Most of the people who currently read my blog are immediate family members. I don't imagine any of them being entertainedby posts like this one. This is for the people out there who bought the same air conditioner and are wondering if they can make that awful water noise stop. You can. It is far from rocket science too. I dismantled the thing and as I suspected, the water that condenses on the coils is caught by a pan on the bottom and then when it gets deep enough the fan blade splashes through it endlessly. Most air conditioners drain the water. I don't know why Haier doesn't. Initially, all I did was drill a hole in the bottom to let the water out.
That worked, but the water was continually dripping on my sill and I thought that over time it could cause some damage. So, I purchased a grommet and some tubing at the local hardware store ($.69) and piped the water away.
Voila, no more puddle for the fan to splash in, and a tube that constantly provides me with distilled water!
Thanks for the tip! I wanted to make sure I wasn't insane and hearing splashy noises when this thing got cooking. I can finally sleep at night while keeping this thing running at full steam!
ReplyDeleteAir conditioning repair Tampa Bay entire your heating and cooling system will run more efficiently and can even save you money after your air ducts are cleaned.Your entire heating and cooling system will run more efficiently and can even save you money after your air ducts are cleaned.
DeleteBased on the design of windows AC, it is supposed to collection the condensed water and use it to cool the condenser. Just make sure you tilt it downward to the outside. See this URL on how AC suppose to work with condensed water: http://www.repairclinic.com/Air-Conditioner-Maintenance-Tips. Drilling defeats the purpose.
DeletePLEASE READ BEFORE YOU DRILL HOLES.
Delete45 MINUTE NO DRILL SOLUTION
I tracked down the problem that is causing water noise / spillage, and drilling holes will most likely NOT solve your problem.
The problem we are all experiencing is caused by grime, sludge, dirt, and old leaves that coat the inside of the air conditioning unit. No amount of A/C cleaner, or hole drilling is going to solve this problem without doing unnecessary damage to the unit.
To fix it, start by unplugging the unit and carrying it outside to a sunny location with access to your garden hose.
Carefully unscrew all of the screws from the outer casing of your air conditioner. ( the metal grate that covers the top and sides of the air conditioner )
Mine had maybe 10 or more screws, so be prepared for that, and try not to lose too many !
( It's not rocket science, and it's really not worth backing out at this point, just go find a screwdriver and stop being LAZY ! )
Once you have removed the casing, look for the Styrofoam piece that directs the cooled air out of the front of the A/C unit, and take it off. It should come out fairly easily, if not check for any tape and cut it with a razor.
At this point you should be able to see the fan that is causing the water noise, it should be surrounded by a piece of styrofoam that is obviously designed to hold water. Please don't poke any holes in it.
You should look around carefully near the front condenser coils, there is a small drain system in the styrofoam that is designed to let water flow from the front of the machine to the back, and if it's clogged with grime and sludge ( Which yours most likely is if your reading this ) then it won't drain properly no matter how much you tilt the *expletive* air conditioner.
Cover anything that looks important like circuit boards with plastic wrap or grocery store bags, and let your inner cleaning instinct take hold of you. Spray out all of the grilles, front and back, being careful not to bend any of the delicate fins they're comprised of.
Look very carefully for the "Drain" once you find it, use a screw driver or a skewer to clear any debris, and use your garden hose to spray out everything EXCEPT for the circuit board on the front panel of the unit. ( Don't panic if it gets wet, just be sure you dry it off and let it sit in the sun for a while before you plug it back it)
You'll know that you've fixed it if ( when your unit is tipped at an angle ) you can pour water through the front grille and watch it flow to the rear of the air conditioner.
Basically once you've got that cover off, start cpraying stuff out until your can put the hose up to the front grille and watch it flow to the rear of the unit.
Be sure everything is completely dry, then put the styrofoam piece back in, the casing back on, and all of the screws back where they go, and enjoy your working air conditioner !!
It’s too informative. Keep it up.
ReplyDeleteYes I am benefited by this post here as I have the same issue with my AC, I think it will resolve my problem soon.
ReplyDeleteYou can also use a thick cotton sholace. Place one end in the area where the water is building up. Let the other end dangle down vertically from the unit, much as the tubing position, but it will be dangling from the edge of the unit. No need to drill a hole. When wet, the lace stays in position. The "wicking effect" will drain out the water. You may want to place a bucket under the dripping end. Use the collected water for your houseplants.
DeleteThank you for sharing this good idea. It is helping to make my ac quieter. I'm sure my neighbors thank you too.
DeleteDitto here: I bought one last year...but I drilled two holes towards the outward corners...finally I gave up and bought a frigidaire for 25 bucks more and it works like a charm. I will never buy a Haier product again; besides they're made in China.
ReplyDeleteBrian, everything is made in China.
