How to drain a portable AC without a hose
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ต.ค. 2017
- This was our first video on how to drain without a hose. We later discovered an easier way without any lifting. Please check this link • How to Drain easily P...
How to set up this unit: • How to set up Frigidai... - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
It’s sad I needed a video to figure this out but glad it’s here thanks 👍
Thanks for watching!
chris kelley You aren’t the only one :-)
Seems like commons sense but the heat left me senseless. So glad for this video so hot here in Illinois these last couple of days.
Thanks for your comment, and hopefully your weather cools off a bit soon.
Was thinking the same! Ha!
Anyone else here after the AC leaked all over the floor? 😂 Always wondered what those two ports were used for...found out the hard way
Hi S John, There are several causes for water leaking. The most common ones are a clogged drain pan; cracks in the pan; dirty filters and dirty/frozen coils; or simply a unit that’s not level - just a little tilt can cause water to leak. You can check this site, which discusses many other possible causes and how to fix them. www.hotpointheating.com/HVACMaintenanceTips/StopLeaks
If none of the suggestions seems to help, we would return the unit to the seller if it is still within the time frame for returns.
Regarding the “two ports”, most portable ACs have two drainage ports - for dehumidifying and for cooling. On our unit the top drain is for the dehumidifier function ("Dry" mode). The bottom drain is for the cooling function ("Cool" mode). Hope this helps. In case you missed our link on how to drain WITHOUT lifting the unit, here is the link - th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html
how often do you drain your ac unit? or how would you know when to drain it? unfortunately, the manual doesn’t state. and my ac doesn’t have a function where it alerts me. 😔
Hi Lynn - sorry for the delayed response - somehow we lost track of your comment/question. How often to drain depends on the type of your air conditioner. If you have a Non-Self-Evaporating AC, then the best way to tell when to drain is to check the tanks every day. After a while you'll get a sense of how often to drain.
If your AC is Fully or Partially Self-Evaporating, then it evaporates most of the water in the tank, and you may not need to drain it again after the first time you do so as we did in our video. BTW, if you haven't seen our follow up video on how to drain your unit Without Lifting, then here is the link - th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html It's much easier and safer. This next tip is not in the video, but you can also use a cookie pan with low side walls for draining the bottom tank. Just be sure to keep a bucket nearby so you can empty the pan without spilling. Thanks for watching and stay cool!
Reading instructions is hard...
I'm glad someone told me that before I used mine 😆
Gives this guy some love, found the video I was searching for!! Kudos 🥳👍
Hi SoloisticCloud - Thank you for your kind words! You might also want to check our follow up video on how to drain WITHOUT lifting the unit, here is the link - th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html
love how at 1:40 the subtitles say "[Applause]" but in fact it's just the sound of liquid coming out
I stumbled across this video because I was having an issue with something related but not exactly this, and I just wanted to say thank you for what you're doing.
You are very welcome!
They should make these portable units with a higher base, at least 4" higher, so that people, especially seniors, who can't lift heavy things, could drain it much easier by just slipping a Tupperware container under the lower drainage plug.
Hi OMG, - Thank you for watching and your comment. You're absolutely right that higher base would be helpful. We made a second video about how to drain without elevating. That's mainly for self-evaporating units which don't accumulate much water, because you can only fit a shallow container under the bottom drain. Here is the link th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html Thanks again!
I have made my own base, of wood..... sitting 8" off the floor.... which just fits the plastic drain pan I use. Curios, though.... that mine did not require draining until the unit was almost 2 years old.... and I live in hot and humid area. Now I get the E5 error every time I turn it off... too strange.
I also ran mine for the past 3 years about 9hrs a day. This year I noticed it wouldn't go below 78 which is comfortable but I like to freeze lol. I took mine to the tub and drained it which wasnt much. THANK U SO MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO!
Hi Demetria, - Thank you for your comment and you are very welcome! We're glad that things are going well.
Thank you. You saved me from a night without AC. You are a boss!
Hi Nemphs - You're very welcome! By the way, here is our follow up video on how to drain your AC WITHOUT lifting it. It's much easier and safer. Here is the link - th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html Thanks for watching, and stay cool!
Thank you for the video it’s a great tip. I was wondering why my new unit wasn’t getting as cold. Draining top and bottom like this was easy and solved the problem.
Hi Travis - You're very welcome! We also have a follow up video on how to drain the unit WITHOUT lifting it. It's much easier and safer. Here is the link - th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html Thanks for watching, and stay cool!
Golly, thank you so much! We had to use a portable air conditioner and really miss our window unit. The portable ones take up so much space. Your video really helped and was very concise in draining the unit. We need to put it away for the year and I really appreciate your video so we feel good about storing it. The tip of putting plastic over the vent is also good , I certainly didn’t think of it. :-) Thanks again.
You're very welcome and glad we could help. We made a follow up video on how to drain a portable AC without lifting it. It's much easier and safer. Here is the link - th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for this video. I now am interested in purchasing a portable unit, and this way seems easy to drain. This encouraged me.
You are welcome!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Now, our portable AC is functioning again.
Hi Clara, Thanks for the kind words! Glad we were able to help. You might want to check our follow up video on how to drain without a hose and also without lifting the unit. Here is the link th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html Hope that will make things even better. Thanks for watching and stay cool.
