Updated at: 19-08-2022 - By: Sienna Lewis

When using a portable air conditioner, is it necessary to empty the water tank frequently? Have you ever noticed that your portable air conditioner is producing a lot of water and then wondered how to get rid of it? The truth is that how often a portable air conditioner needs to be emptied varies not just by individual, but also by dwelling size.

Air conditioners are sensitive appliances that might be damaged if their owners don’t take care of them. If you want your air conditioner to function correctly, then you need to keep up with its maintenance.

When it comes to maintaining our air conditioner, how do we do it? You can get started with draining a portable air conditioner if you keep in mind a few guidelines. As promised, today we’ll be discussing this topic in further detail.

Among other things, we’ll try to figure out why your portable air conditioner is producing so much moisture. Don’t fret; picking up these skills isn’t rocket science. Use this page as a guide to get where you need to go. Let’s study up on portable air conditioner upkeep to beat the sweltering temperatures.

What is a portable air conditioner?

A portable air conditioner (PAC) can be a great solution for cooling off a single space. In most cases, they are set up on the floor, and the included installation kit makes that process simple and quick. An easily transportable air conditioner could be the answer to your cooling needs if you have multiple rooms in your home.

How to Drain Your Portable Air Conditioner in Easy Ways

Why Should People Drain A Portable Air Conditioner?

The rising heat has made your portable air conditioner a vital piece of equipment. That’s why you’ve been feeling more at ease recently.

It has served its purpose by maintaining a pleasant temperature throughout. Therefore, it stands to reason that you should also maintain your AC unit. What causes that to occur? If you don’t take the time to keep your appliances in good shape, you may expect them to break down and perform below par. A portable air conditioner is another example of this type of appliance.

If you forget to empty their portable air conditioner, it might cause a number of issues.

Problem #1. Your portable AC will not run

Most portable air conditioners turn off automatically once the water level in the tank reaches a certain point. The air conditioner will sound an alarm to notify you that it needs to be drained when this occurs. Your portable air conditioner could stop functioning if you don’t.

Problem #2. The water on your air conditioner’s tank will overspill

If you don’t empty your portable air conditioner, there is a risk that it will overflow. A leaking water tank is the result of a broken air conditioner switch.

Because of this condition, you may experience more complications, such as flooding in your home.

Problem #3. Your portable air conditioner will be a habitat for molds

Just think of the implications if you discovered mold growing within your AC unit. Just try to picture dealing with molds like that. Cleaning up after this technique is a tedious and nasty chore. Therefore, you should turn off your air conditioners to prevent this from happening. Your portable air conditioner will become a breeding ground for mold if you don’t drain the water from it regularly.

Knowing How Many Times You Have To Drain A Portable Air Conditioner

When using a portable air conditioner, is it necessary to empty the water tank frequently? Usually, portable air conditioners need to be drained every eight hours. Nonetheless, there are exceptions to this rule that should be taken into consideration.

Situation #1. When you are in an arid area

In dry climates, emptying the water from your portable air conditioner once every eight hours is not necessary. So, what is going on, exactly? If the humidity level where it is being used is too high, the portable air conditioner will not be able to remove any moisture from the air. Therefore, the water will be removed from the system.

Situation #2. When your portable air conditioner is up to date

Most current portable AC units evaporate moisture from the air through vents. To do this, water from the air conditioner’s tank is sent through a pipe into the condenser coil, where it reacts with the coil to produce vapor. To rephrase, all of the water in your tank would be gone.

However, this could not be the case if you are constantly exposed to high humidity levels. Portable air conditioners also need to be evaluated because of the possibility of water entering the unit’s storage tank.

Reasons Why A Portable Air Conditioner Generates Too Much Water?

Using a portable air conditioner to cool your home creates a byproduct of water. However, there are some circumstances in which portable air conditioners will produce more water than usual. If you want to know why your portable air conditioner is using so much water, keep reading.

Reason #1. Internal factor

Factors in the home such as cooking, showering, and drying clothes all add to the moisture in the air. Cooking and taking a shower, for instance, both add water to the air. Increased human activity inside a dwelling can increase humidity levels because of exhaled breath. Therefore, it is necessary to ascertain the origin of the issue and eradicate it.