ReplyDeleteFrom the owners manual, there is supposed to be a small amount of condensate that is maintained in the bottom. This is due to a mechanism that occasionally flicks water at the compressor to help cool it down. This not only makes the unit more efficient, but also increases the life of the compressor.
ReplyDeleteThat is great science and you have a great presence of mind.You are thus benefited doubly.May be Hair could take tips from you?
ReplyDeleteGood call, i have the same problem and planned on drilling a hole too but wanted to see if anyone else had that issue too
ReplyDeletegood blog thanks for the info my haier is makin water noises to and wanted to see if anyone did drill a hole in it u have a beautiful family thanks
ReplyDeleteWhenever I encountered problems with my air conditioning unit, I usually called for immediate action from our neighbor service who is knowledgeable in a/c repair. I never entrust the future of my a/c unit to others rather than my neighbor who really specialized in this matter.
ReplyDeleteso how does this help anyone else
DeleteThat would be my major major problem if their would be no air conditioning unit at home. I can't concentrate on the things I'm doing if their is no a/c on. For me having this is very important and has the biggest part of my life.
ReplyDeleteheating and air conditioning san antonio
I experienced the same thing. But the Edmonton air conditioning company that we contacted suggested that we switch to HVAC for more convenience. Edmonton heating during summer really needs air conditioning in the house, especially when the kids are around.
ReplyDeleteI was about to throw this thing out the window! Thanks for the advice! Called a girl over who had a drill and now it works like a charm
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI purchased a cheap Haier from Walmart last year and all year we put up with the splashing noise. This year (since it's out of warranty) I decided to Google to see if drilling a hole or something would fix the problem with out wrecking the unit. (I also read in the manual that it's suppose to make the noise for cooling down the compressor, and didn't know if the compressor needed the water splashes to keep functioning.)
ReplyDeleteToday I had enough of the racket, but chose a different approach so I didn't have to dissemble the unit to make sure I didn't drill into anything critical.
I took my Dremel and with a cutting grinder cut out a quarter inch notch in the cabinet. In Ryan's second picture with the tube in the unit you will notice a small section in the center of the lower part of the case that already has a lowered 'divot'. I cut a piece out right about in the center of that from the edge to the base of the unit being careful not to damage the cooling fins.
This way I did not have to disassemble the unit, I didn't even have to remove it from the window. (In fact, I didn't even turn the unit off!)
As an added bonus, the water drains from the farthest part from the sill, right onto the ground, thou I don't get to collect the distilled water via Ryan's tube.
PG };8>
I bought a Haier last year that said "no water to drain" still if I tip it up after its been running for a couple of weeks, water pours out down the side of my house? Also the remote control didn't work this spring? I bought a new battery for it, but still nothing? How does that break after a year when we hardly used it? Never buy a Haier again! I might try drilling the hole. thanks
ReplyDeleteThe water is supposed to splash up on the condenser to keep the unit cool. That's what the "splashing noise" is. If you drilled any holes allowing water to escape, you've ruined the machine completely. It will over heat and fail.
ReplyDeletepeople should really start taking the time to read the manuals.
I was about to drill a few holes, but decided to do a little reading first, glad that I did. I guess if the water helps it last longer I will just have to pretend I am in a rain forest when it is on. Thanks for your informative and be it all true post.
DeleteDrilling the hole helps when the water is dripping out the front of the unit and not the back. Tried adjusting the tilt of the machine and it still came out the front. I don't care if it shortens the life of this crappy machine, I no longer wanted to keep a bucket under my window. Drilling the hole works
DeleteI completely agree. Who cares if it shortens the life of the machine when the machine is spitting water on you and sounds like a water jet above your head! I will be drilling a hole and connecting a small hose to mine as well. If I don't, I will no longer be able to use it. It is soaking my floor and is useless until I do!
DeleteIt wasn't in my manual, nothing was explained, I wasn't told it would happen, and there were no warnings printed anywhere. My brand is Heat Controller
DeleteSeriously, this thing is annoying so if drilling fixes the problem, so be it. I have three window AC's and this brand is the ONLY one that does this annoying trickling water noise that disrupts me falling asleep. I have to keep a fan going to try and block the noise. If it's been raining, it gets worse and I have to turn on nature sounds on the TV to block it out. Plus it gets the windowsill all wet and I know it's slowly doing damage. No other brand has done this to me, it's ridiculous.
DeleteIt doesn't cool that well either anyway. I put it in a small bedroom and keep it on high but it still gets warm in there. Am just going to buy another brand. I've never had a problem with one before this.
DeleteI heard the dripping coming from inside my a/c Haier unit and when I looked inside, the bottom panel was full of water. As a result, mold was forming inside! I cleaned out the gunk, told my husband and he set about trying to tilt the machine. That didn't work. I came across this here website and read the comments out loud as the hubby is struggling to fix the darn machine. When I read the part that the machine doesn't have a way of draining and people were drilling holes into the machine, a lightbulb went on in his head. Hubby took a look in the back of unit, along the bottom and pulled out a plug that he spotted! Now there's a hole in the back of unit and hopefully it will drain properly.
