The portable air conditioner is a machine which may sometimes need to be drained. The better models will use the excess water in order to cool the air which is released as exhaust. The best models on the market will never need the water removed, but if you have an appliance which sloshes water on the ground, you need to be able to drain liquid from the unit. Before attempting to drain any water from your machine, make sure it is set up for this task. If it is supposed to use the excess water in a different function, pooling water means your machine is not working properly, and while you can drain the water, it will not improve the function of the machine. You may have other issues your need to look into instead. If you do have a model that can be drained quickly and easily, the more you know about the machine, the easier it will be to drain it. You can find out a lot of information about your particular model by reading the owner's manual. This will also give you a schematic to tell you where everything—including the drip pan—is located.

Many models will allow you to hook up tubing to remove condensation. If you have a model like this, it will be characterized by a small spout sticking out the back end. In order to drain the machine, you will need the right width tubing to connect to the appliance. You will also need for the tubing to be long enough to get to a good dumping source. A window, sink, or drain will work perfectly for this. If none are available, you can use a bucket and then occasionally empty it as you go. how to fix a ac unit fanIt will hold more water than the drip pan which will allow you to drain it less often.buy used ac units When all else fails, simply find where the condensation pan is at. residential ac unit partsThis is usually on the bottom of the exhaust portion of the machine.

You should be able to locate it without taking the machine apart, so if it is not readily available, it means you have a unit which is supposed to drain itself. Once you find it, slowly pull the pan out from the air conditioner. Pour the contents slowly into a bucket, or take it outdoors to get rid of it. Keep an eye on the pan for future dumps. If you are dumping water once a week, there is something wrong with the machine and you need to look into repairing it. Luckily an air conditioner is not a terribly complex piece of machinery. With the right information, you should be able to tackle fixing any minor problems you might be encountering.MEMPHIS, Tenn. --- Alexis Clemons and her whole family is stuck in their living room night and day. A tiny window unit they borrowed is all that's keeping them cool after the central air conditioning in their apartment went out and they can't get the landlord to fix it. “I went to the office and reported it, and they supposed send someone out.

They went and looked at it and did everything, but they put parts on it and it's still not working,” said Clemons. They're not the only ones. WREG has gotten phone calls, emails, and messages on social media from many of your who fired up your A/C for the first time, found it not working, and can't get a landlord to help for weeks. City leaders said if your apartment was rented with a/c and it stopped working, that's a code violation. They said you should call 311 for help, but after 14 days with no working A/C, you're within your right to sue. You can also download the 'Memphis 311' app to report problems. “We don't just file suit. We interact with landlords. That phone call with a lawyer can make all the difference; we see that in more cases than not," said Philip Oliphant with Memphis Area Legal Service. They provide lawyers to make those calls for you for free. They'll help hold your landlord accountable to the law.Those of you who read our articles regularly, know that we are a small, U.S. Veteran-Owned company in Southern California, and pride ourselves in giving people honest, straight answers to their questions.  

So, what is dirty sock syndrome?  “Dirty Sock Syndrome” is when your air conditioner gives off a foul, moldy or mildew-like smell when you turn it on.  If you notice that your house smells like your son just put his gym socks into your air conditioner or if your house generally smells musky or like a gymnasium when your air conditioner kicks on, then you could have dirty sock syndrome.  I think it is important for me to point out at this point that no, I am not joking.  This is a real problem that people face and it is actually called ‘Dirty Sock Syndrome’ in the HVAC industry.  In Santa Clarita, we get questions about this from time-to-time, usually in the springtime when people are transitioning their HVAC units from heating to cooling mode.  So, what causes dirty sock syndrome, and is it dangerous to me or my family?  In this article we will briefly explain what it is, what causes it, if dirty sock syndrome is dangerous, and what you can do to fix it. Dirty sock syndrome is the foul, moldy smelling odor that comes from your air conditioner when you first turn it on.  

