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What To Do When Your Portable Air Conditioner Hose Falls Off

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Nothing is more annoying than a portable air conditioner hose that keeps falling off while in use. We know the difficulty of putting it back on, so what should you do when it falls off? Before you panic and call for help, here are some things you can do to ensure that your portable air conditioner hose stays in place.


What is a Portable Air Conditioner Hose?

Portable Air Conditioner Hose

An air conditioner hose is a small opening located at the back of your portable AC. The outdoor venting hole is responsible for pulling the heat and humidity outside. Just like any other air conditioner, portable air conditioners work by drawing hot air from the room and cooling it afterward. 

Any portable AC unit, regardless of the type you select, must pull the air from the room through a vent and then exhaust it through a hose. Below are the three types of portable air conditioners and their exhaust hoses:

Single AC Hose

A portable air conditioner with a single hose draws warm air from the space, circulates it through the coils, and exhausts the hot air and moisture outside. It uses refrigerant coils to receive the heat and transform it into a high-pressure gas.

Dual AC Hose or Two Hoses

This particular type features a couple of intake hoses and one exhaust hose. Through intakes, the air is pulled into the portable AC, cooling the air and releasing it afterward. 

All of the hot air and humidity is discharged outside the house through the drain hose. The dual-hose air conditioning system doesn’t have to work nearly as hard as the single hose in making your room cool.

Ventless Portable AC

One alternative to a portable air conditioner that doesn’t require giant exhaust hoses is the portable evaporative cooler, also known as a portable swamp cooler. 

A ventless portable AC is a type of air conditioning unit that doesn’t use refrigerants to make the temperature cooler. Instead, the fan rotates while drawing hot air and it traps the heat in the process of changing water from liquid to vapor. The heat will be trapped until the water vapor condenses back into liquid.

Although a ventless portable AC unit doesn’t need to exhaust anything out the window, it is still harder to circulate the heat from the room. To bridge this gap, users can use a standard fan.


What is the Purpose of a Vent Hose in a Portable Air Conditioner?

The vent hose of the portable air conditioners helps the system to pull the indoor air and release it outwards. This process allows AC users to get and maintain proper airflow and desired temperature in any enclosed space. 

Since the hot air must leave the room to cool the place efficiently, it is important to properly vent the heat from the portable AC. If the heat is not expelled outdoors, it will remain within your room and cancel out the cool air that is coming in.


Why Do Portable Air Conditioner Hoses Fall Out?

The exhaust hose of a portable air conditioner is usually connected to the window using a fixed component connector and transition piece. These connectors are the plastic ends of the drain hose that the users connect to the vent without needing any glue.

Portable air conditioner hoses should be kept as straight and short as possible. If you set everything up correctly, the exhaust hose should not fall out easily. However, there are situations that can make the hose loose, such as:

  • Stretched hose
  • Improper installation
  • Elevated window level
  • Large distance between the window and the portable AC unit

What To Do When Your Portable Air Conditioner Hose Falls Off

When you discover that your portable air conditioner hose is not securely fitted to the unit, it can be easy to assume that there are no longer any options available. But that’s not always the case. 

There are ways to ensure that the hose doesn’t fall out anymore. The following tips will help:

Use HVAC Duct Tape 

The simplest solution to this issue is to connect the hose using duct tape. Make sure to buy good quality tape meant for AC units since they can withstand extreme temperatures. 

It is also important to note that the glue from low-grade HVAC tape will melt due to the heat and will cause more damage to your portable AC.

Use the Original Hose Adapters

Ideally, you can use the original hose adapters to fix the issue with the AC hose only if they are working fine. 

Connect the hose to the air conditioning unit by slipping the connector over the opening of the exhaust. After that, install the hose and slide the other end of it out of the window.

If the original parts of your portable unit don’t hold the hose firmly, it does not make sense to rebuy them. You can look up the brand of your air conditioner brand and see if they have replacement parts available. Upon request, you can also get a free replacement hose from your aircon brand.

Use a Window Kit 

A window kit, often called a venting kit, is a generic AC tool with one-sized parts. This method is cheaper than other ways, but always make sure to buy a high-quality venting kit.

Use a Bungee Cord 

The hose of your portable air conditioning unit will be loose because of its weight. This happens when the hose is higher than the other end. You can tie a bungee cord to your curtain rod to balance both ends. 


Can You Run a Portable Air Conditioner With No Exhaust Hose?

The exhaust hose is used as a bridge to travel the hot and humid air outdoors. If the drain hose is taken out, the portable AC will start venting directly behind the air conditioner. 

Although it is still worth having the exhaust hose attached, you can run a portable air conditioner without it. Below are the methods to do to appropriately direct the air outside without the air conditioner hose:

Put the Portable AC Unit Into the Door Gap

Placing hoseless portable air conditioner units next to doors is the simplest method to run an AC without its exhaust hose.

How:

  1. Open the door and simply move the portable air conditioner next to it.
  2. Determine the location of the hole where the air conditioner hose is originally attached. The hole is typically round, with a 6-inch diameter at the back of the unit.
  3. Align the hole with the door gap to direct the hot and humid air outside the room.
  4. If you feel that cool air is escaping the room through the door, put on a blanket or linen cloth to seal the gap.

Mount the Portable AC Through the Window

Just like a normal window air conditioner, installing portable AC units through the window is possible.

How:

  1. Install the portable AC exhaust on a window sill. 
  2. Ensure that the portable air conditioner unit is tightened so it doesn’t fall off the window. 
  3. If your room doesn’t have enough space on the window sill to cater to the portable AC, you can slip the vent through a partially opened window.

Create a Hole in the Wall

If you are left with no choice, a hole in the wall can help you achieve a hoseless portable air conditioner unit.

How:

  1. Measure the diameter of the vent hose at the back of the unit.
  2. Cut a hole in the wall based on the diameter.
  3. Align the portable AC with the hole to channel the heat and humidity outside the room.

Final Thoughts

A falling portable air conditioner hose is a problem that every portable AC user should be aware of. If you currently have a portable AC, check the hose as soon as you finish reading this article to prevent the hose from falling off. 

The last thing you want is to be without your portable AC when you need it most because your hose falls off in the middle of a hot summer day.

Although the exhaust hose of the portable AC makes a big difference in your cooling experience, you can try other hoseless methods if it is still pestering your comfort. 

Moreover, if you are still encountering problems with your portable air conditioner hose, you can immediately contact your local HVAC technician to solve the issue. 

Keep following this site for more tips and tricks about your air conditioning unit.

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JP Reyes

JP has been in the aircon industry for almost as long as he has been alive. As a child JP would help his tatay fix aircon units at their junk shop in Cavite. After graduating UP in the early 2000's, JP then started his own Aircon servicing business and within 5 years had 10 shops in 8 different cities. Fast forward to today and JP brings all his experience and expertise online to give readers trustworthy advice and reviews about Air-conditioning buying, servicing, cleaning and repair in the Philippines.

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