Bucket is empty and the drains have been checked. The ,p1 message is still on. Thanks

If you picked up Everstar portable air conditioner at Home Depot a few years ago, then you know how great these little machines are. These portable units do a fantastic job keeping you cool during the dog days of summer.
But if you’re anything like me, you probably have no idea where you put the manual. Since they don’t make these air conditioners anymore, it can be a bit tricky tracking down information about these portable air conditioners.

Mobile air conditionerDon’t worry. We’ve got you covered.

Below you will find a description of the nine most common problems that people have with these Everstar units. And we have even provided a do-it-yourself fix for the most common problems that we have seen with these units.

Most issues can be dealt with in a just a few moments. And the most expensive DIY tip we have for you below will set you back about 20 bucks.

So stop pulling the garage apart and digging around in all boxes to try to find the manual. Everything that you need to know will be outlined here.

Problem #1: “Help! My Everstar MPK-10CR Isn’t Cooling and It Keeps Flashing P-1!”

By far, the most common problem that we see with the Everstar units is that the P-1 indicator light is flashing. While this may look ominous, the reality is that the P-1 light visit very simple problem to fix.

Basically, the P1 means one of two things. First, it can mean that the water tank has been bumped out of place. The unit flushes this signal so that you can replace the water tank so that water does not leak into the other components.

The reason that you will see P1 light is because the unit is telling you that the condenser unit is full of water. This, too, is a pretty easy fix. Simply, drain the water tank.

Here is how you do that:

Step 1–Remove the drain plug, which will be located on the back of the unit. If you still have the drain hose lying around, go ahead and attached that to the drain plug. You can use this drain is to pull the water out of the unit.

If you don’t have the drain hose, simply remove the plug and tip the unit back into a bucket to remove the collected condensation. Depending on the unit you have, you may also be able to remove the entire water tank and empty the water out.

Step 2–Make sure that you carefully replace the water tank if you have removed it. The dehumidifier will begin pulling the moisture out of the air in about 5 minutes after the compressor gets running again.

If you use your Everstar unit in your basement, there is a nifty feature you might not know about. Basically, if you have a floor drain your basement, you can set up your air conditioner so it is on the “continuous drain” option. To do this, you simply keep the drain hose discussed earlier connected to the drain plug and feed it down into your basement floor drain.

Problem #2: “My Everstar Air Conditioner Won’t Work with My Extension Cord!”

Another common problem with the Everstar units occurs when people move them or someone picks up a used unit and doesn’t understand the Lit bulbelectrical specifications.

While these machines are tiny, they do use a decent amount of power and draw 9.6 amps when they’re in cooling mode. To be safe, it is best to run them in your typical 15 amp household grounded receptacle.

Some folks have run into problems when they have tried plugging the unit to a wall outlet in their home that is not properly grounded. If you are concerned about this, make sure that you talk to a certified electrician.

Another thing to keep in mind here is that you should not use a plug adapter or an extension cord with this unit.

Problem #3: “Someone Told Me the Everstar Windowless Air Conditioner Doesn’t Need to Be on a Window Sill. What’s the Deal with this Vent Hose?”

It is a bit of a misnomer to call the Everstar units “windowless”. In fact, all portable ac units have to be situated near a window or sliding glass door so that they can be vented properly using the exhaust hose.

Another common problem that we see with the Everstar units is that the iStock_000008802179_ExtraSmall-1exhaust hose is improperly attached to the window.

The Everstar units come standard with a window kit to help you set up the vent with either a horizontal or casement style window. People often get their units set up and then find that they aren’t working properly.

One of the most common issues that we see with the venting, however, is that the water tank can be accidentally displaced when you move the unit around. If this happens, you will be given the P-1 warning light as discussed above.

So if you have recently moved your unit or you just re-installed it for the summer, simply take a few moments and make sure that the water tank is in the correct position.

Another common complaint that consumers have is that the plastic tubing for the event can get cracked and fall apart over time. After all, the hose is situated right next to the window where it is exposed to harsh sunlight every day.

If this happens, you’ll need to track down a new one. Finding a replacement hose can be a bit of a pain, however, since they don’t actually make these units anymore.

Your best bet is to call around to a few local air-conditioning shops and ask them if they have a portable air conditioner hose that you can purchase. We’ve gone through a few of these hoses with our portable unit and they generally cost about 15 or 20 bucks to replace.

While some folks have tried to use a dryer hose as an alternative to the AC exhaust hose, we don’t recommend it. Not only might this void your warranty on the unit, but you really want to make sure that you have the correct size exhaust hose for your Everstar unit. Since most dryer vent hoses are only 4 inches in diameter, they will not fit snugly in the 5-inch exhaust hose area on your Everstar unit.

Another common question regarding the hose comes up when people want to have one that is longer then the 5-foot standard hose. Some folks want to use the unit in a room that doesn’t have easy window access (like a basement) or they want to put the unit further away from the window for better cooling.

You can find vent hoses they go up to about 9 feet. As mentioned above, just call around to your local air-conditioner shops to see what they have in terms of portable air conditioner hoses.

Do bear in mind, however, that you don’t want to then the hose bent at an angle greater than 90° at any point. If you do this, the venting hose will be much less effective and the air conditioner will simply not cool as well.

We have one final note about the venting hose. Never, ever use this portable air conditioner without it. If you let this unit – or any portable ac – run without a vent, the hot air will come out of the back of the machine and right into the room that you are trying to cool.