Drained air conditioning system. The most reliable drain pipe for air conditioning Drain pipe for split systems

Drained air conditioning system.  The most reliable drain pipe for air conditioning Drain pipe for split systems
Drained air conditioning system. The most reliable drain pipe for air conditioning Drain pipe for split systems

Today we will look at one of the most important materials for installation - air conditioner drain pipe. A very common malfunction during the operation of a “split” is when water begins to flow from the indoor unit. To minimize the possibility of such a malfunction, I will tell you a few nuances when installing drainage. Today we will also look at what tubes and hoses are used by air conditioner installers.

The main cause of leakage from the indoor unit is a clogged drain tube. The second reason that I have encountered, which is less common, is factory defects in the condensate collection system on the indoor unit. But I will try to talk about them in other articles, and today we will analyze the first reason in detail.

Very often we have to deal with the problem of clogged drainage. From our practice, there are two most common cases:

  • when the drainage tube becomes clogged during “natural” operation (contaminants accumulate in the indoor unit);
  • when the drainage becomes a favorite habitat for insects (bees or bumblebees fly in, spiders make nests).

The likelihood of each situation occurring largely depends on the type of drainage hose used. Yes, yes, it is the choice of the “correct” drainage that will reduce the likelihood of a leak.

Types of air conditioner drainage pipes used by installers

Rigid drainage tubes:


Soft drainage hoses:


I have seen air conditioners equipped with other drainages (electrical wiring corrugations, hoses from washing machines and others), but I don’t even see the point in discussing them in our article.

Which air conditioner drainage is best to use?

As you can see, there are many types of hoses, each with its own pros and cons. Metal-plastic drainage and garden hose bends can bend, narrowing the hole for draining condensate.
Thin-walled soft drainage (as well as various corrugations) can be damaged when pulled through the hole. Hard plastic drains are more attractive to insects. But flexible a specialized hose for air conditioning has more advantages than minuses. Because it does not compress when cornering and has a rigid protective braid that does not fray.

Air conditioner – popular today Appliances, used to maintain a comfortable indoor microclimate. And like any other device with complex design, it contains a variety of replaceable parts. Including siphon, connecting and drainage pipes. These elements can be considered auxiliary; in fact, it is difficult, and most often impossible, to do without them.

For example, this applies to the siphon. This device used to remove condensed moisture from the air conditioner. Some owners of air conditioning units do not pay due attention to the moisture dripping from them, since it is usually allowed to simply flow down out the window. But this is completely wrong from the point of view of ethics and aesthetics. Dripping and sometimes pouring moisture from a height can fall on random passers-by. But if the house is private, low-rise, then there is another problem: condensation accumulates around the facade in the form of unsightly puddles, which, moreover, do not have the most beneficial effect on the condition of the foundation. Installing a siphon allows you to avoid all this and make the operation of the air conditioner aesthetically pleasing and more comfortable. practical point vision.

This is a fairly simple device that drains condensate directly into sewer system. Initially, moisture accumulates inside the siphon; as soon as its quantity becomes sufficient, a special shutter is activated and the water is drained into the sewer. And to prevent a smell from coming out of the pipe, the siphon is equipped with a special valve that does not allow unpleasant odors into the room.

Depending on the type of construction, siphons are:

  • external – located in plain sight;
  • built-in - hidden in the thickness of the wall;
  • transparent - made of translucent plastic, so their condition is very easy to monitor, noticing overflow and contamination in time.
  • Siphons for air conditioners are manufactured both in Russia and foreign manufacturers, each of which offers several models of such devices. They differ in the type of thread on the connecting elements, which should be taken into account when choosing a siphon. Built-in siphons have different indicators the depth to which they can be immersed in the wall, which is also important to know before purchasing. The main indicator by which the effectiveness of such equipment is assessed is its throughput. For domestic needs, siphons with medium characteristics are suitable, and for industrial purposes - exclusively with high ones.

