How Do Portable Air Conditioners Drain Water? (Some Simple And Easy Steps)

The air conditioners cool the room and dehumidify the hot air in summer. A classic AC usually has a suitable outlet to drain excess water. But how do portable air conditioners drain water?

In general, portable air conditioners do not drain water. As with refrigerators, condensate is directed to its condenser coil, used to cool the condenser and increase sub cooling. All PACs have an exhausting cycle to deliver moisture through the exhaust. 

Still, only a more advanced compact air conditioner can eliminate the need to flush or empty the humidifier tank. 

How do portable air conditioners drain water?

In the process of cooling from the air, water is extracted. It leads to the fact that the portable air conditioner creates the effect of condensation. Therefore, all portable air conditioners remove moisture from the air during operation.

There are many different methods for treating condensed water in various PAC installations. If there is excessive water in the unit, the air conditioner stops its work and displays a warning indicator. This indicator indicates that you must drain the water. 

Method 1: Manual Draining in Cooling and Heating Modes

At first, remove water from the humid area. Then, disconnect the AC from power. Set a shallow pan under the bottom flexible drain plug and watch the program.

Plug out the lower drain plug. Then, drain the water and collect it in a shallow pan. Securely replace the lower hose and drain plug after draining the water.

Things to keep in mind

If there is a lot of condensation and there is not enough shallow pan, use a big pan. Obey the instructions below:

• Find a flat board no more than an inch thick. You can buy a wooden board with a 20″x 17″ x 1″ base size.
• The base must be strong enough to fit the portable AC from above. The AC must be stable and not move when you place it base and not easy to knock over.
• If necessary, drain the water through the bottom drain plug, into a large pot, or through a drain hose. If you use the sewer pipe, you can buy a vinyl pipe outside 5/8″ diameter and ½” inner diameter.

But all you have to remember is that the drain hose must be located below the drain plug to prevent condensation flow back to the AC.

Method 2: Persistent Drainage for Dehumidifier Mode

If you use the appliance in dry mode, continuous drainage is recommended. So, disconnect the device from the power and remove the top drain plug. The remaining water may spill, so bring a pan to catch water. 

Watch the entire program and connect the drain fitting to a ¾-inch or standard pipe. You can continuously drain water into a bucket or bucket through a drain pipe. Now, you can turn on the device.

Most types require little maintenance, and many pour water into the storage tank itself. Some may not even need a drain plug since the machine evaporates water without assistance. It is due to the most modern technology.

How often should I drain my portable air conditioner?

Generally, you have to drain a standard portable AC in every 8 hours per day while some models may need draining operation once per month. If one lives in an arid area, one rarely has to merge water from a portable AC. 

It occurs when water refills in a portable air conditioner are pumped by cooling hot wet air. The air conditioner will not remove moisture from the air when you are in a dry area.

In present-time, portable air conditioners can completely remove moisture through the hood. The air conditioner sprinkles water from the condenser to the condenser coil. If condensate falls on a hot condenser coil, it will evaporate. Then the vapor goes out from your home through the exhaust pipe.

Usually, with this method, you can remove water from the condensate tank of the portable air conditioner. Even if your living area is dry, you should check the tank. You can inspect your portable AC tank for any signs of mold.

What happens if You don’t Drain Water From The Portable Ac?

Newer portable air conditioners have an automatic shutdown sensor, which turns off the device if the condensate gets to a certain level. For this, if you do not turn it off when it is complete, your device will not cool the air in your room.

Suppose there is no auto power sensor in the AC model. The condensate may blow through the edge if you do not merge the water from the unit. Remember that leaks can lead to expensive damage to the wooden floors or other items on the floor, such as carpets that can fracture and ultimately contradict mold.

Modern air conditioners have standard security features that automatically close the block if the crankcase is filled. However, sometimes the tank is not loaded and contains only standing water.

It should not be a problem since standing water should not affect the overall performance of your device. If it does not overflow and does not begin to leak, a small number of standing water should be OK.

You can utilize a portable air conditioner regularly. Even with frequent use of stagnation, there should be no problem. If the device is correctly drained when necessary, your device will be ready for use for a long time.

However, you cannot say this if you do not use air conditioning for some time. Air conditioning systems can quickly become a selection of such microorganisms. If you leave them alone, they can cause health problems, such as viruses and allergies.

You will also come across mold and fungus if your air conditioner has a wet cooling coil and a humidifier. It can free up toxins that cause these possible diseases. Simple drainage reduces the risk of bacteria accumulation and potential illness.

FAQ

Final Verdict

A PAC usually has one or more air intakes and two outputs. The cold air inlet and outlet use only air from the room, while the hot air exhaust must somehow be ventilated outside your room for cooling.

However, the best portable AC has a built-in exhaust technology that can dissolve a large amount of accumulated moisture with a hot air exhaust function. Hence, less (or no) amount of water needs to be depleted.