I have a portable AC (LG lp1015wnr) which does not evaporate the condensate. It doesn't matter if it is in Dry or Cool mode. In both modes the water is drained from the drain pipe at the same rate.
————Edit (Further explanation)———
The AC has two drains, on in the middle and one on the bottom. Also two modes of working.
Dry mode: Also know as dehumidifier mode. When the AC works in this mode, the condensate should be drained from the middle drain pipe (Which is a normal way of getting the water out).
Cool mode: In this mode, the AC vaporizes the condensate, so there should not be any water coming out of the middle drain. Only when the humidity level is high, the left over condensate which is not vaporized, goes down to the pan, which can be drained from the bottom of the AC.
When my AC is working in the cool mode, I see a lot of water running from the middle drain and I have to put a bucket under it. I expect the AC to vaporize that water and have the left over on the bottom pan, but as I explain, it is not happening. The question is why is this happening? Do I have to block the middle drain?
Best Answer
An air conditioner works by making one stream of air (in and out) cold - and another stream of air (in and out) hot. You always get condensation on the cold side coils.
A portable A/C tries to get rid of that water by evaporating it over on the hot side. That can work OK on a dry day. However, if the day is quite humid, it may not be able to evaporate all of it. Then it winds up in the condensate tank, and you must empty it.
That does not mean the A/C is broken. It means the day is humid.
It helps if you have a 2-pipe portable air conditioner, which takes the "to be made hot" air from outside, and ejects it to outside. But if you have a 1-pipe portable air conditioner, then it's taking the "to be made hot" air from inside. That has to be replaced by air from outside coming in through cracks and leaks -- and that air is hot and humid. So your 1-pipe air conditioner is constantly dragging in new hot, humid air, and that's where all the water is coming from. If it has a 2-pipe feature, use it.