Reason #2. External factor

There are a number of potential external causes for your portable air conditioner’s excessive water generation. Consider the weather as an example. If you want to cut down on the quantity of water your air conditioner uses, you should also pay attention to how much moisture is coming into your home. You should therefore ensure that all of your doors and windows are tightly closed.

How to Maintain a Portable Air Conditioner

Routinely Clean the Exterior

It’s important to keep the exterior of a portable air conditioner clean.

When things look dirty on the outside, it’s likely that they’re dirty on the inside as well.

After you’re done dusting the room and wiping down the furniture, turn your attention to the outside of the unit with a damp cloth. It is not recommended to clean the outside with any kind of detergent or other specific liquid, as doing so might potentially discolor the casing and make it more likely that dirt and dust will stick to it in the future.

Always Replace and Maintain the Filters

The filters of a portable air conditioner are the single most important component in ensuring the unit functions properly.

The filters in your air conditioner are an often-overlooked yet crucial part of the cooling process.

They aren’t as pricey as the compressor or the refrigerant, but they are crucial to the health of the conditioned space’s air.

Pay close attention to the maintenance and cleaning instructions when purchasing air conditioning filters. It truly is product specific: Filters for some models must be replaced frequently, while others may be washed and reused.

If your filter can’t be washed and you need a new one, the instructions for your portable air conditioner will tell you what model to get.

On the other hand, washable filters can be reused over and over again with little to no maintenance. The device should then be immersed in warm water with a reasonable amount of detergent, and the water should be changed several times.

Allow the area to air dry after sweeping away any lingering dust or debris with a soft brush. After the filter has dried, put it back in place.

In order to prevent greater dust and particle penetration, most new portable air conditioners feature a pre-filter. To protect the life of the vehicle’s primary air filter, the pre-filter is installed.

Pre-filters should be washed at least once every two weeks.

Similar to cleaning the exterior of the unit, no detergents or cleaning agents should be used to clean the pre-filter. The residue these objects leave behind often promotes the buildup of even more dirt and particles, weakening the pre-ability filter’s to do its job.

Routinely Inspect the Condenser Coils

One of the most crucial tasks of maintaining a portable air conditioner is checking for parts that may be causing malfunctions.

The cost of replacing a condenser coil is higher than that of a filter, but anyone without HVAC experience should hire a pro.

For obvious reasons, this component’s upkeep demands constant attention.

Grime and grease build up on condenser coils over time. Clean this part on a regular basis with a coil cleaner solution (found at most hardware stores).

Preventative maintenance on the condenser coil could end up saving you a lot of time and money.

If your condenser coils need to be replaced, you may save money by purchasing a new system.

If that’s the case, then our in-depth guide to the best portable AC units is just what you need.

How to drain a portable AC without a hose - YouTube

Ensure the Exhaust Hose is Short and Straight

Every portable air conditioner comes complete with an exhaust hose. This results in a significantly reduced ambient temperature.

People may not realize that the hose’s efficiency is maximized by keeping it as short and straight as feasible.

When they figure out that the hose can be bent and stretched, they get quite inventive.

Inefficient operation and reduced cooling capacity can be the result of kinks and bends in the exhaust hose when the unit is run at its longest potential length.

A kinked or twisted exhaust line, when used at its maximum length, might cause the unit to run less efficiently and provide less cooling.

Only Place the Air Conditioner in Clean Setting

The portability of portable air conditioners appeals to a lot of individuals. Some of these units can be relocated, either within a room or from one property to another.

The portability of portable air conditioners appeals to a lot of individuals. Some of these units can be relocated, either within a room or from one property to another.

A lot of people choose portable air conditioners because they can move them from room to room. Some of these units are portable, allowing for relocation within a room or between buildings.

Avoid putting the device in a dirty or dusty environment. Particles and debris in the air pose a threat to the operation of interior parts.

The item is not suitable for usage in a dirty or dusty environment.

