Statistics show that the modern air conditioner user has no idea or simply does not pay attention to such a side feature of this technique as emission a large number condensate. Meanwhile, the proper organization of condensate drainage is a very important condition. quality installation climate technology, because illiterate installation can lead to very disastrous consequences. In the photos below you can see some examples of incorrect installation. These "roller coasters and dead loops" or the lack of insulation on the condensate drain pipe hardly require special explanation. And there are many such examples.

It is obvious that the tangled, thrown at random, drainage pipes of these cassette units will not allow condensate to be removed painlessly. Water will pour from the blocks directly into the room, causing damage to property and nerves. It suffices to imagine that during peak hours of load at maximum temperature air conditioner can emit up to 0.8 l/h of condensate per 1 kW of performance! Therefore, we repeat once again that when installing an air conditioner, it is very important to drain condensate in accordance with all recommendations, and not at random.

Proper drainage is when...

Diameter drainage pipe not less than the diameter of the refrigerant pipe . The drain pipe should be polyethylene or plastic pipe PVC. Be sure to follow the recommendations in the manual for this air conditioner model, for example, the installation and operation instructions for TOSOT air conditioner models.

The drainage pipe is placed in thermal insulation. After all, condensate can also form on the surface of the pipe that serves to drain it. To prevent the insulation from moving apart, the joints of the insulation must be fastened with mounting tape.

The connection is fixed with a clamp . Connect the drain pipe to the drain pipe of the unit with a clamp to prevent leakage. .

A slope is made towards the drain. This is done to prevent the accumulation and flow of water back into the air conditioner, as well as to avoid the formation of air bubbles.

Fastening clamps are used every 1-1.5 meters. If this rule is not observed, then during operation the pipe may be deformed.

The drain pipe is bent. This rule must be strictly observed when draining condensate directly into the sewer. Such a bend in the pipe provides the formation of a water seal and prevents penetration from the drainage pipe unpleasant odors.

For the drainage pipe in the cassette and some channel blocks, a rise is made close to 90 ° vertically and an indent of at least 30 mm. In these types of air conditioners, a built-in pump is used to lift the condensate, since the limited space behind false ceiling does not allow to provide the pipe with the proper slope for the natural drainage of condensate. Compliance with these parameters will not allow water to overflow back into the air conditioner when the equipment is turned off.

A hose is connected to the fitting in the outdoor unit . Recall that the heat exchanger of the outdoor unit also forms condensate. To drain it, use a special fitting that comes with the unit. The hose is connected to the fitting to avoid condensation on passers-by.

Remember: condensation is formed by the moisture contained in the air. Freon in the air conditioner is in a sealed state and does not evaporate!

Air conditioner indoor unit leaking? Sometimes the indoor unit of the air conditioner begins to leak, that is, water drops form on its underside. In order to successfully eliminate the leak of the indoor unit of the wall-mounted sploit - the system must quickly and accurately find out the cause of the leak.

Air conditioner indoor unit is leaking.

So, there can be several reasons:

1. The most common cause is a clogged drain. In order to clarify the situation, it is enough to look out the window and carefully see if the resulting condensate is draining from the drainage tube out. In summer or late spring, that is, at a fairly high temperature of the outdoor air, condensate should begin to drip no later than ten minutes after the start of the air conditioner. You can check the correctness of establishing the cause in another way. To begin with, unplug the air conditioner, then remove the top cover of the front panel by lightly pressing on the two plastic clips located on both sides. The fruit of the cover you will see the air filters, they also need to be removed. Under them is a radiator, so you need to pour water from a bottle on it. Do not overdo it - half a liter will be enough. Immediately look out the window - water should flow from the drainage system, and it should be easy and unhindered, just go, not drip! If you don’t find water outside the window, then most likely the leak occurs at the bottom of the block located in the apartment. If, nevertheless, water flows, but drop by drop, then you need to check the drainage hose itself for clogging. If the hose is clean and not clogged, then you will now need to remove the casing that covers the indoor unit. To do this, you need to unscrew the plugs and unscrew the screws that you will see at the bottom of the casing. Now press the cover latches at the top with a screwdriver and remove the cover completely. Under it is a water container - it and the drain hole must be carefully freed from accumulated moisture and dirt, and then collected in the exact reverse order. Once the entire system is assembled, check for leaks with water as described above.

2. The second most common reason is the clogging of the radiator and blower impeller with dust and dirt. Because of this, the efficiency of blowing the radiator is greatly reduced. In order to eliminate this cause, you need to completely remove the box, rearrange the condensate collection tank to the side and thoroughly vacuum the radiator itself and the fan blades. 3. The reason for the leakage of the indoor unit may be poor-quality and unprofessional installation of the air conditioner. The air conditioner may leak because the indoor unit was not installed evenly, that is, not in level, but for the drainage tube was not provided desired slope for unhindered moisture removal. Usually this reason is revealed just a couple of hours after installation.

