Air conditioner drain hose. What role does the drain pipe play in the operation of the air conditioner? The purpose of the drain tube in the air conditioner
The last highway that remains to be laid - is the drainage system. In the drainage of internal and outdoor unit split systems, water accumulates, condensed on the units of the device. There are drain holes on the bottom of the units to which drain hoses are attached.
Two lead options drainage system from air conditioner units:
1. In the sewerage system, it involves the installation of a siphon on the line to protect against odor
2. Free flow of condensate to the street
Hoses should be installed with a slope towards the water outlet. Usually the drain hose the indoor unit is taken outside along the already laid route to the external block. For this, a strobe or decorative box do with slight slope towards the street - this will prevent the accumulation of water in the drain hose and it will need to be cleaned very rarely. Drainage the external block is not organized or deviates to the side - condensate flows freely from the hole or short hose at the bottom of the unit.
There are already flared mounting kits available for sale. self installation air conditioner from 0.8 to 50 meters. Buying a ready-made kit is more profitable than buying components separately. Also, the kit is suitable for laying the track during repairs. Included: ready-made tubes for quick connection of the air conditioner in thermal insulation, drainage hose, brackets for the outdoor unit, wires, fasteners. Pickup in Moscow from metro station Lermontovsky Prospekt (8). Delivery throughout Russia.
Standard installation of an air conditioner in Moscow and the Moscow region - 5000 rubles with material. Laying of copper tracks - from 3000 rubles.
Consider the first connection option, where we divert drainage to the street, it is the simplest and most common.
We connect the drainage hose of the required length to the indoor unit of the split system. To do this, use a suitable adapter fitting. It is not recommended to insert hoses into each other - without a seal, the connection will not be reliable.
When laying the hose, it is desirable to avoid too sharp turns of the drainage system. Condensate, flowing down the highway, will encounter an obstacle in its path in the form of a turn and will accumulate in this meta, preventing a uniform flow.
Basic requirements for the drainage system similar to the basic requirements for laying sewers:
- The optimal angle of inclination of horizontal sections is 3 degrees
- Optimum turning angle - 45 degrees
- At the entrance to the sewer network, a siphon must be attached to the hose, in which stagnant water will constantly be located. The siphon will close the passage to the air conditioner for gases from the sewer network that have an unpleasant odor.
In the case of condensate discharge to the street, use the first two recommendations. Most likely organized joint track between blocks (already described in previous articles), which includes a drain tube. On the already familiar diagram below, the drainage pipe is the last thing left to mount in a joint route.
If the drain hose does not consist of a wear-resistant and frost-resistant material (usually has a small diameter), put the drain line on the outdoor area into a corrugated pipe, as shown in the diagram. Indoors, it makes no sense to hide the drainage hose in a corrugated pipe.
After installing the drainage pipe, wind the communications of the joint route together with vinyl tape in several places. if you use a large-diameter corrugated pipe as an insulating winding, prudently do not connect communications to the indoor unit of the air conditioner.
With the scheme we have chosen, the drainage of the outdoor unit is implemented simply - a flexible hose is connected to the drainage hole at the bottom of the unit and the condensate is drained slightly to the side so that the jet and drops of condensate do not fall on the windows of neighbors, on other air conditioners and facade protrusions.
After completing the organization of the drainage system, do not forget to wrap vinyl tape around the joint route of the air conditioner that runs along outer wall buildings, unless of course you use a corrugated pipe as an insulating winding of joint communications. Vinyl tape should be wound from the bottom up. Also wrap vinyl tape around the exposed areas of the copper pipes to protect them from corrosion and the electrical wire. Seal the hole in the outer wall on both sides with silicone sealant.
If you decide to drain condensate into the sewer system, then carefully design the routes, especially for draining condensate from the outdoor unit into the building. Drilling an additional hole in the wall in this case is mandatory. It is not recommended to mount a joint route inclined inside the building - serious protection against water ingress will be required.
When arranging a drainage passage in the wall, make a water trap - a hose loop that looks like a siphon, so that water on the surface of the drainage pipe does not wash away the hole in the outer wall. carefully monitor the elevation difference and be sure to consider the use of such a drainage scheme when choosing a place for installation of an external unit of a split system.
Connect drainage routes to the sewer only through a siphon, this has already been discussed above. Diameter plastic pipes sewerage - 50 mm, old cast iron - 70 mm. Be sure to consider this when purchasing fittings and adapters.
When you have organized the drainage system, insulated the routes with vinyl tape or corrugated pipe, you can already use the air conditioner without restrictions- it remains only to check it.
Today we will analyze one of the most important materials for installation - the drain tube of the air conditioner. A very common malfunction during the operation of the “split” is when water starts to flow from the indoor unit. To minimize the possibility of such a malfunction, I will tell you a few nuances when installing drainage. Today we will also consider which tubes and hoses are used by air conditioner installers.
The main cause of leakage from the indoor unit is a clogged drain pipe. The second reason that I had to deal with, less common, is the factory flaws in the condensate collection system on the indoor unit. But I will try to talk about them in other articles, and today we will analyze the first reason in detail.
