Setting up a Toshiba portable air conditioner is fast and easy for most typical rooms. Simply plug in the unit and find a window to vent the warm-air exhaust and you’re ready to go.
But people sometimes get confused when it comes to draining their Toshiba portable air conditioner. So below we’ll look at how to drain your unit and how often you may need to do so.
Do I Need To Drain My Toshiba Portable Air Conditioner?
Yes. Although it will depend on how humid the air is where you live. In some cases you can go a whole summer while only needing to drain the unit once if the air is very dry.
But if you live in humid areas, you may need to drain your Toshiba air conditioner every 8 hours. If your unit is full and needs to be drained, it may not power on. If this happens, you will need to drain the water before using the unit again.
How To Drain A Toshiba Portable Air Conditioner
1. Find the drain plug(s)
Every Toshiba portable air conditioner will have a drain plug in the back of the unit and generally in the very middle of the unit. This plug should be very easy to spot as it’s meant to be easily accessible without much effort.
On some models, there may be two drain plugs. In this case there will be an upper and a lower plus. Both will need to be drained during this process although one may be more full than the other.
2. Set up a bowl or tray to catch the water when draining
When you remove the drain plug, water will flow out of the holes, so you will need something to catch the water. A small bowl or tray will work in most cases.
Some Toshiba models may have a small plug inside after you remove the drain plug. Simply remove this plug to start the water flowing. Keep this plug handy as it will need to go back in at the end of the process.
Instead of using bowls or trays to catch the water, you can move the unit outside or inside of a shower before opening the drain plugs and just let the water run onto the ground.
Make sure to unplug the unit before draining any water from it and make sure there is no spilled water after the process.
3. Replace the drain plug and start the unit
Once fully drained, simply replace the drain plug and any additional plug that was present on your model. Tighten the drain plug and start the unit.
There are no additional steps needed and the unit will run fine until the next draining is needed.
How Often Do You Need To Drain A Toshiba Portable Air Conditioner?
Whenever the tank is getting full. In some very humid areas, this may be every few hours. In very dry areas, this may take months as most of the water evaporates away before it can accumulate.
Air conditioners remove humidity from the air, and that humidity has to go somewhere.
With portable units, it is collected in a tank. With window units, it will simply drip away from the unit and onto the ground outside so no tank or draining is needed.
Where Does The Drain Hose Go On A Portable Air Conditioner?
A drain hose is used if you do not want to regularly drain the tank or be worried whether the tank is getting full or not. In this case, a hose is attached where the drain plug is and then the hose is run to a drain or to the outdoors.
Drain hoses are not needed in dry climates. If you live in a very humid area, a drain hose can save you the time of having to drain your Toshiba portable air conditioner every few hours.
But if using a drain hose, you will need a place to run the hose to. The hose will also have to run downhill the entire length of the hose. If not, the water will not drain out of the unit.
Draining A Toshiba Portable Air Conditioner FAQ
What happens if I don’t drain my portable air conditioner?
If the unit is not drained and the water level gets too high, an internal sensor will detect this and not allow the unit to power up.
On some models there may be a symbol that lights up on the unit’s control panel. While on other more basic models, the unit will simply not turn on or the power button will flash red.
If this happens, drain the unit and it will start up again with no issues.
Where does a drain hose go on a portable air conditioner?
The drain hose will screw on to where you remove the drain plug. The drain hose will allow the air conditioner to continually drain without the need for regular drainings.
A drain hose is not needed for Toshiba portable air conditioners to run. It just offers a convenient way of draining the unit to save time.
Do you have to drain a portable air conditioner?
Yes. You should always drain a portable air conditioner when the reservoir tank becomes full. Even if the unit does not become full due to being in a very dry area, you should drain and clean the tank at the end of the season.
Draining at the end of the summer before storing the unit will prevent mold and other impurities from building up in the tank. These can cause an odor or even a malfunction when the unit is used again.
Final Thoughts On Draining A Toshiba Portable Air Conditioner
Toshiba portable air conditioners are very highly rated and consumers enjoy their reliable cooling during the hottest months of the summer.
But these units do require some regular maintenance to get the most out of them, including draining them on a regular basis.
Just follow the tips in this article and draining your Toshiba portable air conditioner should only take a few moments of your time.