How To Replace An Air Conditioner Exhaust Hose

For air conditioners to be most effective, the heat and humidity they remove from the room they’re cooling must be expelled outside the room. To accomplish this, most portable AC units include a window kit and exhaust line, which can be installed in most standard window sizes, to carry all that warm, moist air outside.

That exhaust hose is usually made of thin, flexible material. Unsurprisingly, it’s not unusual to open things up at the start of the season and find a tear, puncture, or possibly a few chew marks, leaving the exhaust hose a whole lot less effective. Luckily, whether you’re installing a hose for the first time on a new AC unit or swapping out a damaged one, this is a quick and easy job.

Need a replacement exhaust hose for your air conditioner? Search below using your specific air conditioner model number to identify the exact part needed:

Do You Need An Exhaust Hose For A Portable AC Unit?

If you want to use it for cooling, yes.

The way a portable AC unit works, warm air is removed from the room, cool air is circulated back in, and the heat and moisture is ejected through the exhaust hose. If you don’t properly install an exhaust line on your portable AC unit, you’re just pumping warm air back into your room. Aside from failing to cool your room, this will also force the AC unit to work harder in general, putting unnecessary wear on its components and driving up the amount of electricity it uses. So, in sum, don’t skip out on the exhaust line. For efficient cooling, you’ll need to make sure you have the exhaust installed correctly and keep it well-maintained.

If you just want to use your AC unit as a dehumidifier? It depends, but probably not.

However, keep in mind that the temperature in the room will likely increase. Even running in dehumidifier mode, a portable AC unit without an exhaust line is going to generate a lot of heat that will just be expelled back into the room. If your portable AC unit has self-evaporating features, it will need an exhaust – otherwise, you’re just releasing the humidity right back into the air, and you run into the same problem as you do with cooling.

Finding The Right Replacement Air Conditioner Exhaust Hose

Most portable AC units come with a 5-inch diameter exhaust hose that stretches to between 4 and 7 feet long. If your hose is damaged, or if it’s not long enough and you need a bit more slack, finding a replacement should be pretty easy! Just make sure to consult your product manual before making your purchase, because some AC units do run a little smaller.

Whether you’re swapping out the hose, or the entire window kit, it’s best to go with an OEM part. This will ensure an exact fit to your appliance, lowering the chance you’ll run into problems like air leaks or gaps that ruin the efficiency of your air conditioner. To find an exact replacement, you can search by your portable AC unit’s model number. This number will likely be on a label on the back of your air conditioner.

How To Replace An AC Exhaust Hose

Whether your portable AC unit vents out a window, a sliding door, or the wall, switching out the exhaust hose is roughly the same – a quick and easy process that looks mostly the same, regardless of your portable air conditioner brand or model. For this guide, we’re including the steps to install a window kit and some additional tips if you need to exhaust through a sliding door.

Before you begin…

Make sure that your AC unit is not plugged in. You don’t want to complete this task while it’s receiving power.

Unplugged? Great! Time to take care of some prep work:

• Make sure the kit you’re using for your window or sliding door is going to work for your needs. Measure the space you’ll be installing the exhaust kit into. If your kit is going to be too big, even when unextended, you can cut it down to size with a saw. If it’s too small, even fully extended, you’re going to be left with a gap. You can fill that with plexiglass or cardboard, or you can size up to a larger kit.
• Prep your exhaust hose. Once you know your adapter kit will work, prep your exhaust hose by attaching any connectors or adapters to either end of the hose. Make sure you’re using a hose-to-AC unit adapter that is compatible with your ac unit and a hose-to-window adapter that fits your specific window (or sliding door) kit.
• Pick a spot for your air conditioner. The best place for it is a stable, flat surface near both an outlet and a window. Do not put your portable AC unit up on a table. If you can, keep it out of direct sunlight, but this isn’t a problem if it’s unavoidable. It’ll just make your AC unit more efficient.

All of that done? Alright, let’s start!

Installing A Window Kit

1. Attach your exhaust hose to the AC unit. On most models, it simply screws into place.
2. Open your window, leaving ample room to work. If you have a window screen in place, consult your appliance’s manual to see if you need to remove it or not. Often, the screen can be left in place.
3. Seat and secure the window adapter kit. Most adapter kits look about the same – a piece of plastic with an opening on one end and a second bar that extends out.
   1. For traditional up-and-down windows: Insert the kit on one side of the window, then extend the adjustable kit until it hits the other side of the window. Once seated, close the window so that the adapter sits snug.
   2. For windows that slide to the side: Place the kit on the bottom and then slide it up until it fills the full window height. Once seated, close the window so that the adapter is snug. If your window kit includes mounting screws, weather strips, or other insulation or hardware, install those now.
4. Attach the exhaust hose to the window kit. Depending on your model of portable air conditioner or the kit you’ve purchased, this will either snap or screw into place.Try to keep the hose as short and straight as possible to avoid disrupting or restricting the flow of air.
5. If you have a security lock for your window, which will generally need to be purchased separately, you can install that now.

Installing An Adapter In A Sliding Door

For the most part, installing an exhaust adapter in a sliding door looks a lot like installing it in a side-to-side window. There are some differences, though, so we’ve got a few tips if you’re going this route:

• Opt for a specialized kit for sliding doors. While you can use a window kit, you’re likely going to need to pack a lot of filler in to close that gap. It’ll be more aesthetically pleasing and probably easier to install if you just go with a kit specifically designed for use with sliding doors.
• Insulate it. Kits specifically for sliding doors will likely include some weather stripping, but to better seal the door when its shut, install some weathers stripping on the side of the kit that will be meeting the door.
• Secure the kit. If you’re having trouble keeping the kit in place, use double-sided tape or velcro on the front of the kit at the top to keep it better secured to the door frame.
• Worried about security? You can get adjustable security bars for most sliding doors. If you don’t have one, a dowel rod will do the trick! Cut it to the size you need to keep the door from opening and place it in the door’s track. If you’re going to be away from home for a while, though, consider removing the adapter completely so that you can fully close and lock your sliding door.

Extra Portable AC Unit Tips

Portable air conditioners are easy to install and use, but we’ve got a few extra tips to help you get the most out of your AC unit.

• Know your BTUs before you buy. The power of an AC unit is measured in BTUs, with a bigger number able to cool a larger area. Go too small, and your air conditioner may not be able to adequately cool your space. Too big, and you’ll be overpaying on electricity.

• Depending on the climate where you live, 8,000 to 10,000 BTU should be adequate for cooling 340 sq ft – the size of the average living room.

• Don’t set your AC unit up in a spot that gets a lot of sun. You want your AC unit to be close to a window for easier venting, but make sure it’s set up in a shaded spot, if possible. A lot of sun will heat the unit, making it less efficient.

• A bit of maintenance is necessary to ensure the longevity of your AC unit. Remember to empty the water collecting pan regularly and check your air conditioner’s filter seasonally – or monthly, if you have pets or are a smoker.

Wrapping Up

With our guide, it should only take a few minutes to get you on your way to escaping the heat. Need more tips, tutorials, or maybe some genuine OEM replacement parts? Keep AppliancePartsPros.com in mind. Our friendly staff is happy to help you fix your appliance yourself!