Thanks for the tips! We just successfully drained ours and now it is working again. We just rolled ours to the bathtub and did it there. The only thing I'm wondering is we used the a/c all last summer because it was so hot and we never drained it once...not sure why all of a sudden it needs to be drained but anyway just glad it's working.
Hi Tricia, - Thanks for the good news! Not sure why your AC is collecting more water this year. Maybe the weather is more humid or, if your unit has a "dry" mode, maybe you were using that - it pulls more moisture out of the air. Anyways, glad to hear that it's draining well. If your AC goes back to collecting very little water, you might want to check out our other video for draining without lifting the unit. th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html
Omg ty!!! I had no idea that FL meant "full" it didn't even cross my mind that it had water in it 😅 ty ty ty ♡
You're very welcome! Glad we could help. BTW, In case you haven't seen our follow up video on how to drain your unit Without Lifting, then here is the link - th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html It's much easier and safer.
So glad I watched this video. My 12000 BTU Emerson quiet cool is arriving tomorrow. Super excited!
Hi Kurtis - Great news! Hope you enjoy your new AC. BTW we suggest that you also watch our follow up video which shows how to drain the unit without lifting. Here is the link th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for watching, and stay cool!
Thank you. Had my unit for 2 and a half years and I needed to do this today.
It spilled water like no tomorrow and took multiple small containers trips back and forth between the unit and the sink.
Also for those interested, the upper back of the unit could be removed on mine, and it was so dirty, you couldn't see past it. ave it a good cleaning as well.
Unit works like a charm now, and no longer flashes stop and beeps. +1
Hi Francois -Glad your unit is in good shape again! We have never had that issue with our Frigidaire - we were draining it every two weeks and there was a very little water. So we decided to drain it every month or two at the most.
the manual had terrible instructions. you and your sexy accent saved my ass, dude. liked, subscribed. thank you!! 😊
Thanks very much and glad we could help! Sometimes simpler is better. By the way, you might also be interested in our follow up video on how to drain your AC without lifting - much easier and safer. Thanks again, here is the link th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html
How quick should the full light come on? Have had mine a few weeks, light hasn't come out, decided to try draining, and only a very short stream came out.. seems it's not cooling like it should either.. feel window A/c works wayyyyyy better
Hi Lee - if you have very little water, then you probably have a Self-Evaporating AC (SE). The light will come on if the tanks are full, but with SE unit it's very rare for the tanks to fill up. (The drain tanks in our SE unit have never gotten full in 6 years of use.) As for the "not cooling" there could be several reasons: the unit is too "big" or "small" for your room, or dirty filter, or dirty/frozen coils. Your User's Manual may detail other possible causes and you can always contact the manufacturer's customer service. If you find that your filter or coils need cleaning, here are links to our videos on those topics: for cleaning the filter - th-cam.com/video/sBNkEtdXkJs/w-d-xo.html
for cleaning the coils - th-cam.com/video/87agpQfojrk/w-d-xo.html
Thank you for posting this. Unrelated but we Southerners enjoyed y'alls accents while you explained how to do it. Dripping in sweat already at the beginning of April but hey, we laughed!
Hi, What accent?! :) Loved y'alls too. Stay cool!
thank you for putting this up, just been able to afford my very own second-hand portable AC unit and this video is exactly what I was looking for...:-))
Hi Ali Khan - We're glad to be helpful! Also, we would recommend our follow up video on how to drain your AC without lifting it. It's much easier and safer. Here is the link - th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html Thanks for watching and stay cool!
i have to keep mine propped up and that bottom plug off at all times draining into a bucket...
On mine the water does not come out of that drain hole it goes out at the bottom 😢
Thank you for explaining literally everything. My dad taught me nothing 😢 hehe 👍
Thanks for the video! Much help. Had my mind on too many things to actually think it through. Very helpful!
You're very welcome! Knowing how difficult to lift a portable AC, we made a follow up video on how to drain the unit Without Lifting it. It's much easier and safer. Here is the link : th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html Thank you for watching, and stay cool!
Couldn't figure out why the lower drain wasn’t draining until i saw the secondary plug you pulled out. Thanks!
You're very welcome! Glad we could helped. BTW, we have developed a follow up video on how to drain your AC without lifting - much easier and safer. Here is the link - th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html Stay cool
@@ZLhow2yep this video saved me a lot of unforeseen trouble - thank you
You're very welcome!
*Really works well and Easy to instal **Fastly.Cool*
We don't know, but it's been working without any issues for 5 seasons. Hope it will work the same way for another 5 seasons.
Thanks! Your video was great, explaining the bottom plug!
You're welcome, Pamela. Glad you found this helpful. Also, we've developed a follow up video on how to drain your unit without lifting it - much easier and safer. Here is the link th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html Hope you'll find it helpful.
Thanks for this video I had no idea why my air conditioner was leaking !! 🙌🏼
Hi Alondra - Glad we could help. This video was based on our first time draining our AC. We found that there was very little water and we decided to drain WITHOUT lifting the unit and made a follow up video. It's easier and safer. Here is the link to the video - th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html Thanks for watching and you comment.
so...why bother with the top plug if all the water will drain out the bottom anyway?
