Window mounted A/C unit keeps filling up with water. Is there a fix for this?

**dfinn** · 06-30-2008, 11:08 AM

It's a window mounted Goldstar A/C unit. It's a couple of years old and I guess it's never done this up until now. I don't think it's condensation but I guess it's possible. Every night you have to tip it over to get the water out. After about 8 - 10 hours of use it fills up with enough water that the fan must be hitting the water because it starts "spitting" out of the vents and it starts to get loud. It must have gotten kind of bad one morning because I could hear the motor start to slow down from the resistance of the water.

Is there a fix for this?

**Core Shot** · 06-30-2008, 11:14 AM

your drains are clogged.

You can drill another hole in the bottom if needed - be careful not to puncture anything else.

**Dexter Rutecki** · 06-30-2008, 11:15 AM

Can you put it so it's at more of an angle? The water should basically drain on its own, outside the window. I once had one that wasn't quite tilted the right way and water drained into the window frame, damaging the wood.

I'm just worried that someone will be in my house one day and do something to the window (like try to open it) that will let my AC fall out. Bolts? Who needs bolts??

**BeanDip4All** · 06-30-2008, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by Dexter Rutecki

Can you put it so it's at more of an angle? The water should basically drain on its own, outside the window. I once had one that wasn't quite tilted the right way and water drained into the window frame, damaging the wood.

I'm just worried that someone will be in my house one day and do something to the window (like try to open it) that will let my AC fall out. Bolts? Who needs bolts??

fear of death-by-falling air conditioner is NOT an irrational fear in this city!!

i had one that filled up with water and flooded a bunch of books on my night table. fixed it by tilting it "out" the window a little more.

**Snow Dog** · 06-30-2008, 02:12 PM

It has to have the right angle and a plastic cable tie is a good tool to clean drain tubes -- stiff and flexible.

A/C units always remove water from the air; more when the humidity is high.

**SkierX720** · 06-30-2008, 02:54 PM

I used a window A/C unit in college and it would start doing the same. I would notice the water splashing after extended usage (6+ hours) but I also could hear the water dripping on the drip pan.

The unit should have drainage plugs near the back (outside of house) and the water should flow that way but you can also get ice accumulation that's causing the water to not flow.

I'd check your drainage like CORE SHOT said and definitely adjust your angle

**gravitylover** · 06-30-2008, 03:04 PM

Originally Posted by Dexter Rutecki

...do something to the window (like try to open it) that will let my AC fall out. Bolts? Who needs bolts??

It happened here at work last week. One of the geniuses upstairs put in a new window unit then a few minutes later opened the window and bam!

**Buzzworthy** · 06-30-2008, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by dfinn

It's a window mounted Goldstar A/C unit. It's a couple of years old and I guess it's never done this up until now. I don't think it's condensation but I guess it's possible. Every night you have to tip it over to get the water out. After about 8 - 10 hours of use it fills up with enough water that the fan must be hitting the water because it starts "spitting" out of the vents and it starts to get loud. It must have gotten kind of bad one morning because I could hear the motor start to slow down from the resistance of the water.

Is there a fix for this?

Have had a Goldstar (LG) window unit do this too. Are you noticing the whole thing icing up inside? Then it thaws out with a lot of water in the bottom? At least that is what mine did on a long shift.

I made sure the angle is ok for draining, then simply drilled additional holes on the very outside edge. Drained better, no more spillage inside.

Also, my motor would bog once the coils actually froze. 30 minutes off, drain all the water and resume AC.

**dfinn** · 06-30-2008, 03:54 PM

This is odd. There are no drain holes. Time to start drilling. I haven't noticed any icing but it usually happens early in the morning, normally I just turn it off and go back to sleep. The freezing/melting kind of makes sense though, it could be starting to melt as the sun hits it in the am.