One day you may notice with bitterness that small puddles of water began to appear on the floor under the indoor unit of the air conditioner, spoiling not only the coating, but also your mood

Why does the air conditioner start to "cry"?

Even if your split system is still on warranty service, and are ready to roll up their sleeves immediately after the call, it will be useful to understand the reasons that led to this kind of misunderstanding.

First, your warranty is not forever, and at some point you will have to pay for repair or preventive maintenance of the air conditioner out of your own pocket.

Secondly, it is not so difficult to do this if you use our advice. However, if you are faced with a serious breakdown of the split system, then willy-nilly you will have to seek help from a qualified specialist. In the meantime, let's try together to figure out why the air conditioner is "crying", and how it can be "comforted" at the same time.

1. Clogged drainage system.
2. Violation of the system for removing heat from the radiator.
3. Unskilled installation of a split system.

Primary symptoms of a malfunction and methods for its elimination

If you have reasonable suspicions that the drainage system of the air conditioner is clogged, then the first thing to do is look out the window and check if the condensate is slowly draining to the ground through the drain pipe.

Usually, in hot weather, about 10-15 minutes after turning on a normally operating air conditioner, condensed moisture begins to ooze through its drain tube.

However, experts say that there is no need to wait tensely for the prescribed 10 minutes. You can check the patency of the drainage system in a more efficient way.

1. Disconnect the air conditioner from the power supply (preferably remove the plug from the socket).
2. Lift the cover of the indoor unit of the split system and remove the coarse air filters.
3. Pour about half a liter of water onto the indoor unit's radiator (evaporator).

If water does not flow in a continuous stream from the outer hole of the drain tube, then we can say that the drainage system is clogged.

A clogged drain may indicate that there is a blockage of debris or dirt in some part of the condensate drain tube. You can pierce it with a strong jet warm water with dissolved in it detergent. A jet of water can be created with a medical syringe or any similar object.

If the drainage tube is passable, then it is quite possible that the entrance to it is clogged. Directly under the radiator (evaporator) of the indoor unit there is a special container for collecting condensed water, which enters the drain pipe through a special outlet and is discharged outside. Very often, the entrance to the drainage tube is clogged with dust, dirt or fluff.

In any case, you will need to remove the protective cover of the indoor unit to get to the condensate collection tray. After cleaning the tank and drain hose inlet, assemble the indoor unit in reverse order. It will also be useful to check the integrity of the plastic bath itself for cracks or other damage through which water can flow into the room.

The last probable cause of a leak under the indoor unit of a split system is a violation of the order of its installation (improper hanging according to the level and inclination of the drainage tube). But such problems arise immediately after the purchase and installation of the air conditioner.

Air conditioning, like any refrigeration unit, works on the basis physical property refrigerant - cool with a sharp expansion in volume. This process takes place in a special device called an evaporator. It got its name only because droplets of liquid (vapour) appear on the body of the device, it is also condensate from the air conditioner, which is collected in a special bath and removed from the household appliance.

Functions of the drainage system of the air conditioner

It is, in fact, ordinary water. And the air conditioner is a complex electromechanical device. That is, condensation can cause the failure of the air conditioner. Moreover, up to 20 liters of moisture can be released from a working device in one day. And she must be taken away.

Condensate drainage options

There are several ways to drain air conditioners. The easiest way is to make a hole in the wall or window and pass a hose through it to the street, which at one end is connected to the nozzle of the bath located under the evaporator of the indoor unit of the unit. It is the simplicity of the operations performed that is considered a big plus of this method.

But it also has negative sides:

• a hose hanging from the side of the wall does not increase presentability in any way appearance buildings, especially for a private house;
• from the free end of the hose, during the operation of the air conditioner, water will drip all the time, which, if it gets on the neighboring ebb of the window (lower), will lead to a scandal with the neighbors.

The second option for draining condensate is to connect the drain pipe to the sewer. The method is ideal for many rooms, but he has one a big problem- the absence of a sewer section in the room where the indoor unit of the air conditioner is installed. Way out:

1. Carry out installation sewer pipes in this room with a slope of up to 3%.
2. Carry out the installation of drainage pipes to the nearest sewer section with the same minimum slope.

Which option to drain condensate from the air conditioner to the sewer to choose, everyone decides for himself. But it is necessary to indicate that the lowest costs, both in terms of finances and in terms of the labor intensity of the work carried out, relate to the second method. Firstly, drainage pipes can be laid both inside the wall along the strobes made, followed by sealing with repair mortars, and along the floor base with subsequent finishing.