On all the ACs we have ever encountered, there are separate top and bottom tanks. If yours is different , you can check in your Owner's manual to see about yours.
I have a hisemse Dual-hose Portable AC that i keep having to drain every night, only 5 months old.. why does it keep having to drain? The E5 drain error code always comes up
Hi, sorry for the delayed reply. In case you didn't find the solution to your problem, we found a site online which gives information on your issue, and hope it helps. Here is the link - www.luceaircon.sg/blog-article/e5-error-code-on-hisense-air-conditioner
I have one too and it hasn’t been a month and it’s leaking why ? Someone help me
Hi, if your AC is still within the return period, we suggest that you return it immediately and get a new one.
I don't have the same model, but I have a similar setup (I have a Linea Air Con Unit 99 bought cheap here in the UK for £88)
However, I was having the FT error code up and the manual kept on saying to drain it BUT via the top Black part.
After watching your video and seeing the bottom place to empty it, Sure enough, I had one of them too.
I raised it up, popped the pipe in there and bam, it drained.
Thank you so much for your vid and the step in the direction I needed :)
Hi, Glad it worked well, but we wanted to let you know that we made a follow up video a few years ago on how to drain the unit without lifting it - much easier and safer. Here is the link: th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html
Great helpful video, that tilting the ac a lil bit to get that bit of water made big difference
Hi Stout - Glad we were able to help. We have a follow up video showing how to drain the unit without lifting. It's much easier way to drain. Here is the link th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for watching and stay cool!
Mine says it needs to be drained but no water is coming out. It’s pretty much stuck now and can’t use it
Hi, you may have clogged drainage spouts. You can check this by just poking a plastic straw into the spouts, which would dislodge any built-up dirt or debris. If none of them works, we would suggest contacting your manufacturer's customer service department. Hope this helps.
my ac is producing a lot of water every 10 mins its a 50% humid day is this normal?
Hi Big - Here is what we found online (the link is below) as a likely reason for your problem: "The primary reason for your portable AC filling with water too quickly is humidity in the region you live. However, excessive water deposit may also be due to dirty filter or clogged condensate line. Due to clogging flow over the evaporator coil is blocked leading to ice that continuously melts and fills the water container." Here is the link to the site - hvacrguy.com/why-portable-ac-is-filling-with-water-quickly/ If your AC is not brand new, we suggest checking your filter and coils, and cleaning them if necessary. How to clean them (it's very easy) you might want to check our videos: for coils - th-cam.com/video/87agpQfojrk/w-d-xo.html and for filter - th-cam.com/video/sBNkEtdXkJs/w-d-xo.html You may want to check for leaks as well. Also, if your AC is not a Self-evaporative unit, then we would suggest using a hose. Hope this is helpful.
Too bad the manufacturers of these portable AC units aren’t as smart as this guy. Great job! You just made this task much easier. Have a great day!
Hi James, Thanks for your kind words. Have a cool day!
I have a Kenmore instead but this helped significantly. Thank you! :)
Hi Julie- You're very welcome! We also have a second video on how to drain your AC without lifting it. Here is the link: th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for watching and stay cool!
How often should this be drained?
Hi - How often to drain depends on the type of your air conditioner. If you have a Non-Self-Evaporating AC, then the best way to tell when to drain is to check the tanks every day. After a while you'll get a sense of how often to drain. Or, you could simply wait until the unit shows the code that says you need to drain it. Many portable ACs use code P1 indicating a full tank, but you should check your Owner's Manual for your unit's draining code.
If your AC is Fully or Partially Self-Evaporating, then it evaporates most of the water in the tank. Thanks for watching and stay cool!
Why are there two places to drain from? Are they coming from separate tanks?
Hi Xeric - Thanks for watching and your question. Most portable ACs have two drainage ports - for dehumidifying and for cooling. On our unit the top drain is for the dehumidifier function ("Dry" mode). The bottom drain is for the cooling function ("Cool" mode). Each drain is from a separate tank. Also, for easier and safer draining we made a follow up video on how to drain WITHOUT lifting the unit. Here is the link - th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html Thanks again, and stay cool!
@@ZLhow2 really? Because when using only “cool mode” i still get water in BOTH tanks after a few days. After some disassembly, i found out that the top tank is a drip tray for water that drips off the fins on the back of the condenser. This dripping also happens during “cool mode” not just dehumidifying. The bottom tray I’m not sure I assume that ones for dehumidifying but since it’s filling even on cool mode, i’ll assume it’s actively dehumidifying even on “cool mode”
Hi Xeric - Thanks for your observations. It could be that regardless of which mode you are using, some condensation will occur throughout the unit. It's just that more water will collect in the top or bottom depending on which mode you are using. We are writing from our experience with our AC and what we've read about ACs in general. Different brands and models may vary.
This was a major solution to my problem. Ty
You're very welcome!
more helpful than the official "installation" and maintenance tutorials, I thank you sir
You're very welcome!
You might want to check our follow up video on how to drain without a hose and also without lifting the unit. Here is the link th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for watching and stay cool!
Why my AC doesn’t have any water to drain? Even though it runs well and cooling.
