Some people might think that running an air conditioner while it’s raining can be unsafe. Fortunately, that is not true.
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Your window AC can operate perfectly fine even during heavy rain; however, you have to make sure that the unit doesn’t get flooded as this can damage the inside components. If it’s windy outside, you might want to protect the AC from the twigs and debris with a cover.
Can You Run a Window AC in the Rain?
Window air conditioners are designed to be able to withstand various weather conditions. Rain won’t damage the unit in any way as all the electrical components are sealed inside to make sure that water doesn’t get to them.
The only water-related thing that air conditioners ‘hate’ is standing water. If it has been pouring rain and now your area is flooded, you might want to remove the window AC as the unit should not be covered in water.
If there are over 15 inches of water covering the cooling equipment, the electrical components and the moving parts might not be able to function.
Can You Run Window AC During Thunderstorm?
It is generally considered to be safe to leave your window air conditioner plugged in and operating during a thunderstorm. However, you should bear in mind that there is always a risk of lightning striking your air-con (especially, if you live in a high-rise).
By the way, during a thunderstorm, debris might get trapped in the unit because of the strong winds. So, inspecting the air conditioner after a storm is always a good idea.
Read: Why Window Air Conditioner All Lights Flashing And Beeping
What Happens If My AC Gets Wet?
Nothing will really happen if it starts raining on your window AC. However, if the unit gets left in standing water, the electrical components can get damaged.
What Happens If Rain Gets in Your AC?
The parts inside the unit that need to be protected from water are sealed, so a bit of rain won’t damage these components.
But if it’s not only raining but also the wind is quite strong, then you might want to protect your air conditioner from debris. Small sticks, leaves, and dirt can get stuck in the unit and this, in its turn, might lead to damage.
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Read: Why Window Air Conditioner Compressor Not Turning On?
How to Ruin a Window Air Conditioner?
Your window AC can easily get ruined if:
- It wasn’t installed properly
- You constantly forget to change the filter
- You never clean the unit
- You never check the air conditioner after a storm
- You leave the unit in the window when it’s freezing outside
- You’re using harsh chemicals to clean the air conditioner
- You leave the unit in standing water
Does Rain Ruin Window AC?
Rain cannot ruin your window air conditioner if it’s a good-quality unit that has been installed correctly. Standing water, however, might damage the AC’s electrical components.
Read: Does A Window Air Conditioner Need A Dedicated Circuit?
Why Is My AC Not Working After It Rained?
In a lot of cases, it’s not the actual rain to blame, it’s the winds accompanied by the rain. Those can end up leaving dirt, twigs, and all sorts of things stuck in your window air conditioner.
Inspect the unit – if the outside is damaged (by a falling branch, for example), then the chances are high that there is something wrong on the inside as well. You can try thoroughly cleaning the air conditioner to see if that will help, but calling an HVAC technician is usually the best way out.
Why AC Is Not Cooling in Rainy Season?
If you feel like your window air conditioner is not cooling as well during the rainy season, then it might be because of one of the following reasons:
- Your air-con is working perfectly fine, but your body is feeling hotter because of the high humidity level. In such a case, you might want to switch your unit to the ‘dry mode’ – the air conditioner will then be not only lowering the temperature but also dehumidifying the air.
- The moisture from the air is freezing on the coils – this is blocking the airflow and your air conditioner isn’t able to operate as efficiently. If that’s the issue, then keep the fan mode on and, in case that did not help, invite a professional over to check the refrigerant level.
Read: Does A Window Air Conditioner Pull Air From Outside?
Which Mode Is Best for AC in Rain?
If your window air conditioner has a ‘dry mode’, then you might want to give it a try on a rainy day. This will help dehumidify the air and if the surrounding air does not contain a lot of moisture, you’ll naturally feel cooler.
Also, do keep the air-con’s fan on when it’s raining. This will help make sure that the excess moisture doesn’t freeze on the AC’s coils.
Why Does My Window AC Sound Like It Has Water in It After Rain?
While your air conditioner is running, it is also dehumidifying the air. This condensation then gets removed, but during the extra humid months (or after it has been raining), your AC might struggle to effectively get rid of this moisture.
In a lot of cases, it is not the actual rainwater stuck in the unit, it’s the moisture that the air conditioner had removed from the air.
Is It Normal to Hear Water in a Window AC Unit?
It is completely normal, as your window AC would be constantly dehumidifying the air. Some water would then be ‘spit’ onto the coils (that improves cooling), while the excess condensation would be sent into the drain.
Read: How To Prevent Mold In Window Air Conditioner?
How Do You Get Water Out of a Window AC Unit?
If you feel like your AC is not able to get rid of the water inside it, then you can:
- Adjust the unit’s tilt – the AC should be slightly tilted towards the outdoors.
- Remove the drain plug – if your unit has a rubber plug in the back bottom corner, then you can try removing it for a few minutes to allow the condensation to drain freely.
- Clean the drain pan – turn off the unit and make sure that the drain pan does not have any debris or mold in it that ended up blocking the drainage hole.
Why Does My Window AC Keep Filling Up with Water?
- The condensation drain is blocked
- The condensation pan is damaged
- The air filter is dirty
- The window AC has been incorrectly installed
- The unit has low refrigerant levels
Where Is the Drain Hole on a Window Air Conditioner?
The drain hole is usually located on the outside part of the window AC. You’ll find it right underneath the part that hangs out of the window.
Should I Remove the Drain Plug from My Window Air Conditioner?
Under normal circumstances, the plug should not be taken out. It is there to allow water removal when the air-con is being stored for winter.
However, if your unit is struggling to get rid of the excess water, you can remove the plug to assist it.
How Much Water Does a Window AC Drain?
On a hot day and in a humid climate, a window air-con might end up dripping up to 6 gallons of water every day.
How Often Should I Drain My Window Air Conditioner?
Properly operating window ACs should be able to drain the excess condensation on their own.