DeleteI drilled two holes last year in the lower square area and that did the trick. This year the noise is back... If this wasn't a free hand me down that still works it would be on the curb.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to look at tilting it :(
Please be advised, we do not condone this as a resolution, there is a high potential of damaging the refrigeration system and the water is an integral part of the system and contributes to the efficiency of the unit. Any alteration of this type would void the warranty. If you do have questions about your Haier unit please call our Customer Service number at 1-877-337-3639. Thanks
ReplyDeleteCustomer Service my butt. I have had to tip my machine upside down numerous times to empty the HUGE puddles of water from it, and a few days later it still splashes everywhere. It can't possibly need that much water. It isn't suppose to be a swamp cooler!!
Deleteexplain then why it all comes in my room then, alot when it rains out
DeleteGood job! Simple repair work like this can be done at home for nothing. But if the problem is too extensive, better call a pro. Improper repairs can cause more discomfort.
ReplyDeleteStill applies today! I just got this thing and noticed the water build up bc it was leaking inside. I lean it backwards a tad now and thought about drilling a hole. This post reassures my assessment. Thanks!
ReplyDelete$20 Haier A/C unit lol
Just to let you know. New air conditioners are not supposed to drain the water away. They have "slinger" fans, which catch the water and splash it onto the condenser coil which helps cool it. By drilling that hole, you made the air conditioner less efficient.
ReplyDeleteI think there is a big difference between the slight clicking or pinging sound that the manual mentions and the steamboat splashing that many of us are experiencing. The sound is obnoxious like a child is putting pieces of paper in a fan on the order of several times louder than the normal operating level even on high. And yes new a/cs are supposed to drain the water, otherwise why did haier include to put the unit at a pitch? the only problem is that the unit has to be pitched at least 45 degrees to get any drainage at all.
ReplyDeleteNice post. I just had my Haier apart and this is what I've concluded:
ReplyDeleteIf you're going to drill a hole, drill it in the back left corner (when looking at the inside with the controls). Stay very close to the corner.
High potential of damage? I don't think so!
I'm conflicted, I've been hearing the splashing in mine and it's annoying, plus I looked inside it and because there's always moisture inside the unit there is mold as well. That doesn't seem good. But then also there's a customer service rep commenting here saying it needs the water to work well...
ReplyDeleteI do NOT suggest doing this. The water splasing is a design feature of the newer units, they splash water on the condenser to keep it cool. I drilled a hole in my unit after reading this post, and initially I was very happy. The unit dripped water and it wasnt making the splashing sound. But my unit got HOT - very hot. And the temperature control was not accurate, it would read a lower temperature than the room really was. I plugged up the hole I drilled and the A/C is behaving normally again. If you don't like the splashing sound try returning it and getting a model with a drain hose. Do NOT drill a hole in the unit if it didn't come with one.
ReplyDeleteTHANK GOD I FOUND THIS. AWESOME BLOG. THANK YOU THANK YOU. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING MAD BECAUSE OTHER A/C I'VE HAD HAVE A PIPE I WAS CURIOUS WHY THIS ONE DID NOT..
ReplyDeletenice i love that companys come on here and suggest that you pay them a hundred bucks an hour to come to your home and fix it yes cause everyone can afford it yes i will contact my neighbor hood ac company to come and fix my ac that is the only person i trust for that wtf i can purchase a new one for what they come to my house for.
ReplyDeleteThis posting just cost me $170. Make sure when you drill that hole that you do as far back on the drip pan(?) as possible. I drilled my hole about 3/4" from the back edge of the drip pan and the drill bit ended up taking off inside the AC and cracking the fan. Bummer.
ReplyDeleteNo, this posting did NOT cost you $170. Your wreckless use of a drill is what cost you $170! Now put the power tool down and walk away s l o w l y .
DeleteThe exhaust fan blade is about $17 and the squirrel cage is $21. Call Sears parts direct. I order all kinds of A/C parts for window units as the maintenance supervisor in the apartment complex I work at. Hope you didn't throw it away yet. It was still good. lol.
DeleteJust to clarify, the $170 was for the replacement AC, I don't think this unit was that expensive.
ReplyDeleteI have the watery noice too in my Hitachi window a/c. It is not the splashing kind of noise though. It sounds like water gurgling down dowm ancient caravan. I close my eyes and focus my mind on that sound which takes me into deep meditative sleep.
ReplyDeleteGuess one can convert a potentially irritating sound into one to provide good sleep.
