How do I drain my portable air conditioner

When storing the air conditioner for an extended period of time or to clear the P1 message the air conditioner needs to be drained.

Put a drip tray, not supplied, under the continuous drain outlet located on the back of AC, then unscrew the drain cap to allow the water to flow into the drip tray.  Replace the drain cap to the continuous drain outlet when no more water flows out.

Put the drip tray under the bottom drain outlet, then remove the rubber stopper from the drain outlet to allow the water to flow into the drip tray.   To ensure all water has been removed tilt the unit slightly towards the rear.  Replace the drain cap to the bottom drain outlet when no more water flows out.  

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Portable air conditioners need regular maintenance to function properly. Among them, draining the condensate tank is an important task to keep your portable AC running.

The frequency that you drain your portable air conditioner depends on the conditions of the air inside your home.

In this article, I’ll discuss how often you need to drain your portable air conditioner. We’ll also take a look at what happens if you don’t drain your portable air conditioner.

How often should you drain your portable AC?

Depending on the humidity in your space, you will need to drain your portable air conditioner as often as every 8 hours. However, you usually won’t need to drain your portable air conditioner this often.

If you live in a dry area, then you will rarely need to drain your portable air conditioner. This is because the water that fills your portable air conditioner is extracted from the cooling of warm humid air. If the air in your space is dry, then the air conditioner won’t pull any moisture out of the air.

Most modern portable air conditioners are able to completely remove moisture from your home using the exhaust vent. To do this, the air conditioner sprays water from its condensate tank onto the condenser coil. As the condensate comes into contact with the hot condenser coil, it evaporates. The vapor is then blown out of your house through the exhaust hose.

Most times, this method is able to get rid of the water from your portable air conditioner’s condensate tank. Only in humid climates will your portable air conditioner’s tank need to be emptied regularly.

Even if you live in a dry area, you need to make it a habit to check your portable AC’s tank at least once a month. It will give you a chance to inspect your portable air conditioner’s tank for any signs of mold.

What happens if you don’t drain your portable air conditioner

If you don’t drain your portable air conditioner, a few things can happen:

• The portable air conditioner will shut off and not turn back on. This is the most common outcome. Most portable air conditioners have a built-in float switch. The purpose of the float switch is to turn off the air conditioner if its condensate tank fills up with water. When an air conditioner has a full tank, then it is usually accompanied by an alarm that will alert you of its status. That way, you’ll know it’s time to drain the tank.
• The condensate tank will overflow. If your portable air conditioner’s float switch is not working, then you run the risk of water overflow. This is not a huge problem in and of itself, except that it can cause water damage to your home.

• Mold will grow in your portable air conditioner. Most people don’t consider that mold can grow in their AC. Mold growth happens especially in portable air conditioners that are not emptied. If water is left inside your portable AC’s tank, it creates a moist environment that is perfect for a mold colony to grow in.

Why your portable air conditioner is producing so much water

A portable air conditioner that produces a lot of water is nothing to be worried about. Well, most of the time anyway.

Air conditioners produce water as they cool your home’s warm air. As your home’s air is cooled, water precipitates out of the air and is collected in a tank in the AC.

In fact, this method of removing water from the air is how dehumidification works.

If your portable air conditioner is producing more water than it usually does, it is because your room’s air is more humid than usual.

This can be due to internal or external factors:

• Internal: Activities such as cooking and using the shower will generate humidity. If you have a lot of guests over, then the humidity can increase from all the people breathing inside your home. 

• External: Humidity can come from outside your home as well. If the weather outside is warm and humid, then your air conditioner will produce water as it cools and dehumidifies the warm moist air.

The production of water is a good sign that your air conditioner is functioning correctly. But if it is producing more water than usual, that can be a sign that there is a source of humidity that is infiltrating your home’s air.

In this case, you’ll need to find the source of humidity and remove it. One source of excess humidity is the infiltration of outside air into your home. Gaps around windows and doors can let warm moist air from the outside into your home.

Be sure that you seal all the gaps in your home to not allow outside air and humidity to get inside.

How long can you run a portable air conditioner continuously?

The short answer is that you can run your portable air conditioner continuously without much issue. As long as you clean the air filters and empty the condensate tank, you can pretty much run your air conditioner all season long.

But that doesn’t mean that you should just leave your AC on all the time. Like most mechanical equipment, it is a good idea to give your portable AC periodic breaks. Turning off your portable air conditioner gives it a chance to cool down and stop wear on its parts.

Regardless if you turn your AC off, it should turn itself off periodically after it cools a room. A sufficiently sized air conditioner will run in 10-20 minute intervals as it cools your room down to the temperature setpoint.

If your portable air conditioner runs constantly, then it may be undersized for the room. There may also be extra sources of heat or moisture that need to be isolated from the room. In both cases, a larger portable air conditioner will cool your room quicker and more efficiently.

Continuous drain setup for portable air conditioner

If you want your portable air conditioner to continuously run, then you’ll need to set up a drain hose.

The drain hose empties water from the condensate tank automatically. One side of the drain hose attaches to the condensate tank and the other side goes to a drain. You can also direct the condensate hose outside to drain.