Hi Quan,- This is a nice "problem" to have! There are two possible answers to your question - either you have a "self-evaporating'" unit, or your area is dry enough that the water naturally evaporates on its own. Thanks for your question.
how often do you have to drain the water, if using the unit on aircon mode?
Hi, How often to drain depends on the type of your air conditioner. If you have a Non-Self-Evaporating AC, then the best way to tell when to drain is to check the tanks every day. After a while you'll get a sense of how often to drain. Or, you could simply wait until the unit shows the code that says you need to drain it. Many portable ACs use code P1 indicating a full tank, but you should check your Owner's Manual for your unit's draining code.
If your AC is Fully or Partially Self-Evaporating, then it evaporates most of the water in the tank. BTW, we made a follow up video on how to drain without lifting - it's much easier and safer. Here is the link - th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html Thanks for watching and stay cool!
Great video. Very useful info. Thanks 🙏🏼
You're very welcome! In case you are interested in draining without lifting your unit , we made a follow up video on that topic - it’s much easier and safer. Here is the link - th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html
OMGosh! You/your video saved my okole! I just knew there had to be a remedy! Mahalo, from a Tutu in the Hawaiian Islands!
PS I found your update to an easier way very helpful...thankfully I did have someone to lift my a/c, but next time I know how to take care of this myself.
Aloha! Mahalo for your kind words! We're always glad to hear that we were able to help someone. Thanks again, and stay cool!
after 6 months of use I decided to store it for the winter, I never got any drain code and when I tried to drain it there was no water at all from either plug. Slightly confused, It still works fine however.
Hi, It looks like you have a self-evaporating unit, so all you have to do is clean it, and store it.
@@ZLhow2 Thank you for the reply!
You're welcome!
Hello can you hook a garden hose up to the top port and clean it that way?
Hi, sorry for the delayed reply, we just saw your question recently. Regarding your question the answer is yes , you may be able to drain your AC's top port with a garden hose. Check first to see if you will need an adapter. Hope this helps,
This video helped a lot, thanks!
You're very welcome! Knowing how difficult to lift a portable AC, we made a follow up video on how to drain the unit Without Lifting it. It's much easier and safer. Here is the link : th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html Thank you for watching, and stay cool
Very good. Helped a lot. Thanks
Glad it helped!
Ummmm…. I just did this to try and make it work more efficient, and no water came out at all. I used the stool and all. I even tilted it a tad to see if that will drain anything out and nothing. There is a desert inside my portable ac unit. But I think it’s because I never use the dehumidifier mode just ac mode.
Hi Andrey - If you are not finding water in your AC, then you probably have a Self-Evaporating unit, like ours. The water that you see in our video was from the first time we ever drained it, just a few hours after setting it up.
The Manual had said that there might be lots of water after the initial use, and since we didn't have a hose (the hose wasn’t included), we put it on a stool and placed a large container under the bottom spout to prevent any splashing. But there was not much water, and that was the first and last time that we had that much water - about a cup or less as you can see. Also, that was the last time we lifted it - we found a way to drain without lifting, much easier and safer. We made a follow up video on how to do this, here is the link - th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html
After couple of weeks, we stopped checking altogether, because we were finding almost no water in the tanks. So the Self-Evaporating feature does its job very well at least in a climate that is not very humid (we're in Boston). Thanks for watching and your comment.
I have one like this, it's new. A while ago it stopped draining the water. it's normal?
Hi, Sorry for the delayed response. If you are not finding water in your AC, then you probably have a Self-Evaporating unit, like ours. The water that you see in our video was from the first time we ever drained it, just a few hours after setting it up.
The Manual had said that there might be lots of water after the initial use, and since we didn't have a hose (the hose wasn’t included then), we put it on a stool and placed a large container under the bottom spout to prevent any splashing. But there was not much water, and that was the first and last time that we had that much water - about a cup or less as you can see. Also, that was the last time we lifted it - we found a way to drain without lifting, much easier and safer. We made a follow up video on how to do this, here is the link - th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html
After couple of weeks, we stopped checking altogether, because we were finding almost no water in the tanks. So the Self-Evaporating feature does its job very well at least in a climate that is not very humid (we're in Boston). Thanks for watching and your comment.
Great vid. Very helpful! Thank you for posting!
Hi EeRockKK, - Thanks for watching and your note! Glad the info was helpful.
Your suggestion that people use garden hoses gave me the clue I needed. I ran the appropriate fittings from the constant drip port and ran a pex line to a bucket. Thanks to you, it worked the first time!
That's great news, thanks for letting us know!
Worked very well thanks!
Hi - We're glad that it helped. In case you missed it, here is the link to our follow up video on how to drain Without lifting the unit - much easier and safer - th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html
My portable AC is having an issue where its leaking from the bottom, but there's still water coming out of the hose. i tried to fix this problem by cleaning it and checked if there's clogging, still did not solve the issue we just bought this 2 months ago
Hi Aaron - One possible cause is that the unit is not leveled: just a slight tilt to one side can cause leaks. Another possibility is dirty filter or dirty/frozen coils. If you haven't cleaned them already, here are links for both: filter - th-cam.com/video/sBNkEtdXkJs/w-d-xo.html and coils: th-cam.com/video/87agpQfojrk/w-d-xo.html . If none of them works, you can check this site, which discusses many other possible causes and how to fix them. applianceanalysts.com/leaky-portable-air-conditioner/
Also, for an easier and safer way to drain your unit, here is our follow up video on how to drain it without lifting it - th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html Good luck with your issue.