Sudhir Shenoy
For those who hear splashing noises from their AC, it would be advisable to inspect it first before drilling any hole. The noise could be caused by a clogged pan drain hole, which just needs some cleaning. Or you can check if the unit is properly tilted at the rear for the water to flow and reach the drain hole. I hope this helps!
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Mignon Her
Well, if you can do something about it, why not? :) If you see a solution in drilling a hole and putting a hose, then go for it. Actually, I personally consider this effective. I did this to the AC that we have in our room and in my kids’ room as well. No need to sweat about those water noise! :p
ReplyDeleteI advise anyone to not drill a hole in the AC unit if it is fairly new. They now use a slinger ring in front of the condenser fan to cool the compressor off when it runs for long times in August especially, etc. Clean the evaporator coils with Frost King coil cleaner and also the condenser outside coil too when it is powered off......and follow the instructions on the can.....it is not hard.....and will keep the coil and pan clean. Wash the filter also or vacuum it good. Remember to use an AC that is the right size for the room or rooms. Hope this helps someone.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sick of my haier air conditioner. These are the mostcheaply made, pieces of crap ever. That's what we get for Resourcing all of our jobs to china. I'm about to throw mine out the window. There is water all over my window sill and it's spitting even more water out the vents. How the hell am I supposed to tilt this thing at a 45 degree angle without it falling out the window and crushing some innocent passerby? I'm torn on whether to drill a hole because some say go for it and others say don't mess with it! I have a warranty, but what's the point? They're just going to send back a new one of the same crappy machines. Haier you guys suck.
ReplyDeleteSo don't buy the cheapest air conditioner you can find. Pony up the cash and get a Bosch. It's German engineering and the price reflects it.
DeleteI have the same spitting experience, my machine is tilted properly, (not 45 degrees, but so the back is down), I do have a factory drain hole and had to completely disassemble the thing last year to treat, kill and remove the mold in it. Looks to be gearing up to have to do it every year. Time to start watching for clearance deals because I don't have the day it took to do that and let it dry again all the time!
DeleteIt's not even funny how many people think this advice about drilling a hole in the ac unit is good advise. Simply ask yourself why there wasn't a hole there in the 1st place? Older units, maybe, but newer units, hell no. The water is intended to collect there and yes the fan will throw it on the condenser for cooling purposes, not only allowing your unit to work proper AND last longer, but also helps the unit use LESS electricity and save you on your bill. Any moron can drill holes in things and call it a fix. The better thing to do would be actual research prior to a purchase, or prior to "fixing" things. Hope this helps someone.
ReplyDeleteHAIER BRAND SUCKS! I BOUGHT ONE FOR ME AND MY FATHER AND THIS AIR CONDITIONER STARTED SPITTING OUT WATER LIKE A WATER FALL I COULDNT BELIEVE MY EYES I WAS SHOCKED AND IT WAS WETTING THE SEAL OF THE WINDOW IT WAS HORRIBLE AND CHEAPLY MADE IM SO DISAPPOINTED AND MY FATHER!!!!
ReplyDeletedrilling the hole worked for me. My unit is a 99$ walmart buy. It has lasted me 3 years with it pretty much being constantly on. Every once and a while the little hole gets clogged up and the water starts spitting out of the top. i will let it do that for a few days then unclog the hole and let it drain. If my AC HAIER unit has lasted this long with the hole being drilled why cant yours? Hell if it even used it for one summer and then it failed i think i got my money's worth. I just monitor it regularly and clean it frequently. I open it up and clean the fins and the internals and it runs like i bought it yesterday.
ReplyDeleteI too have one of the Haier $99 Wal-Mart 5K BTU units, along with other, larger units. It's working fine for now; I'm tolerating the occasional water swishing sound. Then again, it hasn't gotten that humid yet. If I can't stand it later, I know from Wulfrano that I can most likely drill a drain hole without losing the unit. He and others are spot on with the advice on cleaning the unit.
ReplyDeleteNo matter the size or how much they may cost, it's worth the little bit of hassle to get the room units gathered together each spring, get a couple cans of spray coil cleaner (located in the seasonal aisle, right alongside of the AC's at Home Depot), get them together on the picnic table and spray away. I get the whole things, inside and out cleaned with this foam and my garden hose. By the time I'm done, they are SOAKED, but that evaporator coil (the one that is right behind the filter - the one that does the cooling and also the one that collects all the dirt and grime that's too small for the filter to catch) is spotless!
Don't worry about harming any of the electronics, either. The secret to success is to MAKE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN you have allowed time for the units to dry COMPLETELY before plugging them back in for another season. It works. The efficiency of the unit will be just like the day you bought it with a little annual TLC.
My 8000BTU/$200 frigidaire has a similar "sloshing water" problem... I googled and found this little forum. Just looking for others experience before I "mod" my unit. I'm more bothered by the noise.