In addition, make sure there is some distance between the portable air conditioner and a window or other moisture source. This is true in situations where there is a lot of moisture in the air.

If you must utilize it in a damp setting, more frequent inspections of the drainage pan will be required. Because it collects water, it will need to be drained periodically.

Store the Air Conditioner the Proper Way

This may seem like an obvious piece of advice for keeping your portable air conditioner in good working order, but many people actually forget to do it.

A portable air conditioner should not be left near a window for an extended period of time if it is not being used (e.g. during the winter). A cool, dark spot out of direct sunlight is ideal.

Portable air conditioners are great for cooling small rooms, but they may quickly become a breeding ground for dust and moisture if they aren’t used regularly after installation. Both of these conditions can coexist, and the sufferer might be unaware of it.

Many people believe that after reading our post on the best air conditioners for small rooms, they can just plug in and turn off their AC unit for most of the year in the basement’s spare room. This counsel, however, is one that you can still rely on.

The best way to ensure that there is no moisture trapped inside your unit before storing it is to turn it on and operate the fan. The next step is to set the fan to its highest setting and leave it on for many hours.

That will dry out the building completely.

Cover the gadget with a plastic bag or sheet big enough to hold it. The portable air conditioner should be stored in a cool, dry place.

If you spend most of your time indoors in one room, a storage closet or comparable space is great. Since this is where you always keep your portable air conditioner, the temperature is perfect for storing it.

A Professional Check Up Can Be a Good Thing

If you own a central air conditioning and heating unit and it breaks down, have the technician look at your portable unit as well.

Although following the preventative maintenance procedures outlined in this manual will help keep your appliance in good operating order, some problems will require the attention of a professional.

Costly repairs can be avoided in the long run if a technician takes a quick glance for anything out of the norm.

The cost of repairs could be too much to bear, therefore a portable AC unit could be a good alternative.

FAQs

What is required to set up a portable AC?

Depending on the design, the installation process takes very little time and effort. All portable air conditioners release warm and moist air as they cool, thus it is necessary to vent that air somewhere else, usually outside using a built-in window kit. Attaching an exhaust pipe to the window kit allows for hot air to be released to the outdoors. Some models additionally include wall or drop ceiling venting options. To get the cooling going, all you have to do is plug in your air conditioner and take out the exhaust pipe and window kit.

How do portable air conditioners drain water?

We know that PACs remove warm air and moisture from your air, and that a window kit exhausts the warm air. But what about the humidity?? PACs can deal with the condensate water in a number of ways.

  • Exhaust pipes on modern portable air conditioners drain moisture along with the hot air they exhaust. There will be very little need to ever remove the condensate water that builds up. There are portable air conditioners from Avallon and other companies, as well as self-evaporative models from DeLonghi and Whynter.
  • To get rid of excess moisture, a drain tube is often attached. Connect an extension hose to the drain port so that you may use the water outflow.
  • There are usually buckets on portable air conditioners that need to be emptied anywhere from every 8 hours to once per month. Turning the machine off to remove the bucket and then replace it before cooling can resume is a possibility.

What size air conditioner (BTU level) do I need?

Like central air conditioners, portable ones measure cooling capacity in British Thermal Units (BTUs). Power to cool is expressed in British Thermal Units (BTUs) (British Thermal Units). Our portable ACs are categorized according to the following standards:

  • A portable air conditioner with 7,000 to 10,000 BTUs is suitable for cooling a room up to about 300 square feet in size. Check out what we have to offer in window air conditioners for small rooms.
  • This type of portable air conditioner works well to cool down rooms that are huge to extra-large in size. If your space is between 350 and 700 square feet in size, one of our models with 11,000 to 14,000 BTUs will work perfectly.
  • Commercial and industrial spaces, such as data centers, manufacturing plants, and large event venues, are perfect for this sort of portable air conditioner. Here are some of the models we have ready for business use.

Can I lengthen the exhaust hose?

Extending the exhaust hose on a portable air conditioner is a bad idea. Depending on the brand, this could result in an overheated air conditioner and invalidate your warranty.

Why do portable air conditioners have to be vented outside?