Secondly, any hollow products of a sealed type can be used as drainage tubes. More often for this they buy corrugated pipe small diameter.

Attention! To prevent unpleasant odors from entering the premises from the sewerage system, at the junction of the connection of drainage pipes and pipes sewer system a water seal is installed in the form of a conventional sewer siphon. If there is no possibility of mounting a siphon, then the corrugated tube is bent in the form of the letter "S". It's also an effective option.

And one moment. If the air conditioner long time is not operated, the water seal dries up, which leads to the penetration of unpleasant odors from the sewer. Therefore, periodically a little water must be poured into the drain system. And this is probably the only disadvantage of this method.

The third option for condensate drainage is the installation of a special pump. This method of drainage is used only in two cases: a large length of the drainage system, there are drops in it. AT domestic air conditioners pumps are not included in the package, although they are sold as a separate item, and it will not be difficult to purchase it, plus it will not be difficult to mount it. In almost all industrial units, drainage pumps are installed at the factory.

Pumps are necessarily included in the standard package of cassette and duct air conditioners. There are pumps that are installed in outdoor units, but more often they are installed in internal ones. Usually they are equipped with an additional container in which condensate is collected. And already from it the pump pumps out liquid.

Drain pipes for air conditioners

The system for draining condensate from air conditioners includes drainage pipes, which on the modern market are represented by two positions in terms of raw material. These are pipes made of PVC and polyethylene. And two positions in the form of manufacture: smooth and corrugated.

The former are most often used if the drain itself has a short length, in other cases corrugations are used. At the same time, the second variety has one big advantage - the high flexibility of the hose. Therefore, during the installation process, there is no need to use additional mounting fittings, as is the case with smooth tubes.

Installation of a condensate drainage system

This process is very simple.

1. It is necessary to remove the lower fasteners from the air conditioner housing so that it can rise.
2. In the lower part, under the fan that blows the evaporator, there is a tray for collecting condensate.
3. On its side there is a branch pipe, it is to it that it is necessary to attach the drain pipe for draining condensate from the air conditioner using a clamp.
4. The body of the indoor unit is lowered, installed in place. At the same time, it is very important that the corrugation passes through it through a special hole made in the side wall.
5. Fasteners are screwed into place.

Now it remains only to bring the attached corrugated hose either into the sewer or into the street. If the withdrawal process will be associated with the installation of a drainage route, then it is necessary first of all to decide how easier and more convenient it is to carry out the whole process. As already mentioned above, best option- make strobes in which to lay the hose. The most important thing is to maintain a tilt angle of at least 3%.

Major drainage problems

The most common malfunction of the condensate drainage system from the air conditioner is the clogging of the opening of the bath. Dust and dirt with condensate settles to the bottom of the pan, where sludge is formed. It grows and closes the branch pipe. The result is a flow of water over the edges of the bath. The liquid begins to drip onto the floor and leak along the walls.

And other faults:

1. If the air conditioner works for heating in winter, then often the drainage pipe on the street simply freezes.
2. The slope of the drainage route was set incorrectly.
3. If the pump fails.
4. If the amount of refrigerant in the system has decreased, which leads to icing of the evaporator and supply pipes, so the ice begins to melt along the entire length of the route, pouring water onto the floor.
5. The evaporator may freeze over if the pressure regulator stops working. If the temperature outside the window began to decrease, this can lead to a decrease in the temperature of the freon due to a drop in its pressure.

Cleaning the drainage system

With your own hands, you can clean the condensate drainage system from the air conditioner only if the tub pipe is clogged. For this you need:

1. Remove the filters located on the body of the device in front of the evaporator. They must be washed well.
2. The air conditioner housing is raised.
3. Disconnect the drain tube from the sump.
4. The latter is removed and washed. Pay special attention to the hole.
5. If the tube is clogged in the same way as the drain hole, then it must be purged. If it does not work, then you will have to replace it with a new one.
6. All other steps for assembling the condensate drain system are performed in the reverse order.

For other malfunctions associated with the failure of one or another device or part, it is better to call the wizard. Independent actions can lead to irreparable consequences.

An indefinite statement of the question forces us to give the same indefinite answer. If we are asked what an air conditioner drain is, then we should clarify what actually is meant.

At the air conditioner, either condensate or refrigerant can be drained, but these procedures differ from each other, like heaven from earth. Therefore, we will give two independent answers to an ambiguous question.

We drain the condensate

Ordinary water, which is condensate, can cause a lot of trouble and inconvenience. It is a by-product of the room cooling process. The amount of condensate directly depends on the temperature and humidity of the cooled air.