I just bought a brand new supposedly self-evaluating one and it keeps filling up. As soon as I move it to drain it its already coming out the bottom sides. If the sucker wasn't so heavy I would return it. I should have just kept my old one if I knew I would have to drain it everyday still.
Hi - It's sounds like your unit is not self-evaporating , or if it is, it's not working properly. If you decide to keep it, you might like our follow up video on how to drain the unit WITHOUT lifting it. It's much easier and safer. Here is the link th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html We hope this helps.
@@ZLhow2 Thanks. I'll check it out. I think part of the reason is it's because it's humid where I live. It works really well except for the whole draining thing.
You're right, with high humidity, especially for a long time you get more water in the tank.
Just got one with no removeable drain. Never had one like this. So me or my wife have to lift a 110 lb unit on a stool everytime we drain it if we can't facilitate a hose drain. I think its going back
Hi, In our video we were draining our new Self-Evaporating AC for the first time a few hours after using it. The Manual had said that there might be lots of water after the initial use, and since we didn't have a hose (the hose wasn’t included), we put it on a stool and placed a large container under the bottom spout to prevent any splashing. But there was not much water, and that was the first and last time that we lifted our unit. And we made a follow up video on how to drain the unit without lifting it. It’s much easier and safer. Here is the link th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html
After a while, we stopped draining the unit altogether as there was hardly any water. So if you have a Self-Evaporating AC like we do, then you may also not need to drain yours. Hopefully all this will give you another option to consider before returning your AC. If you do return it, you might look at a lighter weight model. Ours is 10000BTU and weighs 53 lb. Best of luck!
@@ZLhow2we have the same model as you do. I purchased the hose from amz. I noticed before, when the plugs were close, the ac is too loud and it shut down on us from time to time. I got scared cause i thought it might break the ac. When i put the hose while using the ac, it didn’t do that anymore. But it produces a lot of water 😢 it fills up our home depot big bucket in just 8-10hrs of use during the night 😢 should i just keep the plugs close? It’s tiring to dispose the water everyday 😭
Hi, If your AC is new and it’s an SE (Self-Evaporating) AC like ours, then we would suggest contacting your manufacturer’s Customer Service line, or just return it. None of the issues that you've encountered have happened to us. Since the initial draining we’ve had hardly any water, even after using it in “Dry” mode for many hours on humid days. Also, the unit shouldn't get loud and stop working regardless of whether the plugs are closed or open.
If your AC has been used for a while, then there are several possible reasons for your unit’s problems. While searching to solve similar issues for other users in our channel, we’ve learned that a dirty filter and/or dirty coils could be the reason for a portable AC turning off and on and generating too much water.
This is how it happens: a dirty filter blocks the airflow, causing the temperature of the evaporator coils to drop below the minimum setting. As a result the coils will freeze up and your AC will shut off. The ice on the coils will then melt, and the water will fill up the tank very quickly. If the coils are dirty, then even more ice will form, resulting in more water in the tank. If your unit has dirty filter or coils, we have videos on how to clean them, here are the links: for filter- th-cam.com/video/sBNkEtdXkJs/w-d-xo.html and for coils - th-cam.com/video/87agpQfojrk/w-d-xo.html
If the cleaning doesn’t help, you may have more complicated issues such us Freon loss or condenser problems. Research thoroughly before deciding whether to make these kinds of repairs - the repair costs may be higher than the cost of purchasing a new unit. Hope this is helpful.
Cheers mate very quick simple answer 👊👍💯
Glad to help!
Thank you that was very informative
Hi - Thanks for watching and your kind words. You might also want to check our follow up video on how to drain the AC without lifting and without a hose. Here is the link - th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html
How often, should I be draining? ..or does it really depend? .
Hi, How often to drain depends on the type of your air conditioner. If you have a Non-Self-Evaporating AC, then the best way to tell when to drain is to check the tanks every day. After a while you'll get a sense of how often to drain. Or, you could simply wait until the unit shows the code that says you need to drain it. Many portable ACs use code P1 indicating a full tank, but you should check your Owner's Manual for your unit's draining code.
If your AC is Fully or Partially Self-Evaporating, then it evaporates most of the water in the tank. Thanks for watching and stay cool!
Mine isn't draining at all, we have to tilt it (hard as it's heavy) and a little bit dribbles out at a time, do you know how to fix this?
Hi, In our very first video how to drain, we tilted our unit just to see how much water was left in the bottom tank after draining the AC. There was very little water left. Later we learned that it would evaporate on its own especially if you have a Self-Evaporating unit. Also, we have developed a follow up video on how to drain your AC without lifting it - much easier and safer. Here is the link - th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html Thanks for watching and your question.
Tu a résolu mon problème!! Merci😊
Nous vous en prie! BTW, we have developed a follow up video on how to drain your AC without lifting - much easier and safer. Here is the link - th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html Stay cool
I am a stay at home mother and wife of a trucker so I have to do a lot by myself I thank God for TH-cam!
