Where does condensate water on a balcony go?
Published
While an air conditioner is cooling, moisture forms in the indoor unit as condensate, and it needs to be routed away properly to avoid water damage. On balconies this is usually done using the balcony's own rainwater system, though the exact solution can vary depending on the building's age and structure.
As a rule, condensate is routed into the downpipe (rainwater pipe) that runs through the balcony, from where it drains to the ground. If no downpipe runs through the balcony, the condensate is instead collected in a bucket on the balcony that gets emptied periodically.
Condensate into the downpipe
In most newer apartment buildings, a downpipe runs through the balconies to carry rainwater to the ground. Condensate from the indoor unit is routed by gravity through a hose straight into this downpipe. In some cases the downpipe already has holes for rainwater at the balcony floor level, but if needed, a hole can be made in the side of the downpipe during installation to route the water in.
A bucket as the alternative in older buildings
In older apartment buildings, a downpipe doesn't always run through the balcony, in which case condensate is collected in a bucket on the balcony instead. This means the resident needs to empty the bucket regularly, especially on humid, hot summer days, when up to 10 liters of water a day can collect. It's a simple solution, but it does take a bit of effort on the user's part.
There are also so-called "smart buckets" on the market, condensate containers that automatically shut off the air conditioner once the container is full. This stops the bucket from overflowing. Coolflat offers this option to customers too.