It is caused by the build up of mold and bacteria on your evaporator coil.  Mold and mildew can grow due to the moisture that builds up on your coil through continued use, is fueled by the dust that collects in your air conditioner over time from inadequate filtration and is especially common when your unit goes from a period of heating to cooling.  Especially in the Springtime in Southern California and the southern states, it is not uncommon for the heat to be on in the night and morning, only to transition to a period of cooling later in the day.  This heat mixed with dust and moisture in the darkness of your AC unit is the perfect recipe for dirty sock syndrome.  These are some of the reasons that it is so important to prevent mold and to provide adequate filtration for the air entering your air conditioner.  In fact, did you know that the air conditioning filter that you replace every few months is actually for your air conditioner, not for you?  Here are a couple of articles on preventing mold in your AC unit and how to properly choose your air conditioning filter:

How Do You Prevent Mold? These 5 Tips Can Help. Air Conditioning Filter – How Dirt and Debris Can Affect Your Air Conditioning System. Before going to general quarters, it is important to rule out some other possibilities before jumping to the conclusion that you have dirty sock syndrome.  Here are a few things to rule out before calling your local HVAC contractor: If you have done these things and are still suffering from moldy, noxious smells when your air conditioner kicks on, then it might be time to call your local HVAC contractor.  For information on choosing the right contractor, make sure you take a look at: How to Choose a Contractor – 5 Tips You Must Know. The short answer is, it depends.  Usually the answer is no, dirty sock syndrome is not dangerous.  Dirty sock syndrome is caused by a variety of bacteria and mildews, none of which are harmful to your health under normal circumstances (normal immune system, etc).  Where you can get into a dangerous area is if mold gets introduced into your HVAC system and begins to grow.  

Mold can be a health risk to you and your family and should be handled appropriately.  Don’t go crazy just yet though – as a general rule, the CDC reports that most molds are only mildly toxic to humans and that symptoms in even heavily infested homes rarely progress past chronic coughing and wheezing.  This is obviously not desirable though, so mold should be reported to your landlord or properly handled as soon as possible.  After I just got your blood pressure up, it is important to keep in mind that just because you have dirty sock syndrome doesn’t mean that you have mold, so don’t go off the deep end; just open up your system and see what you’re dealing with. Where we start to run into problems with dirty sock syndrome is if someone in your family suffers from asthma, severe allergies or has a compromised immune system (chemotherapy, etc).  For instance, my wife suffers from moderate asthma and we take mold and allergens very seriously because we have to, using only high-quality air filters and I even clean our evaporator coil once every few months (I’ll show you how to do this in the next section).  

We’ve added a stand-alone air purifier to our bedroom and a UV air purifier to the air conditioner as well just to be safe and it works pretty well for us.  You have customizable options – your household might be different, so it is worth a little looking into (if you have questions, just give us a call and ask).  Dirty sock syndrome doesn’t automatically mean that you have mold, but it does mean that your AC unit is providing the right conditions for mold to grow and thrive, so keep an eye on it.  We will address how to deal with it in the next section. Dirty sock syndrome isn’t usually dangerous and it isn’t going to kill you, but you should still address it if it becomes a problem to say nothing of the fact that it just plain stinks!  For more information on mold and possible side affects of living with mold, take a look at the CDC: If you have a loved one who suffers from severe allergies or from asthma, try reading up on this: The most important factor in preventing dirty sock syndrome is to make sure that you choose a high-quality air conditioning filter.  

Mold, mildew and bacteria need dust and other porous substances to thrive.  Removing these from the air before they get into your coils is one of the key ways to prevent dirty sock syndrome. The second way to prevent mold and bacteria from growing on your cooling coils (called evaporator could) is to use a UV air purifier.  These air purifiers have been used in hospitals for decades and quickly kill bacteria, mold and it’s spores.  At All Systems Mechanical, we install a UV air purifier on any job where our client reports allergy, asthma problems or a compromised immune system, so it might be worth asking your HVAC contractor if you have a problem with these as well.  There are several companies on the market that make UV air purifiers, but I have always been a fan of Honeywell.  They make quality products and are reliable.  A list of their UV air purifiers can be found below: Start by checking your drainage pan for standing water and make sure it is draining properly.  

You can buy dissolvable tablets at a hardware store or online that will keep these drains clear.  After ruling out the drainage pan and other possible contributing factors, you should start by adding the preventative measures listed above (quality air filter and UV air purifier) as these are key to keeping it from coming back (what’s the point of cleaning it if it is just going to be back in a few months).  Then, you’ll have to clean your evaporator coil to get rid of the dirt, mold and bacteria that is already there – here’s how: Is dirty sock syndrome dangerous?  Not usually, but it can be annoying and downright embarrassing.  After all, who wants their house to smell like a locker room?  These smells and odors are a direct result of the mold and bacteria that can collect in your air conditioner, but there are several ways to prevent and treat them.  If something your contractor is telling you doesn’t seem quite right, or you need a second opinion, consider using our Online Air Conditioning Consultation Service.