For a variety of reasons, portable air conditioners are different from other air conditioners available on the market. They need to drain the condensate water accumulated from cooling or dehumidification and are portable so you can move them around.
If your portable air conditioner has two drains, it’s because the top drain plug is included to enable automatic draining when the tank is full, such as in dehumidification mode or cooling mode in high humidity areas.
While some portable units only have one drain for manual drainage, others have two. You might be curious as to why and how to use each of the two drains on your portable air conditioner if it has them.
Portable Units With Two Drains
When a person needs effective cooling anywhere in their house or space, a portable air conditioner can be useful.
When it comes to the amount of condensation-related water that must be drained from inside these units in order for them to keep operating effectively, close monitoring is also necessary.
A portable unit needs to be manually drained because it is crucial to cycling and operation. Knowing the function of each drain is crucial because some portable units have two of them.
Read More: How To Vent A Portable Air Conditioner Without A Window?
Why Do Some Portable Air Conditioners Have Two Drains?
You must understand the purpose of each drain if your portable air conditioner has two of them so that you can drain it properly.
Due to the fact that their portable air conditioners should have a self- or auto-evaporation mode, some owners may not notice the two drainage plugs on their machines and fail to drain them.
Even with auto-evaporation modes, this should be avoided because drainage is required. This is significant when humidity levels are highest and the unit accumulates more moisture than is normal.
Upper and lower drains are present in portable units with two drains. When the reservoir is full, the upper drain is supposed to automatically drain, and the lower drain is used to empty the tank so that it can be stored.
The upper drain is the unit’s continuous drain outlet, and it collects water only when the dehumidifier is operating.
In the cooling or heating modes, the lower drain collects water. The procedures for safely draining each of the drain plugs must be followed, in order to prevent damage, according to the user manual of your portable air conditioner.
The unit will alert you when too much water has accumulated depending on the model you have, either by flashing warning lights or by abruptly turning off.
How to Drain Your Air Conditioner
You can purchase the drain pan, drain hose, or condensate pump you need to drain your portable AC on Amazon. When you have firmly secured the hose, you must use gravity to operate it by laying it flat on the ground.
Place the pan beneath the drainage hub and unplug the drain plug to allow the water to fully drain before plugging it back in. By pushing the water out of the drain, a condensate pump removes it.
What Happens If You Do Not Drain Your Portable Air Conditioner?
The good news is that more recent models of portable air conditioners have an automatic shut-off sensor that turns the device off when condensate water has accumulated to a specific level and needs to be drained.
As a result, if you don’t drain your unit, it cannot cool. If your unit lacks a shut-off sensor, water will spill out, severely damaging it and its internal parts, and your home will turn into a haven for bacteria.
How Often Does the Unit Need Draining?
The climate where you live will determine how often you should drain your portable unit. In essence, the amount of humidity dictates how frequently you should drain your air conditioner.
Your unit will gather water more quickly if there is a high air humidity level. Standard portable units typically require draining their storage tanks every eight hours, but this again depends on the air’s humidity levels.
Conclusion
Two outputs and one or more air intakes are typical features of a PAC. Only air from the room is used for the cold air inlet and outlet, whereas the hot air exhaust needs to be vented outside the room in some way to provide cooling.
The best portable air conditioners, on the other hand, have exhaust technology built into them that can use a hot air exhaust function to disperse a lot of moisture that has accumulated. As a result, less (or no) water needs to be removed.
FAQs
Do You Have to Drain Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner?
Condensate is automatically evaporated by the device through the exhaust hose using its auto-evaporation system. Except for when it is humid, there is no need to empty the drainage tank.
Do I Need to Constantly Drain My Portable Air Conditioner?
Portable air conditioners generally need to be drained every eight hours. Depending on the particular model you own, the frequency changes. Few air conditioners operate effectively for a month without draining.
What is the Drain Hose for on a Portable AC Unit?
A hose is necessary to allow the water to drain when portable air conditioners are switched to DRY mode.