I bought a Frigidaire portable AC a couple months ago and lately it's been dripping water on my floor near the unit. I've checked if the drain hose is kinked or blocked but it looks fine. Is this normal or did something break? Should I be worried about mold?
Some water leakage from a portable AC is pretty normal, but it shouldn't be pooling on your floor - that usually means the condensation isn't draining properly. Even if the hose looks okay visually, there might be a blockage deeper inside, or the hose connection at the unit itself could be loose or misaligned. First thing to try is disconnecting the drain hose completely and blowing air through it or running water backward to clear any debris. Also make sure the hose is positioned so water can actually flow downhill - it needs a slight slope toward wherever it's draining (window, bucket, floor drain, whatever you're using).
If that doesn't fix it, the problem might be with the internal condensation pan or the drain outlet inside the unit being clogged. You could try tilting the unit slightly toward the drain side to help gravity along, but be careful not to damage it. Check your manual for whether your specific Frigidaire model has a manual drain plug you can access to empty water that way.
About mold - yeah, standing water is a concern. If water's been pooling for a while, you might already have some growth starting, especially if it's warm and humid. Wipe down the area with a diluted bleach solution and make sure it dries completely. Going forward, don't let water sit there; even if you're troubleshooting, mop it up daily until you get the drainage working. Most portable ACs need regular maintenance to keep the drain system clear, so this might become an ongoing thing you have to watch.
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