ReplyDeleteThe design is to get rid of the water by evaporation instead of dripping. I don't believe it impact the life or efficiency of the unit appreciable.
Think about it:
1. The unit starts out dry and will actually stay that way if you have a dry heat climate.
2. The drag on the fan motor caused by the fan ring or other parts "sloshing" through the water costs some energy and/or lowers the efficiency of the fan whose primary purpose is to air cool the condenser coil!
I just drilled a hole in the lowest catch on my Frigidaire FRA065AT7 6000-BTU I just got on Amazon for about $200. Boom. No more splashing sound. The logic of the previous poster made total sense. On dry hot days, no splashing. On humid days, it's water torture. I just took a cordless drill and a medium sized bit and it took about 3 minutes. I left it in the window but spun it around until the basin was just over the lip of the sill. I had a plastic bag nearby and after the hole went through it drained about 3/4 cup of water. No more noise.
ReplyDeleteAnother thought, yes the water is condensate that is cooler than the condensor coils so IF you could efficiently use it to cool the condensor a bit, perhaps you'd get some additional efficiency, since otherwise you're just "throwing away" that good cool water.... BUT as I said, in a very dry environment you won't have significant condensate.... And the hotter the outside air is, the less efficient the cooling anyway... AND as I said, the sloshing is putting a drag on the fan AND besides the sloshing is darned annoying ...
ReplyDeleteSO I just drilled a 3/32" hole in the center of the bottom of the lowest part of the case, looks like a little rectangular depression or "well" ... AND after a few minutes of continous draining we're down to a slow drip here in CT and that's that!
I have the haier air conditioner 5000 and it wasn't leaking so I screwed two holes into it and ever since then it stopped making my room cold. I plugged the holes in, cleaned the vent and did whatever I could, but now its still not working right. Help!!! Used to have the water slushing noise but now there isn't one.
ReplyDeleteIf you made it this far in the comments..You still need relief from the water torture..I repaired ACs for years..The fan does 98 % of removing the heat from the coils. Drilling a hole so you can get a good nights sleep is the plan...if you dont its like being water boarded by your AC everynight..
ReplyDeleteIts time for bed now and my room is so0oo cool and quiet...You can confirm what I am saying by looking at your cost per kilowatt hr...Its all good....
Called customer service re the
ReplyDeletewater being spit all over my floor. Spoke to a rep who told me, "when its very humid, the ac can't eliminate all of the water so it sometimes shoots out the front". What??? When its humid, thats when I use my AC!
Purchasing this chinese piece of junk was one of the worst decisions in my life.
Spend a few extra bucks and buy an American product...if there is such a thing.
I bought a Haier window AC (8,000btu) around 7 years ago. I noticed that while it was cooling the air, the humidity would stay around 50% or more. I then noticed that the drip pan had no drain and the fan was splashing water around. Naturally this makes the air entering the room more humid.
DeleteI drilled two holes in the drip pan and the water drained out. It then kept my humidity around 35-38%. The unit lasted until this year, so if it reduces the life of the compressor, the compressor must have one long life! 7 years is fine with me.
I've been enjoying this thread, and have some similar experience. However, I have the benefit of four, recent (1-3 years old) window units of similar design and efficiency (all high SEER types that use the external fan to sling condensate onto the condenser). Two are 6000 BTU and two are 8000 BTU - LG, Sharp, Kenmore and Frigidaire. Only the Frigidaire makes this insanely loud racket once the condensate starts to pool. I normally like noise while I'm sleeping, but it is well described in an earlier post and anything but soothing.
ReplyDeleteSo why does the Haier and Frigidaire make so much noise? I suspect that they are trying to not pay the patent license fee on a well designed cooling fan (see https://www.google.com/patents/EP0916905B1)
I could be wrong, but one of the quiet units has a complete plastic ring around (and attached to) the fan. It kicks up the water well without a loud slapping hit.
I'm no expert, but it stands to reason that drilling a hole would solve the sound problem, slightly decrease the efficiency and make the unit work slightly harder. I'd love to know how much energy it actually saves... I wouldn't expect it to dramatically shorten the life, and if it did, I'd have the relief of replacing my noisy unit with a quiet one. I wonder if you can tell by looking at the condenser fan design in the product part page before you buy? Another clue might be looking at the various noise disclaimers on the online manual.
How far did you have to drill into it? I have the same unit and that water sound is about to drive me bonkers!!! I have to drain it manually about every 10 or 15 minutes, on the halfway setting and low fan!!! Which is hard since I'm on the second floor and afraid of dropping it...
ReplyDeleteGoing to try this--can't sleep due to the "splashy" sound & I have it dangerously tilted as is. Is yours still working?
ReplyDeleteIt was really nice to read post like this. You are not only able to get info from the write ups being post but also from the comments you can read in here.