    Correct operation of the air conditioner is impossible without special drainage pipes. They are part of the outlet complex along with the siphon. Tubes of suitable size and length, correctly mounted and sealed, will allow you to get rid of condensed moisture easily and in a timely manner. Drainage can be made up of hoses or capillary tubes. Hoses are made of PVC and have a larger diameter than tubes. To give them rigidity and stability, they have a spiral inside. They are installed together with the main air conditioning system, laid along the walls and connected to the sewer system, and then covered with thermal insulation. Capillary tubes are usually used in conjunction with drainage pumps; they are used when moisture cannot be removed naturally, but must first be pumped out. They are also made of durable but flexible plastic, have a small diameter - 2-6 mm - and are often transparent. They can be easily installed even in difficult conditions and in rooms where it is not possible to install another drainage system for air conditioner.

    Drainage hoses and capillary pipes are an important functional part working system air conditioner A properly installed drainage complex from them is necessary in order to drain the water concentrates constantly formed during the cooling of the incoming air outside the air-conditioned rooms.

    Formed this system from a selected number of drain hoses that are tightly and securely connected to the main distribution block of the air conditioning system. Under normal conditions, drainage hoses are installed at an angle to the pan of the indoor unit of the air conditioner, which ensures natural drainage of moisture. If the location of the air conditioner does not allow this, special drainage pumps are used, for the operation of which capillary tubes are laid.

    Drainage hoses (pipes)

    Traditionally, drainage pipes are flexible hoses made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), reinforced against damage with an internal spiral. They can be used to transmit air, chemically active gases, cold vapors, smoke; they are not recommended for use for the distillation of gases with the possibility of sparking or with hot vapors. The special design allows the drainage hose to be flexible and maintain high resistance to fractures and kinks, and withstand adverse conditions. weather And low temperatures. Typically these pipes have White color and are supplied in coils of 25-30 m in various diameters.

    Indoors, drainage pipes are usually laid together with other communication and functional systems air conditioner in one box. They are installed along the walls and through specially prepared openings they are taken outside the residential premises or connected to the sewer system. In this case, all technological openings must be thoroughly cleaned of debris and, if necessary, strengthened. After installing the drainage pipes, electrical wiring and the airways they close heat-insulating materials, which are usually played by various natural and synthetic soft fillers that can provide tightness and withstand sudden temperature changes for long period time.

    Often, as temporary measures for repair, a variety of hoses are installed, including ordinary rubber ones, but this quickly leads to leaks in the most inconvenient places near the kinks. For reliable and quality work It is important to use only specialized pipes for drainage systems.

    Capillary hoses (tubes)

    These products are usually used in conjunction with specially installed drainage pumps. Their use is the only solution for those situations where it is impossible to ensure the removal of condensate naturally by conventional means. Modern technologies production of drainage pumps allows you to install equipment in any necessary places, and also use electronic water control sensors, which ensures reliable and accurate results.
    Depending on the size of the premises, pumps of very different power and performance are used, and the further the outlet paths in the form of drains or sewers, the larger the footage of capillary hoses that need to be used. These tubes are made of durable plastic, which, depending on the manufacturer, can be either colored or transparent. Capillary hoses have high flexibility and a relatively small diameter - usually 6mm external and 2mm internal, which ensures ease of installation even in the most hard to reach places residential and industrial premises.

    The air conditioner drainage system is designed to remove condensate formed during cooling of the air flow. This system must have an outlet outside the room where the air conditioner is located.

    What is a drainage system?

    The drainage is essentially a tube, which is designed to transport condensate. And the drainage system consists of a network of tubes connected to the device block.

    In this case, all connections must be tight. Typically, drainage tubes are polystyrene hoses that have the necessary strength and other technical characteristics.

    Organization of drainage to the street

    Let's consider bringing drainage to the street as the most common and simplest method.

    The drainage hose of the required length is connected to indoor unit system using appropriately sized adapter fittings.

    The hoses should not be inserted into each other - such an unsealed connection will be unreliable.

    Requirements for installing an air conditioner drain system

    The requirements that the air conditioner drainage system must meet basically repeat the requirements for laying sewer systems:

    • The slope of the horizontal sections is about three percent.
    • Rotation angles are no more than 45 degrees.
    • If drainage is connected to a sewer system, a siphon with a water seal must be installed in front of it. The water standing in it will prevent the penetration of miasma from the sewer into the air conditioning system. When discharging condensate to the street, this requirement does not apply.

