# Am I a window air conditioner abuser? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 1, 2011, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-a-window-air-conditioner-abuser/591044 "2011-08-01T14:15:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![zephyr9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9fc348/32.png) [@zephyr9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zephyr9)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-a-window-air-conditioner-abuser/591044/1 "2011-08-01T14:15:51Z")
The little 5,000 BTU in my bedroom is not letting the water drip out, although I do have it a downward out angle. It sounds like the suction at the dentist’s office, there’s a lot of water sloshing around in it! Should I prop it up on MORE blocks to increase the angle, or is it cool like this? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-a-window-air-conditioner-abuser/591044/2 "2011-08-01T14:18:13Z")
The drain hole in the pan is plugged and needs to be cleaned out. ---
**Author:** ![thelabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@thelabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelabdude)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-a-window-air-conditioner-abuser/591044/3 "2011-08-01T14:20:00Z")
Most likely. ---
**Author:** ![justrob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9adbd/32.png) [@justrob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justrob)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-a-window-air-conditioner-abuser/591044/4 "2011-08-01T14:29:36Z")
You should also check your owners manual and see if it’s supposed to. I have one where it does drain and another where the water that builds up is used to help in the cooling. ---
**Author:** ![zephyr9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9fc348/32.png) [@zephyr9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zephyr9)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-a-window-air-conditioner-abuser/591044/5 "2011-08-01T18:57:24Z")
Well thanks! Will check both things. Hmmm actually, I don’t think it has drainage holes. Maybe that’s a clue… ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-a-window-air-conditioner-abuser/591044/6 "2011-08-01T18:59:26Z")
> [@justrob](#): > > You should also check your owners manual and see if it’s supposed to. I have one where it does drain and another where the water that builds up is used to help in the cooling. Swamp coolers use water for cooling, but I’ve never heard of an AC that does. Water sloshing around in an AC is not normal. Condensate should drain out through a weep hole. ---
**Author:** ![Al\_Bundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@Al\_Bundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al_Bundy)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-a-window-air-conditioner-abuser/591044/7 "2011-08-01T19:21:15Z")
If you have any angle, it should drain unless blocked. Eventually, it will leak over the edge, but you could also find water on the inside floor. Leaves and debris often clog the outlet. Or you might have blocked it with your installation setup. If other apartments have the same model, you could take a look at a working model and see where the drain is on one that is working. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-a-window-air-conditioner-abuser/591044/8 "2011-08-01T19:52:29Z")
If all else fails the cases are just sheet metal. You can drill additional drain holes. Just be careful to only drill the case. Hit the copper coil and you’ll need a new unit. ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-a-window-air-conditioner-abuser/591044/9 "2011-08-01T20:04:41Z")
According to a neighbor who has years of AC experience, some window units splash condensation onto the condenser coil to help transfer heat. Check for a clogged drain, but I wouldn’t worry if I didn’t find one. ---
**Author:** ![justrob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9adbd/32.png) [@justrob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justrob)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-a-window-air-conditioner-abuser/591044/10 "2011-08-01T20:12:01Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Swamp coolers use water for cooling, but I’ve never heard of an AC that does. Water sloshing around in an AC is not normal. Condensate should drain out through a weep hole. [QUOTE=cornflakes] According to a neighbor who has years of AC experience, some window units splash condensation onto the condenser coil to help transfer heat. Check for a clogged drain, but I wouldn’t worry if I didn’t find one. [/QUOTE] I’m pretty sure what **cornflakes** said is what the manual says. When I first installed it I was concerned with the lack of a drain hole and looked through the manual to see what was up. I’ll check it tonight for exactly what it says. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-a-window-air-conditioner-abuser/591044/11 "2011-08-01T20:12:14Z")
The manual on my smaller window unit describes a “chattering”'sound that is normal, and is the result of fan blades splashing condensation onto the coils. I’m not sure “sloshing” is normal, though. Mine still drains and makes a line of water down the side of the building, and is supposed to be mounted at a 5 degree angle. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-a-window-air-conditioner-abuser/591044/12 "2011-08-01T20:53:50Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Swamp coolers use water for cooling, but I’ve never heard of an AC that does. [Mine does.](http://products.geappliances.com/MarketingObjectRetrieval/Dispatcher?RequestType=PDF&Name=49-7658.pdf) > [@](#): > > You may hear a pinging noise caused by water being picked up and thrown against the condenser on rainy days or when the humidity is high . This design feature helps remove moisture and improve efficiency . ---
**Author:** ![zephyr9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9fc348/32.png) [@zephyr9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zephyr9)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-a-window-air-conditioner-abuser/591044/13 "2011-08-02T04:49:35Z")
Big grateful smiles, Irish blessings and Hugs even. Thx. ---
**Author:** ![justrob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9adbd/32.png) [@justrob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justrob)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-a-window-air-conditioner-abuser/591044/14 "2011-08-02T13:43:05Z")
My manual pretty much matches the link from **Fear Itself**. The “sloshing” I hear is definitely the fan picking up water. I’ve had the unit for ~6 years and have had no problems with it or with water draining inside from it. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-a-window-air-conditioner-abuser/591044/15 "2011-08-02T14:01:08Z")
I’ll just echo that, yes, many window units do not drain all the water out by design. The water collects in the bottom pan and will only drain when it reaches a certain level. Usually, the fan is used to kick-up some of the water retained in the reservoir and use it to cool the compressor, which allows it to run more efficiently. ---
**Author:** ![Batfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Batfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batfish)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-a-window-air-conditioner-abuser/591044/16 "2011-08-02T14:37:56Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Swamp coolers use water for cooling, but I’ve never heard of an AC that does. Water sloshing around in an AC is not normal. Condensate should drain out through a weep hole. Naw, I’ve seen them before. The condenser fan has a slinger ring that picks the water up. I’m not sure it aided in cooling since the fan is on the back of the condenser coil, possibly it was just to evaporate the water.