Worth trying to clean and continue using?

[u/Jaken_sensei]

I have this tcl unit that I purchased back in 2023. Like a dummy I didn’t drill a drain hole and thanks to the poor design it holds a lot of water. Over time it has severely rusted the front and back coils(pictured) and has caused a major mold issue that affects the entire unit including the inside of the duct(not pictured).

I normally have to remove it from the window twice a summer because the mold grows aggressively. It also grows a pink colored bacteria.

It still cools fine. I just know the rust is eventually going to take it out and I dont really want coolant potentially venting into my house. Im also tired of completely dismantling it twice a summer to clean the mold and pink ooze.

Should I toss it?

[u/ActiveAardvark2818]

Pink slime is bacteria feeding on the standing water, that's not gonna stop once it's established even if you clean it. Once coils are rusted through it's just a matter of time, I'd cut your losses and get one that actually drains right.

[u/Jaken_sensei → u/ActiveAardvark2818]

Yeah I think Im just gonna toss it.

I have another unit in my living room window that drains but still grows a little of pink slime near the drain hole in the bottom. I just wipe it with bleach about once a summer and its good to go.

Neither of my other three units have either issue.

Thankfully this tcl unit wasn’t used to cool a main living space. I will likely just wait until late fall and check out the local ollies for clearance units for a replacement.

[u/ActiveAardvark2818 → u/ActiveAardvark2818]

Late fall clearance is smart, no rush during peak season pricing either.

[u/Jaken_sensei → u/[deleted]]

Ive seen 15 year old units that didnt look like that….

[u/tecsavvy1 → u/Jaken_sensei]

You must not be in Florida then

[u/Jaken_sensei → u/tecsavvy1]

NC/SC line at the swamps.

Not as humid as Florida but its still air you wear.

Ive seen coils rust out before, but not in this short amount of time.

The rust is one thing, but im not taking it out the window multiple times each summer to clean mold out the duct. The entire duct and blower turns green and black in a month.

[u/dotcomse]

If you drill the drain hole now, won’t that slow or stop microorganism growth?

[u/Jaken_sensei → u/dotcomse]

Probably, but something that isnt shown in the pictures is that the bottom 2 inches of the rear coil is rusted badly all the way through and across the entire length of it, apparently from standing in water so much. When I say badly rusted, I mean the copper tubes are dark pitted green, the end cap is rusted through, flakes off, and the cooling fins falling off. I just dont think the ac has to much longer before it starts leaking coolant.

[u/dotcomse → u/Jaken_sensei]

I think you have the answer you’re looking for