ReplyDeletewall unit air conditioner
You only want to drill through the sheet metal, no further. And as I wrote, a 3/32" bit is plenty, but if you don't have that try a little more or less.
ReplyDeleteAlso, as I wrote, you're not going to change the expected lifetime since it must be designed to run in desert climates where there wouldn't be so much condensate.
BTW - I got a $300 Friedrich unit to replace Frigidaire - much quieter - I can sleep w/o earplugs again (yeah!) - and yes it does the water thing, but I only here it when I shut down the unit as the fan slows.
The modded Frigidaire is now in my niece's room, since the tiny hole, it isn't really bad so no complaints from my that quarter.
I don't have a little "splashie splashie" or even a lot of noise going on, I have a waterfall that is pooling on my *inside* windowsill and running down my wall which in turn is ruining my windowsill and drywall and likely setting up a nice batch of mold. I put a cloth tucked under it on my windowsill to wick it away and a bucket to catch it until my husband gets home. There is no way to properly tilt this piece of crap either, we've tried. The hole gets drilled today. If it dies a horrible death it is better than it happening to me and the family from rot and mold. Never again a Haier!
ReplyDeleteHave the same unit. Drilled the hole, but even with the hole, the unit gets clogged with water, that every three-five hours I have to turn it off and drain it with a syringe with straws duct-taped to it. Even when drained, there is drippage in the house and now I have to lay a towel on the floor. The unit isn't cooling the room all that well anymore. It also doesn't help that NY is experiencing a terrible heat wave. Advice?
ReplyDeleteI bought the cheap, Walmart Haier unit, 6,000 btu for about 130. Had it now since spring and lately, during the great East heat wave, running non-stop since about 3 weeks ago. The problem is, we have also had numerous torrential rain with lots of thunderstorms this summer. All the rain gets right into the top vents on the outdoor side of the unit and cannot drain out, despite being tipped back. Now I have black mold growing in the unit, a nasty, brownish puddle of water that is being flicked onto the fan to be distributed into my house. Great design, Haeir.. NOT. Now I've got an eye infection because aparently I walked in front of the unit too close. I'm drilling the darn hole.
ReplyDeleteI have the same problem with the black mold. I've been breathing this crap in for the last few hours. I have a sore throat now. This thing is going in the trash. I'll never buy Haier again.
ReplyDeleteThis unit is the biggest waste of money I have ever spent.
ReplyDeleteIf the air conditioner was not made for humidity, it should NOT be sold in Wisconsin. End of story.
I have been up since 6 am, draining that damn thing every 15 minutes with a turkey baster.
I'm frustrated because I have just the fan on (no cooling) and it does the same.
I also have the fun mold problem. I should have invested in a well known brand...
Can someone plz be kind to me and come help me I'm going crazy with this AC I will never buy another one of haier ......... if u can help me hit me on facebook at Lisa Jones or email richlisa26@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteHeh, relax it's only a cheap machine.
ReplyDeleteAdvice:
1. Drill the hole.
2. Wash it out with a bleach solution.
3. Next time buy a Friedrich.
OK, Me too. Haier unit from Walmart. No drain tube. Bad design because the water removed from the air rate exceeds evaporation. Result=Cold air and shower of water droplets into room. Large puddles on wood floor and ruined rugs. Glad I don't have carpet. Hole, grommet, and hose sound like a good solution, specially if I can not drain the lowest point. That leaves some water for sling action, and allows excess to leave via hose.
ReplyDeleteI actually went through customer service and can get a replacement because it also kept freezing up (improper charge?).
I think drilling the hole may help that too.
BTW, the AC unit says really clearly on back... DO NOT DRILL HOLES IN PAN.
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ReplyDeleteI drilled two holes. One in the reservoir area as shown in the author's picture, one at the very back edge. I put the air conditioner on a table and drilled from bottom because I don't want to put it up side down. If you drill in the reservoir area, you have at least 1in clearance inside. If you drill in the back bottom edge, the drill will immediately touch the fin. There might be 0.5in depth of fin under the condenser tube. So, drilling at the edge is not recommended.
ReplyDeleteAfter drilling, you should only hear two kinds of noise, fan noise like a window fan, and condenser noise like your refrigerator. No matter on high or low, the fan noise is the dominant one. The condenser noise doesn't really make much difference, on or off. Air does feel drier too.
I am having the same problem, i went online to find out and glad i am not the only one.. It Sucks..
ReplyDeleteBut it can't give you clean distilled water because the water condensate on fins also gets contaminated with the room dust and particles deposit on internal ac fins.
ReplyDeleteTake a pair of pliers and bend the back lip down to drain. If there's a concern after doing so, bend the lip back up.
ReplyDeleteWorld class junk made by turd world gooks. Should there be any expectation other than failure?