Part of the condensate naturally evaporates, "advanced" models of air conditioners use some of the water to maintain the natural humidity of the air, but a significant part of it has to be taken out of the room.

In this case, the drain of the air conditioner, or rather the condensate, occurs through drainage system, which originates in the indoor units of split systems, continues with a connection with a drainage tube (with the possible participation drainage pump), and ends with a conclusion to the sewer or outside the premises (through a window or wall).

Condensation from the air conditioner should not be taken lightly. Depending on its capacity, climatic conditions and other factors, the air conditioner can produce more than 20 liters of water every hour. There are cases of flooding of the lower floors with water. multi-storey buildings condensate from air conditioners. This, of course, is not a heating breakthrough, but it can also cause significant damage.

In order to exclude the slightest possibility of such an event, much is not required. Timely prevention of the drainage system is perhaps the cheapest procedure after-sales service. One call and everything is cleaned, washed and disinfected. When the "drain" of the air conditioner is clogged, the main trouble is not that it can once flood a neighbor from below, but that such a state of the split system poses a serious threat to the health of residents.

If water stagnates in the drainage system of an air conditioner, this means that dirt will accumulate in it, mold will grow and microorganisms, including pathogenic bacteria, will multiply. The most obvious symptom of a malfunction in the drainage system is the appearance of an unpleasant "swamp" smell. This is the last call, reminding that the air conditioner drainage was last put in order more than a year ago, at the rate of once every three months.

There is probably no person who has not heard of Legionnaires' disease. This is an extremely serious disease, which relatively recently learned to diagnose and treat. If dysentery is a disease of dirty hands, then the Legionnaires got sick from dirty air conditioners.

Since then, the disinfection of air conditioners has been one of the most important procedures that must be carried out with each split system on a quarterly basis. Several hundreds, maybe thousands, of people paid for this recommendation with their lives, but users continue to treat it lightly. In Russia, more than a dozen of our fellow citizens die every year from "legionnaires' disease".

Whatever meaning you put into the question of draining the air conditioner, ask it to a specialist service center. This is the case when timely treatment can save the air conditioner from serious damage, or protect your health from major troubles.

Better yet, make an agreement maintenance air conditioner and quietly enjoy the excellent microclimate of your home. Refusing this method, tidy up the drainage system of the air conditioner yourself, just don't sit back - this is the worst thing you can do.

Draining condensate into the sewer

To connect the drainage tube in the bathroom, you should use siphons, for example, HL21, HL136N, HepVo or others. Any professional installer should know how to connect drainage to the sewer, however, like any plumber, he should also be able to do this.

Discharge of condensate with a pump

Often there are situations when it is not possible to drain the condensate in a natural way, i.e. so that the water flows independently through the tube at a slope. It happens that before outer wall the house is far away or the bathroom is across the room.

In this case, it remains an option to put a certain container near the indoor unit, where water will drain or install a special pump. Few people want to pour water out of a jar every day, so the pump option will still be preferable.

Nothing wrong with that. You can read more about condensate pumps in our other articles on the site.

We merge freon

Just because the freon from the air conditioner is not drained. This procedure is performed in exceptional cases. Refrigerants used in household appliances, are extremely stable compounds. They are inert to almost all substances (metals, polymers, etc.).

In Russia, freon R-22 is used more often than others, which is able to react with ozone, but soon it will go down in history. Its counterpart in terms of physical and chemical properties, R-407A, which does not affect the ozone layer of the atmosphere, has actually been replaced by the R-410A refrigerant, which is used by all leading manufacturers of climate control equipment. Therefore, the only reason left to drain the air conditioner associated with freon is the repair of the split system.

If the air conditioner is repaired due to serious mechanical failures, when contaminants in the form of metal particles, foreign liquids, etc. enter the cooling circuit, then complete draining and cleaning of the refrigerant become an obligatory stage of repair work.

It is best to use automatic filling stations for this, which perform the entire technological cycle, including draining freon from the air conditioner, cleaning it and recharging the unit. Such equipment is expensive, but it allows you to do all the work at the installation site of the air conditioner.

Other methods of replacing freon will not allow the use of the refrigerant residue, which means that they will cost the consumer a little more. The procedure for refueling a split system does not require draining freon, except when the unit is charged with R-407A refrigerant. When draining freon, certain precautions should be observed, since, for all their inertness, refrigerants of this type can decompose when high temperatures(270 degrees and above).

As a result, highly toxic and deadly compounds are formed, such as hydrogen fluoride or "phosgene" - a military agent. Therefore, open fire or hot objects while draining freon are completely prohibited.