Condensate removal from the outdoor unit of the air conditioner: organization methods and the best technological solutions

purpose

A siphon for a split system is a special device that connects the condensate outlet pipe to the sewer system. The main purpose of the device is to remove moisture from the air conditioner to drain communications and protect the premises from the unpleasant smell of sewage. Moreover, the use of a siphon ensures the aesthetics of the exterior of buildings by preventing water from running off onto walls and pavement. At the same time, along with the aesthetic component, there is also a practical one.

So, water dripping from the outlet pipe forms puddles and excessively moistens the blind areas of houses. This, in turn, negatively affects the foundation and eventually leads to its destruction.In winter, air conditioners that are not equipped with a siphon run the risk of failure due to freezing of condensate inside the drain pipe.

Purpose of the product

The principle of operation of the air conditioning device is based on the absorption of water from the air, which is why condensate is produced. Moisture remains on the cold plates of the heat exchanger, which is then collected in a special container - a drainage pipe. Therefore, it is considered that if water drains from the air conditioner (external tank), then this is its normal operating condition.

The constant dripping of water from the external drainage pipe of the air conditioner does not bother many of its owners at all - it's not dripping in the apartment. However, this situation can have many negative consequences:

• Constant dripping of water, especially when installing an air conditioner in a private house, can harm not only the blind area, but also the foundation of the building.
• When installing an air conditioner in an apartment building, dripping water can cause problems for the occupants of the lower floors. It is unlikely that anyone will be happy to listen to the constant knocking of drops on the windowsill, balcony, or getting wet on the outer wall of the apartment.
• By itself, the type of air conditioning device from which water drips is not particularly pleasing to the eye.
• The presence of problems with the use of the air conditioning device in winter, since the liquid in the drain pipe may freeze and, as a result, the air conditioner itself may break.

In addition, the European Union has already completely banned the installation of air conditioners that involve the ingress of condensate into the external environment. In the near future, domestic legislators may also take care of this issue.

Permissions and prohibitions

Mandatory approval and obtaining permits for the installation of external units on facades is regulated only at the level of regional legislation. For example, in Moscow until 2011 it was necessary to obtain a mandatory permit for air conditioning. And in St. Petersburg, a similar standard is valid today. There are also a number of prohibitions that are similar in most major cities. According to them, you cannot:

• Mount outdoor units on the front side of buildings with a modern unique design (in some places the ban is replaced by mandatory approval or the need to cover the device with a decorative element);
• Install air conditioners on the walls of buildings of historical and artistic value;
• Install air conditioners in arches in such a way that they interfere with pedestrians and the passage of vehicles;
• Attach equipment to decorative wall elements (pilasters, columns, rosettes, entablature).

There are practically no problems with installation on the walls of typical houses facing the courtyard of the house. But if the house is classified as an architectural monument, mounting external blocks on its walls requires special permits, which are issued only in rare cases.

How to clean the air conditioner drain

Often the owner himself tries to clean the drain pipe of the air conditioner at home with the help of improvised means, for example, wire. This method solves the problem, but only for a few days. Soon, debris from the heat exchanger will again enter the drainage system and clog the drain hose, resulting in a leak from the air conditioner. Therefore, it will be correct to clean not only the drainage system, but also to sanitize the filters located in the indoor unit.

Before you clean the air conditioner drain yourself, you should read the operating instructions for the installed wall-mounted unit, but in most cases the device must be partially disassembled. How to properly dismantle, it is better to look at the video.

The system is cleaned in the following sequence:

Preliminary preparation. Before cleaning the drain of the air conditioner, disconnect the appliance from the mains. Then you need to dismantle the cover that blocks access to the indoor unit of the air conditioner.

Filter cleaning. After dismantling the cover, the coarse filters can be removed. They need to be washed under running water, using, if necessary, a soapy solution to remove old dirt. The washed filters must be thoroughly dried.

Pallet cleaning. The next step is to remove the pan in which condensate accumulates, while disconnecting the drain hose. In order for the operation to proceed correctly, it is recommended to clarify the method of disconnection in the operating instructions.

The pan is thoroughly washed with soapy water, it is especially important to clean the drain well

Drain tube cleaning. To clean the drain pipe, use a vacuum cleaner. With regular cleaning, it does an excellent job of removing dirt, but if the system was last serviced a long time ago, you will have to pour a special liquid for cleaning air conditioners into the tube, which will soften the blockage. The liquid is poured into the tube with a syringe and wait about 30 minutes, after which the vacuum cleaner is used again to remove the softened dirt.

Disinfection of the system. After carrying out all the cleaning procedures of the system, you should take care of the disinfection of the device.To process the pallet, filters and tubes, at home you can use chlorhexidine, which can be purchased at any pharmacy (an overview of the products is given in this article, and the general procedure for cleaning split systems can be found here).

The tray is wiped with a cloth soaked in the solution, the filters are processed through a spray gun, and chlorhexidine is simply poured into the drain tube for 15 minutes, after which it is washed with running water.

The final stage. After processing the main systems, remove dust and dirt from the heat exchanger with a soft clothes brush and replace the cover.

Regular maintenance of the air conditioner will help maintain a favorable and safe climate in the apartment.

