# Fake 'AC' systems

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-ac-systems/1031545>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [July 9, 2026, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-ac-systems/1031545 "2026-07-09T20:16:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2026, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-ac-systems/1031545/61 "2026-07-14T04:18:42Z")

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> [@wolfpup](#):
>
> Where does the water condensate go? The unit that @What_Exit cited upthread says it comes with a drain hose, but confusingly, the description also claims “auto-evaporation”

Sorry for the late reply here. It can go one of two places:

1. Into an internal drain pan, where the moisture will hopefully go out with the exhaust air if your climate, like mine, is dry enough. (I didn’t even know there WAS a water collection system in mine, and I’ve never drained it, despite running it 24/7 for 4 hot summers straight).

2. If you’re in a more humid climate, you have to either manually empty the water every so often, or attach a hose to the exhaust system so it can self-drain into something else (a bucket? a houseplant?)

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**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\
**Post date:** [July 15, 2026, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-ac-systems/1031545/62 "2026-07-15T13:37:24Z")

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> [@xtenkfarpl](#):
>
> all that book-larnin, ain’t no match for the canny down-to-earth boy who comes from the neighbourhood and has just horse-sense. It’s a common meme. Rather more common in the US, I think?

Possibly, but ever since I idly Googled “portable aircon”, I have been inundated with ads from these ex-NASA or science graduates who have invented a tiny aircon unit that, without any external connection, can cool a moderate-sized room by 20°C in minutes.

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**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2026, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-ac-systems/1031545/63 "2026-07-16T19:34:07Z")

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> [@wolfpup](#):
>
> So it’s actively blowing water into an already hot and humid room,

And it mentions that real air conditioners dry out the air and make it uncomfortable.

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