Window AC unit drain

Question

My Little travel trailer I picked up used has a window unit for AC. There was plenty of water damage, as most campers go neglected by owners, so making repairs, including from AC water.
Question: Do the window-style AC units need to sit in their own condenser water? There seems to be no drain except when it overflows the pan, and this happens into the camper.
I poked 4 holes under the condenser so the water flows out the bottom, but wondering if the puddle of water in the pan was meant to cool the compressor and bottom of condenser.
Maybe in a house it is meant to be placed at an angle so everything flows out, but in a camper it might tilt in any direction…

Since Im on the topic, how cold should the air be coming out of the typical window unit? This is my first, and the air is not super cold like I think it should be. My Duotherm roof AC was colder, and of course 6 times the price…

nineoaks2004 · Answer

most of the newer window units do not have a drain, the water is thrown up onto the outside part of the unit. This increases cooling ability. Yours might be different but if it has no drain that could be the answer. Mine works great in my
Coleman Lantern it is a Frigidaire 8K unit and I can hang meat after it runs for awhile. Yours might need a good cleaning too.

westend · Answer

The air coming out from the A/C should be 20 degrees colder than the air in the room. Most older window units did not rely on condensate water for cooling the compressor. I've drilled a few bottom pans to help the water drain. Be careful, though, that you don't nick a coolant tube. I've done that once with a bit that was new and grabbed the metal, pushing the bit into the coolant tube.

beemerphile1 · Answer

nineoaks2004 wrote:most of the newer window units do not have a drain, the water is thrown up onto the outside part of the unit. This increases cooling ability. Yours might be different but if it has no drain that could be the answer....Correct, the system is more efficient by using the water and splashing it up.  It will still work without the water though.

jjjandrbaker · Answer

I have a window unit in my trailer. It freezes me out at night, no matter what setting I put it on. In the hottest of Texas summer days, it only goes up to about 78 to 80 degrees inside the trailer.  Since that sucks out the humidity, it really isn't that uncomfortable. The water does splash back up and cool the system. I have never had any problem with water coming into the camper. When driving home from a trip,  there is sometimes a small bit of water directly underneath the AC. I put a towel on the bed, and one of those plastic container lids to catch it. Has never really been a problem though.  I only see water dripping outside the trailer during the most humid of days.

ajriding · Answer

Thanks, I have no choice but to drain the water,  I used a big spike to punch out a few holes from the inside out. I hosed out the fins and cleaned it while in there, but it is not great cooling. Not even close to freezing meat in my 80 degree day.  It is cooler and tolerable inside, but the top bunk is still hot.  This is a trailer with a pop-up roof where the top 18 inches is what pops up, not to be confused with  a pop-up. So, the canvas wall portion is not insulating at all.  Maybe will replace it for next year as summer is drawing to an end now.

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Window AC unit drain

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