To drain your Toshiba portable air conditioner, you need to gather some supplies and then follow the process when the P1 error code is displayed.
A portable air conditioner (AC) requires some maintenance from time to time, as the AC is only a single unit, and it cannot drain and vent automatically.
This is also the case with Toshiba portable air conditioners, which can be drained quite simply if you know the right supplies to gather, rules to remember, and process to follow.
The importance of maintenance on portable air conditioners
Portable air conditioners can be used in many distinctive spaces and they come in many different shapes and sizes to fit into these spaces.
However, regardless of the shape or size of your portable air conditioner, since the unit is so compact and only has an indoor component, it does require regular maintenance and upkeep.
Besides the regular air filter changes that can be expected with any air conditioner, portable air conditioners also have a vent and a condensate drain that you need to keep in a good condition.
How to drain a Toshiba portable air conditioner
Portable air conditioners need to be drained regularly, because the moisture that is extracted from the air in your space will run down the evaporator coils and collect in a drain pan.
The higher the humidity levels in your space and the more frequently you use the air conditioner, the more moisture will accumulate.
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If you run your Toshiba portable air conditioner in the “Cool” mode, there is a high likelihood that you will never need to drain it.
This is because Toshiba portable air conditioners are designed to have any built-up moisture or condensate evaporate out of the exhaust vent of the unit.
However, if you are running the Toshiba portable air conditioner in the “Dry” mode, or if your unit has a heating setting, you need to drain the unit every so often.
Your air conditioner will display a “P1” error code when the condensate pan has accumulated too much moisture and needs to be drained.
The Toshiba portable air conditioners can have two to three drain plugs which are positioned in the back of the unit, near the middle, and at the bottom of the unit.
The process to drain the unit is quite simple and only requires that you gather a few supplies beforehand, remember a few key rules, and follow a couple of steps.
What you need to drain your Toshiba portable air conditioner
The process to drain a Toshiba portable air conditioner is similar to the process of draining all portable air conditioners and you just need a few supplies, such as:
- A drain hose and drain connector, if necessary, as this can be an actual hose that fits your unit or just a clear PVC hose
- A shallow pan that can fit underneath the unit to catch the fluid or condensate
- A small bucket for the other drain plugs
- A towel to mop up any accidental spills
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Important things to remember when draining your Toshiba portable air conditioner
Before you start with the process of draining your Toshiba portable air conditioner, there are a few key things you should remember, like:
- Make sure that your unit is turned off and plugged out before you start the process, as you will be working with moisture near electrical equipment
- Your unit has up to three drain plugs that all need to be drained separately and you can install a continuous drain by connecting the drain hose to the top-most middle drain plug and letting the unit drain into a floor drain automatically
- Each drain plug has a small rubber stopper underneath the cap that also needs to be removed for the condensate to flow through the drain plug opening
The process to drain your Toshiba portable air conditioner
As long as you keep these points in mind, you can safely drain your Toshiba portable air conditioner by only following a few simple steps, which are as follows:
- Step 1: Move the unit so that you have access to the drain plugs at the back of it
- Step 2: Place your shallow pan underneath the unit and have a towel handy
- Step 3: Start from the bottom and unscrew the drain plug, removing the rubber stoppers one by one for each drain plug
You can use a connector and a drain hose for the top drains, or just let the water flow out of the opening naturally.
When the flow of condensate starts slowing down, you can tilt the unit slightly to make sure that you get all of the moisture out, and then place the stopper and cap back on the plug.