Glad you find it helpful!
These should have came with a stand that is also a bucket
Hi Robert, Thanks for watching and your comment. If you don't want to lift your unit, we have our follow up video on how to drain your unit Without Lifting it. It's much easier and safer. Here is the link - th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html
What is a "gaden"?
Garden, accented
Very helpful. Thank you.
You're very welcome!
Thank You that really helped.🥇
You're very welcome!
I lost the cap for the bottom drain...is that gonna be an issue 😅😅
Hi Carlos, we would suggest getting a replacement of the "cap". Here is the link with different kinds of the drain spout plugs which we found in google. Here is the link - www.youtube.com/@ZLhow2/community
I have this same AC & I drained my Ac the best I could but wen I turn it on a code E-4 keeps popping out n won’t throw any air out 😭 anybody else have this problem?
Hi - The code E-4 , for Frigidaire portable AC (if that's what you have), means the unit's systems are not talking to each other, so you might not get important warnings like you need to drain the tank, or it's time to clean the filter. Frigidaire suggest that you call them if you see E-4 code. You can check codes for Frigidaire at this site - acerrorcode.com/frigidaire-room-air-conditioner-error-codes.html
Thank you. I had that P1 error. I was able to fix it in less than 1 minute.
You're welcome Paul!
Thanks hecka helpful to a new user
You're welcome! If your AC is a Self-Evaporating unit , (or partially SE), then our follow up video on how to drain a portable AC Without Lifting it might be helpful. Here is the link - th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html It's much easier and safer. Otherwise, for a non Self-Evaporating portable AC we would recommend using a hose. Thanks for watching and stay cool!
He sounds like Kwipkey from Big bang lol
Sounds like a Boston accent. Or some where around that area.
You're right! We "ahh" from the Boston area ; )
What's a gaaden hose?
It's the Bostonian version of a garrrden ; )
BTW, have you checked our follow up video on how to drain without lifting the unit? If not, here is the link - th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html
Stay cool!
@@ZLhow2 I know man, Being on the west coast. I just had to pull your chain a bit. Thanks for the video.
You're welcome, from coast to coast : )
I laughed way too hard at this
:D
Thank you. Pretty straight forward. Any videos on getting the remote to work?
Hi Jeremy - It sounds like you have the same kind of remote as ours. They are tricky - you have to aim it just right or be in the right spot to hit the sensor. It does seem to work a bit better when the battery is brand new, but just for a very short time. We didn't make a video on this topic, we think it's just he way they come from the manufacturer. BTW, we have a video on how to drain your AC WITHOUT lifting it. It's much safer and easier. Here is the link th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html
Hey that totally worked. Thanks!
Great to hear!
Not a good idea. In my climate the unit would have to be drained every few hours or it stops cooling the air. PVC tubing attached with a zip tie and directed out the window provides continuous drainage 24/7. Plus it avoids the strain of lifting the bucket and emptying it plus the inevitable mopping up when you spill it.
Hi Moses - Thank you for watching and your comments. We agree that draining with the tube can work fine. For people who don't have that option, or are lazy like us :) we made a follow up video on how to drain the unit Without Lifting it. It's much easier and safer. In case you missed that suggestion on this video, here is the link - th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html
@@ZLhow2 My method is lazy i.e. attach the hose, point it out the window, and forget it for the season. Your method involves a lot of work and lifting buckets of water will lead to spills and strained backs.
Seems like your AC is not a Self-Evaporating model if it generates so much water. In that case attaching a hose is better solution. Stay cool.
How is this an option, gravity doesn't get in the way of going up and out a window?
Hi - You are right, but if your drain tube needs to go up to get out of the window, then you can buy a condensate pump to get the water up and out. Thanks for your comment.
Mine sounds like it's a fountain and it's spitting up water....like a fountain
Hi, thank you for watching and your question. We searched online and found the site which gives some information related to your issue. They say that ".. The evaporative coils can ice up, and when the ice melts, water may drip from the front of the unit, and again, the force of the fan may turn the drip into a spray. " Here is the link to the site www.hunker.com/12575736/why-is-my-air-conditioner-spitting-water Hope this helps, and good luck!
Wow, this is very informative
Hi Mark - Thanks for watching and your comment. We're glad the video was helpful. If you haven't seen our follow up video on how to drain your unit without lifting, then here is the link - th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html It's much easier and safer. Thanks again, and stay cool.
just found out my floor has water. Afraid that if I turn it.on while sleeping I will wake up to my whole floor fill with water. I took out all the water out of it buy dont have the bottom cover/lid will it happen again?
Thanks for the video. I thought it would be more complicated
You are welcome Deeanne! Glad we could help.
My friend, im about to buy a Portable A/C and my question was going to be, how often do I need to drained? but I already see other comments and understand that is every day until find out how much water makes. Thank you, not many guys like you, answering people’s questions, God Bless!!!
I’ve been using my GE portable for 2 months and only drained it once
You're very welcome Bradway IASD, and thank you for your kind words.
Hi Muscle car Garage - Thanks for watching and your comment. Regarding the draining how often you need to drain depends on a few factors. The climate (dry vs humid), and the type of AC (self-evaporating or not). So yours is probably self-evaporating.
