Managed building apartment climate question
I live in an old managed building that has a (according to Google images) Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner (PTAC). When the cooling season came around I mentioned to the maintenance guys that it seems like the air coming out of the unit was very wet and he…
I live in an old managed building that has a (according to Google images) Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner (PTAC). When the cooling season came around I mentioned to the maintenance guys that it seems like the air coming out of the unit was very wet and he said that’s cause it’s a “water based cooling” system and recommends getting a dehumidifier. So I did, for only the bedroom. A rather large one actually (Midea 22 pint). There isn’t a sink or drain in my bedroom so I’ve been emptying the bucket manually and sometimes it’s up to 2 times a day and it’s getting exhausting. I wanted to hear what the community has to say about this set up, whether just using the AC making the room go up to 72% RH is normal operation, and if it’s feasible to set up a continuous drain somehow? Maybe out the window?
Collected discussion
Water cooled systems don’t introduce water into the airflow. The maintenance guy is completely wrong. Air conditioning system dehumidify air by default (cooler air holds less moisture). That’s why they need a condensation drain line. If you’ve got 70%+ humidity output from an air conditioner, something is wrong with the system. As for your dehumidifier drain, you could elevate the unit (on a box or crate) and run the drain into a larger 5gal bucket to reduce your frequency of having to empty it.
I wonder if the drain for the PTAC is clogged and it's re-evaportaing all the water it pulls out of the air.
the maintenance guy fed you a line, water cooled doesn't mean it should be misting your apartment like a produce section