Using a drain hose will prevent your condensate tank from accumulating water. With this setup, you won’t need to worry about emptying the condensate tank.

But you’ll still want to keep an eye on your portable AC. The inside of the portable air conditioner will still be a little wet from the condensate. Remember to check for mold and clean the filters at least once a month.

One of the key maintenance procedures for a portable air conditioner is regularly draining it. The operation of air conditioners includes a condensation process that causes water to accumulate in the unit. Therefore, to keep it operating optimally, you need to know how to drain a portable air conditioner and you need to do it regularly.

There are three main methods to learn when it comes to how to drain a portable air conditioner.  These methods can be done without a house, with a hose, and using a pump.

Below is a detailed look at each method and the steps involved.

3 Ways How to Drain a Portable Air Conditioner

How to Drain a Portable Air Conditioner Without a Hose

Typically, portable air conditioners do not come with a drain hose. Therefore, you have to drain the unit manually. You can either move the air conditioner outdoors, drain the water to the ground, or place a bucket underneath. You could also use a pan.

Steps

1. Power off and unplug the portable air conditioner
2. Take a stool and place the unit on top.
3. Place a bucket below the unit with the bottom edge aligned with the inner edge of the bucket.
4. If there are louvers below the top drain plug, lay transparent kitchen paper over them to prevent water from splashing into the interior components.
5. Open the top drain plug and allow water to flow into the bucket until all the water is drained. Close the plug.
6. Open the bottom plug and let the water flow into the bucket until it stops coming out completely.
7. You may slant the portable air conditioner slightly towards the bucket to ensure all the water drains out. However, be careful to prevent the unit from falling off the stool.
8. When you finish draining, remove the paper. Then, plug in the unit and power it on.

How to Drain a Portable Air Conditioner With a Hose

Draining a portable water conditioner with a hose is a convenient method to continuously drain the unit. This method works best if you live in highly humid and extremely hot areas, which causes the air conditioner to accumulate water fast. However, it relies on gravity, and you need access to a nearby floor drain.

Steps

1. Turn off the unit and then plug it out from the wall power outlet.
2. Identify the drain plugs at the back of the unit. Some portable air conditioners have one drain line at the bottom, while others have two, including a top one. If you have multiple drain line lines, you will need to install a drain hose on each port.
3. Get a drain hose that is compatible with the size of your unit’s drain line. Drain hoses are readily available at an affordable price range in your local stores or online stores.
4. Open the drain plug and insert the drain hose on the unit’s drain line. It should fit snugly to prevent leakage. You may reinforce the fit with a zip tie.
5. Insert the end of the drain hose into a floor drain. Gravity will cause the water to automatically drain from the air conditioner to the floor drain.
6. If your unit has multiple drain lines, repeat steps 3, 4, and 5 above for the other ports.
7. Once done, plug the unit back and power it on to resume operation.

How to Drain a Portable Air Conditioner with a Condensate Pump

A condensate pump lets you drain your air conditioner continuously in areas where you cannot leverage gravity. You can use it to drain the unit through a window or a sink. It is a more expensive option than using a hose or no hose, but it works effectively.

A condensate pump comprises three main parts: the drain line attached to the air conditioner, the pumping unit, and the open-end drain line. The water is drained to a floor drain or outside using the pump. Usually, a condensate pump comes as a pumping unit and has separate tubing you cut and attach.

The condensate pump has a water reservoir where water collects through gravity from the air conditioner. It turns on automatically when water reaches a certain level to drain and then turns off when most of the water has finished draining.

Steps

1. Turn off the portable unit and then unplug it from the wall power outlet
2. Identify a location for your pump. It should be positioned lower than the air conditioner’s drain line
3. Cut the appropriate length of tubing. Attach it to the air conditioner’s drain port and the other end to the pipe
4. Cut another piece of tubing. Connect one end to the pump’s check valve and the other end to the point where you want the water to drain

How Often Should You Drain a Portable Air Conditioner?

The frequency of draining your portable AC unit depends on factors such as:

• Humidity level in the immediate environment. The higher the humidity level, the more water will accumulate in the system during the condensation process. Therefore, the more frequently you will need to drain the portable air conditioner.
• Surrounding temperatures. When the surrounding temperatures are extremely high, the unit works harder to cool the air. As such, it produces more condensation water as it has to cool off larger volumes of air.
• How Recently You Installed the Air Conditioner. When you install a portable air conditioner in a room for the first time, it goes full-on to dehumidify the entire room. Therefore, it may release more water in the first few days, but it will slow down over time.

What Happens if You Do Not Drain Your Portable Air Conditioner

If you do not drain your AC unit, water will continue to collect to a level where the entire system shuts down. It does not turn on until all the water has drained.

Some units present with a warning indicator light while others simply shut off. Also, if the condensate tank has a faulty float switch, the unit may leak or overflow.

Conclusion

When learning how to drain a portable air conditioner, remember there are three main ways you can do so: into a pan or bucket, using a hose, or a pump. As discussed above, each method is appropriate in specific settings, and each has its pros and cons. Whichever method you choose, the goal is to keep the unit drained for optimal operating efficiency.