    Installation of air conditioner drainage system

    Most often, a joint route is organized between the blocks, where, in addition to drainage, other communications are laid.

    If the drainage hose is not made of frost-resistant and wear-resistant material and has a small diameter, then it is useful to hide the drainage line in a corrugated pipe in an outdoor area. There is no point in doing this indoors.

    Upon completion of the installation of the air conditioner drainage system, or rather, drainage pipe, the communications of the joint route should be secured together with electrical tape in several places, unless a corrugated pipe with a large diameter will serve as an insulating winding. Communications should not be connected in advance to the indoor unit of the air conditioning system.

    Drainage external unit in the case of an output scheme to the street, it is carried out simply: it is connected to the drainage hole located at the bottom of the block flexible hose, the outlet of which is positioned so that condensation does not fall on neighbors’ windows, façade projections and other air conditioners.

    When the installation of the air conditioner drainage system is completed, all its parts will be connected, a common communications route laid along external wall at home, you should not forget to wrap it with electrical tape, or use another insulation method in the form of a corrugated pipe.

    The electrical tape must be wound from bottom to top. The same procedure should be applied to copper pipes in exposed areas and electrical wiring to protect them from corrosion. The hole made in the external wall should be securely filled with silicone sealant.

    Video about installing the air conditioner drainage system:

    Leave your feedback on the article in the comments - it is important for us to know your opinion!

    The drainage system consists of connected air conditioner tubes through which condensate is collected in a drainage tray and then directed out of the housing. The entire water removal system is hidden in the housings; only the air conditioner condensate drain pipe is attached to the outside.

    Condensate drain options

    There are several types of condensate drainage through the air conditioner drain pipe:

    • outside;
    • in a special tank;
    • using drainage pump(forced);
    • into the sewer.

    Depending on how the water will be removed, you need to purchase Consumables: propylene air conditioner condensate drain pipes, drain hose, drain siphon, adapters and seals for discharge to the sewer.

    The standard diameters of the drain tube are 16 and 20 mm; it is produced in the form of a flexible corrugated pipe. To drain condensate into the sewer system it is used polypropylene pipe with a diameter of 20 or 25 mm.

    Cleaning air conditioner drain pipes

    With prolonged use, the tubes gradually become clogged, and mold appears in the drainage bath. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically clean the condensate drain pipes of the air conditioner. The procedure is quite within the capabilities of the owner of the air conditioner. There are several ways to clean drainage pipes:

    • washing with water or grease solvent. The products are very suitable household chemicals. Flushing agent is poured through the evaporator and drains through the drain hose;
    • With drainage disconnect. The pipeline is blown out, sometimes this can be done with an ordinary powerful vacuum cleaner;
    • With disassembly of the internal module. The indoor unit is disassembled; in this case, the hose can be thoroughly blown out and rinsed.

    But it is possible to completely clean the air conditioner tubes only under conditions service center. However, if you periodically flush or bleed the system yourself, it will be maintained in normal operating condition. For the condensate drainage system to become severely clogged, it takes more than one year of operation. Therefore, such dirt deposits cannot be cleaned out with just one vacuum cleaner. But if calling professionals is not possible, you need to clean the drainage yourself. Otherwise, condensation will spoil not only the air conditioner, but also the decoration of the room.

    Drainage system repair

    If the air conditioner drain pipe system has failed for some reason and cleaning is ineffective, repair is needed. The pipeline may be crushed or severely clogged or ruptured. If the air conditioner operates year-round, the drain pipe is equipped with a heater. Otherwise, an ice plug will form in it and the drain will not work.

    The last highway that remains to be laid is this is a drainage system. Water condensed on the units of the device accumulates in the drainage of the internal and external units of the split system. On lower parts blocks have drainage holes to which drainage hoses are attached.

