During the cooling process, it’s natural for a portable air conditioner to emit water. This is because portable air conditioners use a refrigeration cycle that is similar to that of compressor-based air conditioners.
If you’re wondering why is my portable AC producing so much water? Keep in mind that the amount produced throughout the cooling process is determined by a variety of factors. Each factor has its reason and requires a solution since draining the overflowing water from the condensation pan can be tiresome.
Continue reading to learn why your portable air conditioner produces so much water. We’ll also show you how to avoid having to go through this again and again.
Why is my portable air conditioner leaking so much water?
- Are You in A High Humid Area?
A portable AC produces water when it condenses the moisture in the atmosphere. This means the amount of water your portable AC has depends on the humidity in the air. So, if you are in an area with high humidity, expect more water from your portable AC.
This is because high humidity makes your portable AC struggle to keep up with the high amount of moisture in the air. As a result, it will fill the water pan within no time, making you frequently empty it. To avoid experiencing such problems, you should consider buying a fully evaporative portable AC.
Alternatively, you can also invest in a good humidifier to help humidify excess moisture in the atmosphere. The humidifier will help reduce the workload of your portable AC, especially during the extremely high humidity season.
- Your Portable AC’s Air Filter Is Dirty
If your portable AC is producing much water, it could be that its air filter is dirty. The cooled air from the portable AC passes through an air filter before getting released into the atmosphere. The air filters help remove dirt, dust, or debris in the air.
This means the dirt or dust gets to accumulate on the filter over time. So, you need to clean it after some hours of work. But if you don’t clean your air filter, it will prevent air from getting out of your portable AC. Also, the air supply to the evaporator coil will reduce.
Instead of the evaporator coil releasing cooled air after freezing up the moisture, it will retain it for long. This will make the over frozen cooled air turn into water and come out through the condensate pan. You will have to keep emptying the pan since the cooling process is a continuous process.
To avoid experiencing this problem, you should clean the air filter. Remember, your portable will not turn on not unless you clean the filter. You can remove the filter and clean it using lukewarm water, then give it time to dry before returning it. Air conditioners have reusable filters, so you won’t have to buy another one when the other is dirty.
After that, you can check if your portable AC has the filter reset indicator and ensure it’s on. It should turn on automatically when the filter is dirty or some hours during the cooling process.
- Is It the First Time You’re Using a New Portable AC?
If you brought a new portable AC at home, expect it to produce more water, and it’s not a technical problem. The reason is that the new portable AC tends to draw a lot of moisture from every corner of the room and the surrounding atmosphere. This will make it produce more water faster.
You cannot solve this condition. But when the humidity level in the room goes down after humidification, your AC will work normally. It won’t produce excess water as before.
But when the condition is persistent, it means your portable AC is not the right choice for your location or its faulty. You can, in this case, consider getting a replacement from your supplier or buy one that is suitable for your area.
- Underlying Problem in The Condensate Pump
Some people prefer installing condensate pumps on their AC to avoid regular emptying of the water pan. The condensate pump directs the water to your preferred location, and it’s easy to fix.
However, if your portable AC still produces much water after installing the pump, it means there’s a problem with the condensate pump setup. It could be that the condensate pump is faulty or its drain hose is bent or blocked.
This makes it hard for the water to find its way out of the system. You can keep checking if the pipe is functional before and after using your portable AC.
- Water Tank or Drain Hose Blockage
If you have certain portable AC models, you’ve got to remove the water from the tank manually. However, at times, the tank may not allow you to drain water even if its indicator shows the water tank is full.
It’s because of a clogged water tank which makes the water fill up while not getting out the desired amount. You can identify this by removing the drain valve and try draining the water. If little water comes out, but the tank is full, it’s either faulty or blocked.
If your portable AC is filling up faster, another cause could be a faulty or blocked drain hose. This is if you’re using the drain hose instead of manually draining the water pan. In this case, the drain hose isn’t letting out the water as it should be.
The main cause can be a bend in the drain hose that aids in dirt accumulation, preventing water from draining with the help of gravity.
What can you do to make your portable AC work normally?
If you want to stop your portable AC from producing water in excess, it’s best first to identify the root cause. After that, you can know how to handle the situation since each problem has its unique solution. Most of these problems are things you can fix without calling a technician.
But ensure you clean the drain hose and water tank, check if your air filter is clean, and regularly drain the water pan. But if your portable AC doesn’t have a drain hose or condensate pipe, consider installing them to help to exhaust the humidity, especially in high humid areas.
So How Often Should You Drain the Water Pan of Your Portable AC?
Even though you should regularly drain your portable AC, the frequency varies according to the contributing factor. For example, if you live in a place with high humidity, you should not wait until the water spill all over the house. Do this regularly within a day.
The frequency also depends on the model of portable AC you’ve got. A portable AC with self-evaporative technology humidity will automatically come out through the vent. But if your portable AC is partially evaporative, you should monitor the water tank and drain off the water regularly.
If you use your portable AC for longer hours, the frequency of draining water also increases. This means you should check the water pan during its working.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q – Which portable AC should I buy to avoid experiencing water overflow?
A – There are two classifications of portable AC. The partially evaporative AC and fully evaporative AC. Most brands of portable AC are partially evaporative ACs. They require you to drain the water often as they’ll not exhaust all the moisture.
We recommend fully evaporative portable AC, which removes all humidity from the atmosphere and exhausts the most.
Q – Should I call a technician when my portable AC produces a lot of water?
A – No. you don’t have to call a technician when experiencing such problems since they’re easy to fix. All you need to do is identify the underlying cause and act accordingly.
Q – Why should I be careful with the features of the portable AC?
A – Understanding the features of the portable AC prevents you from having an ineffective machine. So, if you want to humidify your place using a portable AC while not producing much water, get the type that will do it best.
Final Thoughts
There are several reasons why your portable AC might be producing water excessively. It could be high humidity, a dirty filter, or a condensate pump and water tank problem. To solve the problem, identify the main cause before looking for the right solution.
But why is my portable AC producing so much water, and it doesn’t have any of these problems? It could also be the type of portable AC you’ve got that doesn’t exhaust moisture, or the area you live in is too humid.
Relevant Resources:
- Best 5 Space Heater That Won’t Trip Breaker – Reviews in 2021
- Can You Use a Window Air Conditioner Without a Window – What You Should Know
- How to Seal a Window Air Conditioner for the Winter – 6 Easy Steps
- Why Is My Apartment So Hot – Top Reasons and How to Cool It
- Air Conditioner Starts Then Stops After Only a Few Seconds – 8 Effective Solutions