How to get rid of condensation

1. The most common and cost effective, but not the best and most correct, way is to simply lead the drain pipe out of the window through a hole in the wall. The advantages are obvious - I drilled a hole, laid a hose and you're done. The negative sides are the effect of "raindrops" that drum on the windowsills, and the higher the height, the louder the knock. Such a decision is fraught with a showdown with an angry neighbor who is prevented from sleeping by your “drum set”. The aesthetic side of the implementation should also be written down in the minuses - the pipes hanging on the wall do not at all add beauty to the interior of the room.

   On a note. Modern editions of SNiP and SanPiN prohibit the withdrawal of runoff through the wall. Crashing into a storm drain is also prohibited - during heavy rainfall, the pressure in the storm drain will be so strong that the room will be flooded with a reverse flow of water from the LC.This happens when the LC cannot cope with the flow of rain and is completely filled along its entire length - then the pressure in it reaches its maximum value.

2. Much more competent will be the discharge of condensate from the air conditioner into the sewer.

   In this option, the shortcomings of the first method are solved - the waste from the operation of the unit is merged into a network specially designed for this. This can be either the general sewer system of the building or a specially laid pipeline network. Drainage is carried out either by gravity, due to the negative slope of the pipes, or with the help of a pump.

   It is worth paying attention to some nuances when implementing a discharge into the general sewer:

   • To prevent the penetration of unpleasant odors from the pipe into the room, it is necessary to install a water seal - a part of the drainage pipe curved in the form of the English letter S. The water that will remain in the lower knee will create an insurmountable barrier to the “aromas from below”.
   • In the hot season and with prolonged downtime of air conditioners, the water seal may dry out and the air will begin to “smell”. To eliminate such a nuisance, it is enough to pour a couple of liters of water into the drain.
   • If gravity is used, be sure to calculate the minimum required diameter and slope of the system so that all condensate flows freely along it.

There are split systems

It should not be forgotten that the prevention of the drain system should be carried out at least once every three months. Even if the air conditioner did not work all this time, nothing prevented dirt from accumulating and pathogenic organisms from developing in all its nooks and crannies.

Typical mistakes in installing an air conditioner

Failure to comply with installation requirements is a common cause of failures in the operation of split systems and unreasonable increase in electricity bills. Here is a list of popular shortcomings.

No. 1. Installation in the wrong place. The requirements for the placement of split-blocks have been discussed above. Inexperienced craftsmen make standard mistakes: installation above a heater or in a zone of direct exposure to sunlight.

No. 2. Poor quality rolling.

The presence of roughness, grooves and burrs prevents the normal circulation of freon and worsens the fit to the fittings. As a result, there may be a freon leak (+)

Number 3. Inconsistency of the volume of refrigerant with the length of the route. The amount of freon is directly proportional to the footage of the circuit. If the line was increased / decreased, but its volume was not corrected, then the air conditioner does not work correctly, and eventually fails.

No. 4. Lack of thermal insulation. The hole in the wall for laying the line must be filled with foam. If this is not done, then temperature changes will provoke the appearance of condensate - moisture settling on concrete will lead to the formation of fungus.

No. 5. Broken copper pipes.

In places of inflections, the throughput is reduced. As a result, the load on the compressor increases, and the device produces the required resource ahead of schedule.

No. 6. Unreliable cable connection. Errors in the arrangement of electrical wiring are fraught not only with a breakdown of the climatic equipment, but also with fire or electric shock.

No. 7. The use of poor quality materials. Fragile brackets may not be able to cope with the load, especially in winter when snow accumulates on the split block.Preventive measures: choosing a reliable support and installing a protective visor above the outdoor unit.

Beginning of work

The first stage is to design the placement of the air conditioning system. So, for example, you should determine where both air conditioning units will be located. It is a well-known fact that a split system consists of two blocks, one of which is located inside the room, and the other - outside it, on the outside of the building. They are respectively called indoor and outdoor units. At the same time, a prerequisite is also the fact that they must be connected by a special route, presented in the form of copper tubes.

The initial steps are also related to the study of the documentation that came with your air conditioning system. There should also be written what can be done and what cannot be allowed. In addition, it outlines the characteristics of the maximum possible length connecting both blocks of the highway. The work itself is carried out as follows:

1. So, the actual work begins with the installation of the external component. As for the condenser, this element must be placed outside the wall. In this case, the residents of the lower floor and the happy owners of an unglazed balcony were especially lucky. This is explained by the ease of installation of the external unit of the split system, which can be done by hand. In all other situations, the help of high-altitude installers will be required.
2. Fastening of the outer part of the system to the wall is carried out using brackets. They are also attached with anchor bolts.If you are thinking about how to properly install a split system, do not forget to position the outer component of the split system perfectly evenly. Maximum reliability must also be ensured. This can be explained by the fact that the capacitor will be located under the influence of all kinds of natural influences for more than one year.
3. Further actions are related to such a stage as the installation of the indoor unit. To achieve this goal competently and correctly, you will also have to try. We take the building level and, using dowels, install a special bar into the wall, on which the evaporator will be mounted. It is also worth noting that the corresponding bar in the vast majority of cases is the delivery set of the air conditioning system. As you can see, the rules for installing the outdoor unit are somewhat different.