    Two options for diverting the drainage system from the air conditioning units:

    1. In the sewer system, it involves installing a siphon on the line to protect against odor

    2. Free drainage of condensate to the street

    Hoses should be installed at a slope towards water drainage. Typically the drainage hose the indoor unit is taken outside along the already laid route to the external unit. For this purpose, a groove or decorative box is made with slight slope towards the street - this will prevent water from accumulating in the drainage hose and it will need to be cleaned very rarely. Drainage the external unit is not organized or deflects to the side - condensate flows freely from the hole or short hose at the bottom of the block.

    Available already flared installation kits For self-installation air conditioner from 0.8 to 50 meters. Buy ready set cheaper than buying components separately. The kit is also suitable for laying a route during repairs. Included: ready-made tubes for quick connection of an insulated air conditioner, drain hose, brackets for the external unit, wires, fasteners. Pickup in Moscow from Lermontovsky Prospekt metro station (8). Delivery throughout Russia.

    Standard installation of an air conditioner in Moscow and the Moscow region costs 5,000 rubles including materials. Bookmark copper routes- from 3000 rubles.

    Let's consider the first connection option, where we divert drainage to the street, it is the simplest and most common.

    We connect a drainage hose of the required length to the indoor unit of the split system. To do this, use a suitable adapter fitting. It is not recommended to insert hoses into each other - without a seal the connection will not be reliable.

    When laying the hose, it is advisable to avoid turning the drainage system too sharply. Condensate, flowing down the highway, will encounter an obstacle in the form of a turn on its way and will accumulate in this area, preventing uniform flow.

    Basic requirements for the drainage system are similar to the basic requirements for laying sewer systems:

    • The optimal angle of inclination of horizontal sections is 3 degrees
    • The optimal turning angle is 45 degrees
    • At the entrance to the sewer network, a siphon must be attached to the hose, which will constantly contain standing water. The siphon will close the passage to the air conditioner with gases from the sewer network that have an unpleasant odor.

    If condensate is drained outside, use the first two recommendations. Most likely organized joint track between the blocks (already described in previous articles), which includes a drainage tube. In the already familiar diagram below, the drainage pipe is the last thing left to be installed in the joint route.

    If the drainage hose does not consist of wear-resistant and frost-resistant material (as a rule, it has a small diameter), put the drainage line in the street area into a corrugated pipe, as shown in the diagram. There is no point in hiding the drainage hose indoors in a corrugated pipe.

    After installing the drainage pipe, wrap the communications of the joint route together with vinyl tape in several places. if you use corrugated pipe as an insulating winding large diameter, be careful not to connect communications to the indoor unit of the air conditioner.

    With the scheme we have chosen, drainage of the external unit is implemented simply - a flexible hose is connected to the drainage hole at the bottom of the unit and the condensate is discharged slightly to the side, so that the stream and drops of condensate do not fall on the windows of neighbors, other air conditioners and facade protrusions.

    After completing the organization of the drainage system, do not forget to wrap the joint air conditioner route running along the external wall of the building with vinyl tape, unless, of course, you use a corrugated pipe as an insulating winding for joint communications. Vinyl tape should be wound from bottom to top. Also wrap with vinyl tape - open areas copper tubes to protect them from corrosion and electrical wires. Seal the hole in the outside wall on both sides with silicone caulk.

    If you decide to drain condensate into the sewer system, then carefully design the routes, especially for draining condensate from the external unit into the building. Drilling an additional hole in the wall in in this case Necessarily, it is not recommended to install a joint route inclined inside the building - serious protection against water ingress will be required.

    When organizing a drainage passage in the wall, make a water trap - a hose loop that looks like a siphon in appearance, so that the water on the surface of the drainage pipe does not wash away the hole in the outer wall. carefully monitor the height difference and be sure to take into account the use of such a drainage scheme when choosing a location for installation of an external split system unit.

    Connect drainage lines to the sewer system only through a siphon, this has already been discussed above. Diameter plastic pipes sewer - 50 mm, old cast iron - 70 mm. Be sure to take this into account when purchasing fittings and adapters.

    When you have organized the drainage system, isolated the routes with vinyl tape or corrugated pipe, you can already use air conditioning without restrictions- All that remains is to check it.