Very often we have to deal with the problem of clogged drainage. From our practice, there are two most common cases:
- when the drain pipe becomes clogged during “natural” operation (dirt accumulates in the indoor unit);
- when drainage becomes a favorite habitat for insects (bees or bumblebees fly in, spiders make nests).
The probability of occurrence of each of the situations largely depends on which drain hose is used. Yes, yes, it is the choice of the “right” drainage that will reduce the likelihood of a leak.
Types of drainage pipes for the air conditioner, which are used by installers
Rigid drain tubes:
Soft drain hoses:
I have seen air conditioners equipped with other drains (wiring corrugations, hoses from washing machines and others), but I don’t even see the point in discussing them in our article.
What is the best drain for the air conditioner
As you can see, there are many types of hoses, each has its pros and cons. The metal-plastic drain and garden hose can kink in bends, narrowing the hole for draining condensate. 
Thin-walled soft drainage (as well as various corrugations) can be damaged while being pulled through the hole. Hard plastic drains are more attractive to insects. But flexible a specialized air conditioning hose has more advantages than cons. Because it does not compress when cornering and has a tough protective braid that does not fray.
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:
- Carry out installation sewer pipes in this room with a slope of up to 3%.
- 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, a corrugated pipe of small diameter is purchased.
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 out, which leads to penetration 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 external 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.
- It is necessary to remove the lower fasteners from the air conditioner housing so that it can rise.
- In the lower part, under the fan that blows the evaporator, there is a tray for collecting condensate.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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:
- If the air conditioner works for heating in winter, then often the drainage pipe on the street simply freezes.
- The slope of the drainage route was set incorrectly.
- If the pump fails.
- 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.
- 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:
- Remove the filters located on the body of the device in front of the evaporator. They must be washed well.
- The air conditioner housing is raised.
- Disconnect the drain tube from the sump.
- The latter is removed and washed. Pay special attention to the hole.
- 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.
- 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.
The drainage system of the air conditioner is designed to drain the condensate formed during the cooling of the air flow. This system must have an outlet outside the room where the air conditioner is located.
What is a drainage system?
Drainage, in essence, is a tube, which is designed to transport condensate. And the drainage system consists of a network of tubes connected to the device unit.
In this case, all connections must be tight. Typically, drainage tubes are polystyrene hoses with the necessary strength and other technical characteristics.
Organization of drainage to the street
Consider the withdrawal of drainage to the street, as the most common and simple way.
The required length of the drain hose is connected to the indoor unit of the system using the appropriate size adapter fitting.
Hoses should not be inserted into each other - such a loose connection will be unreliable.
Requirements for installing an air conditioner drain system
The requirements that the drainage system of the air conditioner must meet basically repeat the requirements for laying sewers:
- The slope of the horizontal sections is about three percent.
- Rotation angles not more than 45 degrees.
- If the drainage is connected to the sewer, a siphon with a water seal must be installed in front of it. The water standing in it will prevent the penetration of miasma from the sewer into the air conditioning system. When draining condensate to the street, this requirement does not apply.
Installation of the drainage system of the air conditioner
Most often, a joint route is organized between the blocks, where, in addition to drainage, other communications are laid.
If the drainage hose is not made of a frost-resistant and wear-resistant material and has a small diameter, then it is useful to hide the drainage line in a corrugated pipe in an outdoor area. It doesn't make sense to do it indoors.
Upon completion of the installation of the drainage system of the air conditioner, or rather, the drainage pipe, the communications of the joint route should be fastened together with electrical tape in several places, if the insulating winding does not serve corrugated pipe with large diameter. Communications should not be connected in advance to the indoor unit of the air conditioning system.
Drainage of the outdoor unit with the outlet scheme to the street is simple: a flexible hose is connected to the drainage hole located at the bottom of the unit, the outlet of which is positioned so that condensate does not fall on neighbors' windows, facade protrusions and other air conditioners.
When the installation of the drainage system of the air conditioner is completed, all its parts will be connected, the common communications route laid along the outer wall of the house should not be forgotten to be wrapped with electrical tape, or another method of insulation in the form of a corrugated pipe should be used.
Tape must be wound in the direction from the bottom up. The same procedure should be followed copper tubes in open areas and electrical wiring to protect them from corrosion. The hole made in the outer wall must be securely filled with silicone sealant.
Video about the installation of the drainage system of the air conditioner:
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This section of the catalog presents drainage hoses, tubes and additional accessories to drain condensate from air conditioning systems. Flexible drain hose, metal-plastic and polypropylene pipes, capillary hoses, drain tees and adapters. Reinforced drainage hoses are presented in coils of 25 and 30 meters. Also, available, PVC hose cut from 1 meter. For quality connections, connectors are presented, such as: drainage and capillary hoses, hose connector 16mm, T-piece, Y-piece, tee for capillary hose.
To prevent odors from sewage systems, we always have Vecam siphons and check valves for drainage.