Don't know if this was mentioned, but to prevent the unit from falling while elevated, I use 1.4" door stoppers wedged deep on each side.
Hi Anthony, We elevated the unit for draining the same day we bought it after testing a few minutes, because the Manual said to drain it after the initial use. We couldn't think of any other way to do it since the AC came without a hose and we didn't have one of our own. Later we came up with the way to drain without lifting the AC and without using hoses. It's much easier and safer than lifting. Here is the link - th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html Hope you'll find it useful.
I have one on a half height crome wire shelving. The kind you can adjust height with plastic wedges along the side posts. Bottom shelf I put a clear plastic tote like in video. Used a lighter to soften lid to poke holes for hose. I had a water pump from a water filtration system. Every three, four days I turn on pump. I have huge water tank to save the water in case emergency or wash car with.
Hi Travels- We're glad if your arrangement works for you, but we encourage people to keep their portable ACs on the floor for safety. We even made a follow up video on how to drain a portable AC without lifting it. It's much easier and safer. If you are interested, here is the link -
th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html Thanks for watching and your comment.
It worked thanks!❤
Hi, Glad it worked well, but we wanted to let you know that we made a follow up video a few years ago on how to drain the unit without lifting it - much easier and safer. Here is the link: th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html
Thanks that helped alot💯😆👍🏾
Hi David - You're very welcome! Did you check our follow up video on how to drain a unit WITHOUT lifting it? If not, here is the link th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for watching and stay cool!
Great video this was EXACTLY what I needed. Was getting frustrated with the P1 error. Ty again.
Glad it helped! We have a follow up video on how to drain Without Lifting the unit, it's much easier and safer! Here is the link - th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html
It's very helpful👍
You're very welcome! Also, we made a follow up video on how to drain without lifting - it's much easier and safer. Here is the link - th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html
Thank you~~~~ I drained mine onto a towel and when I opened the top plug, no water...just like yours....this helps me a lot. Now to find something to sit the heavy AC unit on. Good idea about the plastic wrap. I would have forgotten to remove it.
I just bought mine from frys electronic today cant wait t I hook it up in my guest hoise tonight
Hi - Congratulations! It's a good investment. We've been enjoying ours for 3+ years now. BTW we have a follow up video showing how to drain the portable unit Without lifting it. Here is the link - th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for watching, and hope you and your guests stay cool!
Thx fir the video. Was thinking about buying one this year. It only produces water if you are using the dehumidifier and not if you are only using the air conditioning system?
Hi - Both tanks collect water depending on which mode you use. If you're using "Dry" (dehumidifier) mode, the water collects in the top tank, if you’re using "Cool" mode, the water collects in the bottom tank. It’s a good idea to check both tanks when you’re draining. Thanks for watching!
Hi I bought this AC two summers ago and I just set it up again the other day, because I put it away in the winter time, and I have it on Cool and the water is coming out of the top tank. I have the hose attached and it is draining out into a container I have in the back but I am concerned because it has never drained from that top tank before and I am concerned. I am going to take the filters out and clean them and put them back and see if that helps. Any other suggestions?
Hi Keren, We're not sure why it's draining from the top tank on 'Cool" mode, you might want to check with your manufacturer on that.
In the meantime we think the most important thing is to keep draining it on a regular basis. (We always check both tanks when draining just to be on the safe side. And most of the time the top tank has no water, probably because we use "Dry" mode very occasionally.)
Would you care to get back to us and let us know what you hear from the manufacturer? Thanks for your comment and hope it works out well.
This was helpful, thanks man! Quick question, how often should this be done?
Glad we could help! How often to drain depends on the type of your air conditioner. If you have a Non-Self-Evaporating AC, then the best way to tell when to drain is to check the tanks every day. After a while you'll get a sense of how often to drain. Or, you could simply wait until the unit shows the code that says you need to drain it. Many portable ACs use code P1 indicating a full tank, but you should check your Owner's Manual for your unit's draining code.
If your AC is fully or partially self-evaporating, then it evaporates most of the water in the tank. BTW, if you haven't seen our follow up video on how to drain your unit Without Lifting, then here is the link - th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html It's much easier and safer. Thanks for watching,and stay cool!
Thanks alot very simple and helpful I appreciate u taking the time to make this
You are very welcome and thank you for your kind words. You might also want to check our latest video about an easier way to drain the portable AC without lifting the unit or using a hose.
Thank you. Very helpful
I have water collecting up by the front where the air come out, opened the 2 ports on the back got some of the water out having a hard time getting all the water out tho
Hi, if you're still having this issue, you might try tilting your unit a bit. Having a little bit of water in the tank is OK - it will eventually evaporate if the weather is dry. Hope this helps.
Awesome to see you reply to every question, good on you. I had a quick one myself, purchased my first portable ac unit. It is located on my second story next to a window. What is stopping me from attaching the included hose to the top port and putting said hose outside the window, this will mean I'll never need to drain the unit as all water will automatically drip out. Unsure if this is a good method or if I should plug it up and do it every so often. Thanks!
Hi Tektah, thank you for your kind words, and your question.
You can run the hose out the window and that should take care of draining the top tank. If the hose needs to go upward to get out the window you might want to check on getting a condensate pump to move the water along.