A portable air conditioner can be used to cool a space by drawing hot air outside. For an effective cooling procedure, heat removal is crucial. Hot air trapped inside a space will rise to the ceiling and impede the entrance of cooler air.

Can I discharge the hot air out of a sliding glass door or sliding glass window?

When compared to standard windows, sliding glass doors provide greater challenges when it comes to venting portable air conditioners. Standard window brackets are designed to be mounted vertically, not horizontally, so that they can be used with sliding windows and sliding doors. There may be a need to modify the window bracket when installing an air conditioner in a slider window.

Make sure the bracket is long enough to suit the width of the sliding window. The most common solution for sliding windows is a pair of brackets mounted on the inside of the window frame.

What should I use to cool a server room?

Portable air conditioners are frequently utilized to either enhance the cooling provided by the central AC system in server rooms or to serve as the major cooling source on weekends when the AC is switched off. When in such a hot and humid environment, a portable air conditioner with self-evaporative technology is your best bet. You can leave the portable air conditioner on without worrying about needing to empty a bucket of moisture afterwards. Aside from that, you should also consider the following:

Server rooms may have trouble with ventilation due to a lack of readily accessible windows or the chance that no windows exist at all. The hot air discharge hose can be run through a hole in the wall or a drop ceiling to an adjacent room.

I have a casement/crank-out window. Can I configure my PAC to exhaust air out of this type of window?

A window kit for a portable air conditioner will not fit into a casement window. Some clients have come up with a creative solution using Plexiglas in order to cover their entire display area. A small hole was cut in the Plexiglas for the hot air exhaust.

What electrical requirements do portable ACs have? What about energy consumption?

Most PACs run on the typical household voltage of 115 to 120 volts, so no special wiring or outlets are required. Naturally, you should be wary of plugging multiple high-energy devices into a single circuit if you plan on using an air conditioner.

Certain higher BTU portable air conditioners (14,00 BTU and more) may or may not necessitate upgraded electrical wiring and outlets. You can find answers to your queries in the product descriptions. The amount of energy a vehicle consumes depends on factors such as the vehicle’s make and model as well as its surroundings.

5,000 BTU ComfortSense 3-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner

Will a portable air conditioner work for multiple rooms?

This is a case-by-case basis thing. Like window-mounted units, portable air conditioners are effective in cooling the immediate area around them. Air flow is restricted, so cold air cannot escape down the hall or through the cracks. When the apertures of one room are especially large, the temperature of the next rooms may drop slightly. Using fans to circulate the air is a great way to get some extra cooling.

What is the difference between a single-hose design and a dual-hose design?

Some portable air conditioners may just have a hot air exhaust line, while others may also include a hot air input pipe.

  • Single-hose portable air conditioners draw air from the room they are in, chill it, and then blow the majority of that air back into the room. At some point during the cooling process, some of the air will be forced out of the air conditioner through the exhaust port.
  • One pipe is used to draw in fresh air, while the other is utilized to cool the machine. The heated exhaust air is subsequently released through a second hose. Yet, there is a cost to consider. Compressor efficiency is diminished in dual-hose systems because the air used to cool the compressors is warmer ambient air. They have two internal fans in addition to the external ones to make up for the extra power they need.

Do I have to remove the screen from the window when using my window kit?

Most of our clients who use portable air conditioners don’t have to worry about having to remove the window screen because the exhaust hose doesn’t protrude outside the window. Read the PAC’s description to be sure this is the case before buying it.

How loud are portable air conditioners?

In general, portable air conditioners operate between 40 and 60 dB in terms of decibel level. Several factors can influence the decibel output of a portable air conditioner.

  • The precise location of the room’s air conditioning unit.
  • Just how quickly the machine is working.
  • The air conditioner can muffle outside sounds or block it out entirely.

Wrapping Up!

As a consequence of their operation, most air conditioners discharge water. Therefore, it is advised that you periodically empty your air conditioners. If you’ve ever wondered, “How often do you have to empty a portable air conditioner?” then this information is for you. If this happens, you’ll need to know how to unclog your air conditioner drain to keep the unit running smoothly.