner apparatus  200  according to any example embodiments. 
     It will be understood that operations of the method shown in  FIG.  9    may be changed in order relative to what is shown in  FIG.  9   . It will further be understood that one or more operations of the method shown in  FIG.  9    may be omitted from the method shown in  FIG.  9   . It will further be understood that one or more operations may be added to the method shown in  FIG.  9   . 
     At S 902 , a moisture sensor  502  of the drain cleaner apparatus  200 , which is coupled to the condensate drain line  124  such that the moisture sensor  502  is within the condensate drain line  124 , generates a signal in response to contact thereof with moisture (e.g., liquid, including water) within a condensate drain line  124 . Such moisture (e.g., liquid) may contact the moisture sensor  502  based on entering an open end  503  of a containment tube  504  in which the moisture sensor  502  is located. 
     At S 904 , the controller  210  generates a warning signal in response to receiving and processing the signal generated by the moisture sensor  502  at S 902 . The controller  210  may cause the warning signal to be transmitted to a remote computing device  700  via a network communication link  702  therewith according to any example embodiments. 
     At S 906 , the controller  210  may generate a shutdown signal that causes some or all of the air conditioning system  100  (e.g., at least the air handler  102 ) to shut down in response to receiving and processing the signal generated by the moisture sensor  502  at S 902 . The controller  210  may transmit the signal to a bypass device  506  to actuate the bypass device  506  which causes the controller  140  of the air conditioning system  100  to partially or completely shut down the air conditioning system  100  as described herein. At S 906 , the controller  210  may transmit the signal to a float switch  160  of the air conditioning system  100 , additionally or alternatively to transmitting the signal to the bypass device  506 , to actuate the float switch  160  which causes the controller  140  of the air conditioning system  100  to partially or completely shut down the air conditioning system  100  as described herein. 
     At S 908 , the controller  210  may generate a shutdown signal that causes at least a portion of the air conditioning system  100  (e.g., at least the air handler  102 ) to shut down in response to receiving and processing the signal generated by the moisture sensor  502  at S 902 . The controller  210  may transmit the shutdown signal directly to the controller of the air conditioning system where the signal is processed by the controller  140  and cusses the controller  140  to shut down some or all of the air conditioning system  100  (e.g., shut down at least the air handler  102 ) as described herein. 
     As shown in  FIG.  9   , in some example embodiments, the controller  210  may receive a shutdown signal at S 910  from a remote computing device  700 , subsequently to transmitting the warning signal to the remote computing device  700  at S 904 . The remote computing device  700  may generate the shutdown signal automatically (e.g., without human intervention) in response to receiving the warning signal that is generated at S 904 . The remote computing device  700  may generate the shutdown signal in response to human user interaction with the remote computing device  700 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  9   , in some example embodiments, the controller  210  may receive a shutdown signal at S 912  from a remote computing device  700 . The remote computing device  700  may generate the shutdown signal automatically (e.g., without human intervention) or in response to human user interaction with the remote computing device  700 . The shutdown signal may be received at S 912  independently of any warning signal generated at S 904  - while the shutdown signal may be generated at the remote computing device  700  and transmitted to the drain cleaner apparatus  200  to be received at the controller  210  at S 910  in response to the warning signal generated at S 904 , the shutdown signal that is generated at the remote computing device  700  and transmitted to the drain cleaner apparatus  200  to be received at the controller  210  at S 912  may be generated, transmitted, and received independently of any signal generated at the drain cleaner apparatus  200 . 
     In some example embodiments, the controller  210  may generate a shutdown signal at S 908  that causes some or all of the air conditioning system  100  (e.g., at least the air handler  102 ) to shut down in response to receiving the shutdown command at S 910  and/or S 912 . In some example embodiments, the controller  210  may generate a shutdown signal at S 908  independently of any signal generated by the moisture sensor at S 902  (e.g., the controller  210  may generate a shutdown signal at S 908  in response to receiving the shutdown signal at S 912 ). 
       FIG.  10    is a schematic view of a controller of a computing device  1000  according to some example embodiments. The computing device  1000  may implement any of the computing devices, controllers, processors, or the like according to any of the example embodiments, including controller  140 , controller  210 , and any portion of remote computing device  700 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  10   , the computing device  1000  may include some or all of a processor  1020  (e.g., a CPU), a memory  1030  (e.g., a solid state drive, or SSD), a communication interface  1040  (e.g., a wireless network communication interface, which may for example implement network communication interface  224 , network communication interface  750 , network communication interface  142 , a network communication interface of the air conditioning system  100 , or the like), and a power supply  1050  that are communicatively coupled together via a bus connection  1010 . It will be understood that any type of non-transitory computer readable storage device may be used as the memory  1030  in addition or alternative to an SSD. The computing device  1000  may include additional devices, including a user interface device  1060  (e.g., “interface”) that may include a display device (e.g., an LED display screen, OLED display screen, etc.), a touchscreen display, a button interface, any combination thereof, or the like. The user interface device  1060  may be communicatively coupled to the bus connection  1010 . 
     In some example embodiments, some or all of any of the computing device  1000  may include, may be included in, and/or may be implemented by one or more instances (e.g., articles, pieces, units, etc.) of processing circuitry such as hardware including logic circuits; a hardware/software combination such as a processor executing software; or a combination thereof. For example, the processing circuitry more specifically may include, but is not limited to, a central processing unit (CPU), an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a digital signal processor, a microcomputer, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a System-on-Chip (SoC), a programmable logic unit, a microprocessor, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or any other device or devices capable of responding to and executing instructions in a defined manner. In some example embodiments, the processing circuitry may include a non-transitory computer readable storage device, or memory (e.g., memory  1030 ), for example a solid state drive (SSD), storing a program of instructions, and a processor (e.g., processor  1020 ) that is communicatively coupled to the non-transitory computer readable storage device (e.g., via a bus connection  1010 ) and configured to execute the program of instructions to implement the functionality of some or all of any of the devices and/or mechanisms of any of the example embodiments and/or to implement some or all of any of the methods of any of the example embodiments. It will be understood that, as described herein, an element (e.g., processing circuitry, digital circuits, etc.) that is described as “implementing” an element (e.g., controller  210 , drain cleaner apparatus  200 , controller  140 , air conditioning system  100 , remote computing device  700 , etc.) will be understood to implement the functionality of said implemented element and/or any other elements (e.g., the functionality of the controller  210 , the functionality of the drain cleaner apparatus  200 , the functionality of the controller  140 , the functionality of the air conditioning system, the functionality of the remote computing device  700 , etc.). 
     Example embodiments have been disclosed herein; it should be understood that other variations may be possible. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.