Remember that you will still need to drain the bottom tank occasionally. As we mentioned recently to another person, we also have a video on how to drain a portable AC without lifting it - much easier and safer! Here is the link: th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html This is not in the video, but you can also use a cookie pan with low sides for draining the bottom tank. Just be sure to keep a bucket nearby so you can empty the pan without spilling.
One further item - if your AC is a Self-Evaporating model, you may never need to drain it after the first time you use it. If that's the case, you may want to reconsider using the hose.
Thank you so much
Hi, Thanks for the kind words. BTW, we made a follow up video on how to drain without lifting - it's much easier and safer. Here is the link - th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html
How do you clean the condenser water catch tank of any mold or mildew build up? Eventially after 5 years this might be a worry as it possibly causes a sanitation hazard or a clogged drain line.
Hi Phillip, thank you for an interesting question. Our owners manual only gives instructions for cleaning the filter. So for cleaning the condenser and other parts, I would suggest calling your manufacturer's customer service number.
Hi! Thank you for posting this!!! We have the Ocean Breeze brand but it has the same drainage ports as this one! Our drainage hose got cut so we had to throw it out but this helped!!! We were trying to drain it on the floor on towels but sure enough a few days later it came up with the P1 error which is a full drainage pan! We did this method over the tub and seemed to work, we tipped it a little to make sure it all came out. We clean the filters every time we drain it too so those are clean. I’m wondering if the humidity we’ve been experiencing is making more accumulation of condensation and water in the pan but we will be doing this method from here on out! Thank you again for posting the drainage without the hose, it’s much appreciated!!!! Have a great day and rest of the summer!!!!
Hi DillOFFICIAL - You're very welcome! And thank you for your kind note. We are glad that this video was helpful. We want to let you know that we made a follow up video on how to drain your AC Without Lifting - it's much easier and safer. Here is the link - th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html This next tip is not in the video, but you can also use a cookie pan with low sides for draining the bottom tank. Just be sure to keep a bucket nearby so you can empty the pan without spilling. Hope this saves you some energy and heavy lifting. Regarding the humidity, you're right! Higher humidity definitely increases the amount of water that ACs will generate. Thanks for watching and stay cool!
thanks - helpful video
Hi Valerie - You're very welcome! For easier and safer way to drain the unit we made a follow up video on how to drain the unit WITHOUT lifting it. We hope you'll find it helpful. Here is the link - th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html
Appreciate this videp. I needed the walkthrough as the book wasn't complete. I had to empty my tank twice now in a month, roughly. It doesn't drain a LOT but it seems empty. Do you know how much water it can hold? Didn't seem like much. Thanks again for the video.
Hi, Thank you for watching and your questions. If you only have to drain twice in a month and you still don't get much water, your unit is probably partially Self-Evaporating - this gets rid of most of the water for you. Regarding the tank size it all depends on the make and mode of your unit. If the manual doesn't give the size, you can call your manufacturer's customer service line. Also, for when you do need to drain, we made a follow up video on how to drain without lifting - it's much easier and safer. Here is the link - th-cam.com/video/q7APzY39Vn8/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for the video, it’s really helpful. My portable AC drips a strange and dark mud when I open the drain, and I suspect that is related to dust. Sometimes it just goes crazy beeping, like its reinitiating over and over, and usually after I drain it and let it rest on the sun for some hours it goes back to normal, at least for some days. Do you think that beeping could be related to the dust? I’m trying to figure it out a way to open it to clean but I’m not quite sure about how should I disassemble it. Anyway, thanks!
Hi - It seems like you might be able to resolve this issue without disassembling the unit. You can try cleaning the drain spouts by gently pocking with a pipe cleaner to dislodge any built-up dirt. You can also easily clean the filter and coils - some dust from those places will eventually end up in the condensate water. We have videos on how to clean filters and coils. The links are below. If none of these approaches resolves your issues, we would suggest contacting your manufacturer's customer service department or an HVAC contractor. Here are the links: for cleaning filter - th-cam.com/video/sBNkEtdXkJs/w-d-xo.html and coils: th-cam.com/video/87agpQfojrk/w-d-xo.html Hope this helps.
Hi! I have the LG 10,000 BTU portable air conditioner and for some reason, my cap has gone missing and there’s water leaking everywhere. I have carpet so it’s making matters worse. I have been searching for a replacement cap but have not come across any. I was hoping you could recommend some
Hi Marilyn - We searched online and found different kinds of rubber plugs/rubber stoppers for portable ACs. The link turned out to be way too long to put in this message, but you can easily get the page if you put "LG 10,000 BTU portable air conditioner drain cap" in the Google's search bar. Good luck!
So I have a haier portable ac but I don’t have anything but the unit but I was curious if I may add some water to it so it will help with cooling down the area.
Hi Josh&Mary - If your unit doesn't have an exhaust tube, then you probably have a humidifying/evaporative AC. If you do, then you can add some water to your unit. Otherwise you don't need to: standard portable ACs don't require any refills. We did some search in the internet and found a site that gives detailed information to your question. Here is the link: www.hunker.com/12003076/can-you-refill-a-portable-air-conditioner
Thanks for watching and stay cool!