Do you see water at the bottom of your DeLonghi portable air conditioner, but it wasn’t leaking water before? We did some research to answer why this could happen, to help you address this problem.
The most common reason why a DeLonghi portable air conditioner would leak water is when it is not on a level surface. This will cause it to tilt to one side and leak water. Other potential causes to be aware of include the following:
- Needing more frequent drainage due to high humidity levels
- A cracked internal reservoir tank, which requires professional repair
- Having a blocked drain hole and/or drain tubing
Even though leveling is a common cause of water leaks, you might want to know how to explore the other possible causes. We have compiled troubleshooting and repair tips in the succeeding sections below. Stay with us!
Why does the DeLonghi portable air conditioner leak water?
Air conditioners naturally produce water as a byproduct of the cooling process and because all air conditioners have a dehumidifying function. It uses some of this water to cool the air conditioner’s condenser—its hottest part—while the rest accumulates into a reservoir at the bottom of the unit.
Is the unit on a level surface?
If the DeLonghi portable air conditioner is not on a level surface, the water will not be able to drain to the internal reservoir properly.
Some DeLonghi portable air conditioner models have a water level sensor that alerts users when the water level of the internal reservoir is almost full.
However, the sensor will not get tripped if the air conditioner is not on a level floor—especially if the air conditioner is leaning in the opposite direction of the sensor. This will cause the water to flow to that side of the air conditioner and leak.
In these two scenarios, simply moving the DeLonghi portable air conditioner to a level surface should address the issue.
Other causes of leaks
The DeLonghi portable air conditioner will produce more than the normal amount of water in an area of the house with very high moisture content, like near the laundry room or near the bathroom.
When this happens, the internal reservoir could fill up faster than usual. Thus, instead of draining the reservoir every few months, you will need to drain it more frequently.
A crack or leak in the internal reservoir tank will cause water to spill out too. Have a professional fix the issue for you if the crack cannot be easily sealed.
A blocked internal drain hole is another possible reason for leaking water, albeit a less common one. If the drain hole is blocked, the water byproduct cannot go to the internal reservoir and leak out instead. Call a professional to fix this issue for you if you’re not comfortable opening your portable air conditioner.
Some models have an optional drain hookup so that you do not need to worry about regularly draining the internal reservoir to prevent water leaks. But water will still leak when this drain tube gets blocked. Clean the drain tube to get rid of the blockage to address the issue.
How often should you drain a DeLonghi portable air conditioner?
Most DeLonghi portable air conditioner models are designed to be drained at the end of the season or every few months. However, this frequency can be changed by a few factors.
All DeLonghi portable air conditioners have dehumidifiers that help cool the air. Thus, if you live near a body of water—a river, lake, pond, etc.—the air inside your house would have more water vapor than usual.
A higher amount of water vapor will cause the dehumidifier system to produce more than the usual amount of water that it can handle.
Additionally, if your DeLonghi portable air conditioner is near areas in your house that normally contain more moisture such as the laundry room, bathrooms, or the kitchen, for examples, then it would also produce more than the usual amount of water.
In situations like these, the internal reservoir will need to be drained more often to prevent the water from leaking.
How much water does a portable air conditioner usually produce?
Although this can vary between the different models and manufacturers of air conditioners, the amount of water produced daily is between 5-20 gallons.
Is it OK to leave the portable air conditioner on when it is leaking water?
Most DeLonghi portable air conditioner models have a water level sensor to tell users that the water reservoir is almost full. If you ignore this notification, the portable air conditioner will turn off and could not turn back on until you drain the internal reservoir.
However, if the portable air conditioner is not on a level floor, the water level sensor might not get triggered at all. In this case, the portable air conditioner will stay on, and the water will keep leaking.
It is best to manually turn the air conditioner off if it keeps leaking. It is dangerous to continue operating electronic appliances with leaking water.
You might also want to check out: "Should You Turn Off Air Conditioner When Not Home?"
How do you properly clean a DeLonghi portable air conditioner?
According to the DeLonghi website, the external surface can be cleaned with a damp piece of cloth. A dry piece of cloth should then be used to dry it afterward.
It is important to clean air filters to maintain the efficiency of the portable air conditioner. DeLonghi recommends cleaning the filter each week that you use the air conditioner.
Dust and lint on the filter can be removed by using a vacuum cleaner. Submerge it in lukewarm water if it is very dirty and then rinse it several times until you get rid of all the dust and lint. Let the filter dry naturally after washing.
Click here to see this Delonghi portable air conditioner on Amazon.
How to get the most out of my DeLonghi portable air conditioner
- The DeLonghi portable air conditioner should be used in a room where all doors and windows are closed.
- Prevent direct sunlight from entering the room. Use thick curtains to block sunlight or partially lower the shutters.
- Do not insert small objects inside the air conditioner, and do not block the air intake.
- Make sure that there are no heat sources in the room where you will use the DeLonghi portable air conditioner.
- Do not use the DeLonghi portable air conditioner in rooms with high humidity like laundry rooms and bathrooms.
- Do not use DeLonghi portable air conditioner outdoors.
This DeLonghi Insulated Hose Cover helps prevent heat from getting back into your room.
Click here to see this Delonghi insulated hose cover for portable air conditioner on Amazon.
My DeLonghi portable air conditioner is not cooling—What should I do?
Incorrect thermostat setting is one of the most common reasons why your DeLonghi portable air conditioner would not cool. To correct this, increase the temperature setting on the thermostat and then lower it again. Check if it will begin cooling.
A dirty air filter can cause the DeLonghi portable air conditioner to have difficulty cooling you. Follow the steps to clean the air filter above and check if this will improve your portable air conditioner’s ability to cool.
What does the LT code on my DeLonghi portable air conditioner mean?
The LT code means low temperature. Simply turn off your portable air conditioner for a few minutes to address this error. Make sure to unplug it to ensure that it is not receiving any power.
When you turn the portable air conditioner back on, it will take three minutes before it comes back on. This is a safety feature that protects the DeLonghi portable air conditioner from power fluctuations that could damage its electrical systems.
If restarting the DeLonghi portable air conditioner did not address the LT error, then there may be a refrigerant leak inside. A refrigerant leak will cause the condensate to freeze and form ice on the coil.
If the compressor is cycling on and off on its own, it is another sign that there is a refrigerant leak.
Contact a professional to verify and fix the refrigerant leak if restarting did not address the LT error code.
What do blinking indicator lights on my DeLonghi portable air conditioner mean?
Blinking indicator lights mean that your DeLonghi portable air conditioner has a general error. When this happens, the first thing to do is to hard reset the unit.
To do a hard reset on your DeLonghi portable air conditioner, turn it off or pull the power plug from the wall socket if the power button is not responding because of the error. Leave it unplugged for at least five minutes.
Plug the portable air conditioner back in and turn it back on. Check if this gets rid of the blinking indicator light. If not, call a professional to check and fix the issue.
In Closing
Make sure that the DeLonghi portable air conditioner is on a level surface to prevent water leaks. Drain the air conditioner more often if your house is in an area with high moisture content in the air.
You might find our article here about the different types of air conditioning interesting.