Great post and debate on both sides. I however fell on the side of noise is insane and not worth coughing up the dollars for a better machine. I'm quite happy with the frigidaire except for that fan swish. Instead of voiding any warranty by drilling. I appreciate the brilliance and simplicity of the gravity flow drip shoe string comment. While I didn't have a shoe string to spare, I delicately stuck a dish rag down the back inside fin tray 1/2" or so and voila no more noise. No need to tilt the ac or drill holes. I have a nice water fall feature into the dogs water bowl out my window since I installed mine in its own wall access a foot above the window to be out of the way. I'm quite happy and couldn't have lived with that splashing noise another day. Again not worth the sanity and highly doubt the performance will be that affected. Time will tell but easy to remedy by removing the rag.
ReplyDeleteI have a Haier that I drilled holes in 8 years ago to drain and it is still working great! A few weeks ago I bought an Artic Air, we had a pouring rain and then that night, all the water noise, it spit water at me. I stuck something down it to wick out some of the water, ran it but it was still noisy and started spitting ice out at me! I went out and drilled holes carefully in the bottom tray, water drained out, no more noise or ice and it works fine. I think I may ad the hose to collect the water too.
ReplyDeleteBought a Haier window unit at Walmart on 5/30/15. It worked great for a whole two months! Water drained just fine, but the other day the unit made a loud shuddering noise (scared the cat right out of the room!) then quit blowing cold air, likely the compressor. Too late to take it back to Walmart, as they only have 30-day return policy on air conditioners (of course!) so will call Haier to have it either fixed or replaced. Wish me luck! I had read reviews before I bought it that said it was junk, but took a chance anyway because of the low price. Silly me.
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ReplyDeleteDrill a small hole (with little speed and force) as close to the edge of the drain pan as possible - do not go too far or you might drill through the condenser coil. If you want the convenience of both water cooling and draining, use a small flat-ended screw to plug up the hole after draining the unit. It will drip very slowly or not at all depending on the type of screw. I use one from a standard faucet valve.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I'm concerned, these newer designs are a health hazard (higher potential for mold growth and a breeding ground for mosquitoes, etc.). The noise from the water-splashing is ludicrous. My neighbors and I complain about this. It shouldn’t be part of the design of newer air-conditioners. It’s true that the slinger-fans splash the condensate around to cool the unit. However, it’s a toss-up between running a stinky, sludgy, noisy machine, and having one that doesn’t.
The idea of the screw to plug-up the hole is so that you can drain it when it’s needed. Every now and then, use a pipe-cleaner to dislodge debris accumulating in the drain hole. I don’t care if this voids the warranty or makes the unit die a few years faster. That water splashing is not an option for me. It keeps you awake, and it leaves stagnant pools of water. Dumbest design ever!
What I'd like to know is where is the drain on this thing? Mine doesn't drain at all and I know this because I took it out of the window and all the water ended up in my kitchen floor. I don't have the fan splashing noise though. My Haier also keeps tripping the reset button and I wonder if it's because of the water. After reading all these comments, I'm thinking about just going and buying a different brand. This one isn't worth the trouble
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThe photo at the very top of this page shows where you might consider drilling a hole. I think it should be made as far to the edge of the outside pan as possible. I don't believe that your air conditioner has a drain. Many don’t as they rely on water at the bottom of the pan to cool the heat from the condenser coils – much of which is evaporated outside except on very humid days. Furthermore, it might void the warranty.
DeleteIf you do drill a (small) hole in the drain pan, water will continually flow out drop by drop on whatever is located outside. You might want to place a bucket under it to prevent overflowing onto your neighbor’s balcony. It should not be dripping inside your house. That means that the angle of your air conditioner is leaning inside as opposed to outside.
The drain hole should not be left continually open. You can use a same size screw to plug it up until it gets too full. The water collecting at the base of the pan is necessary to cool the condenser coils. However, when you turn the unit off, take out the screw or rubber plug and let it drain and dry overnight. This will keep your air-conditioner much healthier.
Your air-conditioner might already have accumulated a lot of debris at the condenser coil at the back of the air-conditioner (the radiator grill that points outside). This causes water to become trapped and doesn't evaporate well. I've always been OK with disassembling the casing and carefully washing out dead bugs and so forth with a garden hose.
Your air conditioner is likely not making a noise because it doesn't have a spooler which, by design, causes splashing to cool the compressor. This is incorporated into certain types of air conditioners. Be thankful if it doesn’t. It’s awful noisy.
Always make sure that the angle of your air conditioner is tilted slightly lower to the outside than inside the house. Check the manual to see what they recommend. It’s usually not much, but it allows water to flow from the front of the unit and drain to the outside. I hope that helps. It’s not as complicated as you think. There’s an awful lot of schematics on the net that give you an inside view of the air conditioner. They are very helpful in understanding their rather simplistic designs. Most of them name the parts you are looking at.
Good luck! Let’s hope it’s not too hot this summer.
I have a Lg unit it has worked great up in till now. Its making a loud voice witch it water hitting the fan and its basically raining in my room now. That cannot be what it supposed to do hasn't done this all year . my unit has a good tilt the drain is not clogged. The coil is clean the filer is clean what could it be. It only stops when I turn fan on for awhile turn off and back on then it starts again
ReplyDeleteI appreciate everything you have added to my knowledge base.Admiring the time and effort you put into your blog and detailed information you offer.Thanks. ac services
ReplyDeleteIf it's terribly humid (as it was this past weekend in CT and probably much of the NE) you're going to have a LOT of water and it's got to go someplace - so rather than play with it continually, drill a hole if necessary and divert the water, if necessary so it doesn't bother whatever is below your AC.
ReplyDeleteSecondly as I said above (a few years now) DO NOT WORRY... There ACs are also designed to operate in very dry dessert conditions -- so they will work fine WITHOUT (humidity or ) WATER too! Efficiency gains one way or another are probably minimal - if you're curious and have the engineering know how - try to measure it!!!
I had so much water collecting it was slowing down the fan speed by about 25%. My thoughts are this will cause premature wear on the fan motor. I also think the no drain design is an engineering mistake. Nice idea to splash with the fan but bad execution in high humidity areas. (Why did the old units all have drain outlets and worked fine?) So I drilled a 1/4" hole in the back corner since the water splashing noise was unbearable. I removed the screws to the bottom housing on my Frigidaire and pulled down to avoid drilling into the coil, while I CAREFULLY drilled a hole. Then I went to the hardware store and bought a length of 1/4" O.D. plastic hose. The type that is similar to a refrigerator water line. I cut the tip that goes into the bottom of the unit at an angle (to help drainage) and then put a little plumbers putty around it to seal it up. Actually I used a little "sticky tak" but if you have plumbers putty it would probably be better. Works like a champ!! No more noise!
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Hello, just visiting, but this blog came up 1st on top even though it's almost 8 years old. We recently moved into a double wide trailer with central air, however it has more than one problem. Instead of repairing it(after replacing 2 burnt out parts), we decided to purchase 3 of the smallest Haier window A/Cs. Haier must have read some of the complaints because they have a predrilled hole in the bottom with a rubber plug which you must remove before using(the tubing is optional & up to you) We use the homes central forced air fan to rotate the cold air throughout the house. Recently it has rained 24 hours a day and the unit in my room began spitting out water as well as causing the blower to began squeaking as if the shaft of the blower needed lubrication . The water from the roof was washing directly into the upper vents on the A/Cs housing. I went out side to see if I could help and put a large plastic square panel on top of the unit, I first put a row of small rocks at the back of the unit (closest to the window frame)to give the hard plastic panel an angle, then placed a pair of pair of 1/2 broken bricks on the top of the panel, to hold it in place. With the angle, the unit was still able to pull air into the case from both sides as well as the top where the inlets were to cool the coil. This ended the puddling inside the unit and spitting water droplets inside my room. Although it continues to pour outside, the inside remains dry. My greatest hope is that the wind doesn't pick up and blow the panel off the top of the A/C unit. When the rain finally stops I an going to cut a 1/4 inch piece of wood (paint it) to cover the top intake and use proper brackets to secure it at an angle permanently. I am going to do the same to A/C unit on the front of my home. This action completely stopped water which washed off the roof and the unit has not made any noises since the modification.
ReplyDeleteYes, when we started hearing a loud drip coming from inside the unit and tilting it didn't help, the hubby discovered the rubber plug in the bottom rear of unit. Haier must've added this feature not long ago. I'm sitting now and though I still hear the drip, it's not nearly as loud as it was before we pulled the plug. My concern, however, is still the mold that will continue to grow. I cleaned up the mold before hubby pulled the plug but I think it will continue to be a problem as the unit will continue to be wet inside. This can't be healthy!
Deletethe case in Colorado last summer (anyone with a swamp cooler in Colorado Springs last year lost the ability to cool their home during the hottest days of summer due to soot and smoke in the air) central air conditioner installation
ReplyDeleteDo not follow this advice. The unit uses condensate water and the slinger fan to work more efficiently.
ReplyDeleteThere is a rubber plug on the bottom of each unit for excess water which is very unlikely, and drilling a hole instead is not only really dumb, it can damage the unit, leaving it operating poorly or even leaking flammable refrigerant. Bad, bad idea.
Know the sound you hear is your unit working as well as it can.
I do agree with this. This is the same watery falls that comes out on my air conditioner. Some people say its normal though.
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Instead of drilling a hole I used a paper towel to wick away the water. I got the idea from this youtube https://youtu.be/RMqtp8bjY-w video titled "Air conditioner quick way to remove water no drilling holes". Very quickly the unit quieted down.
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