To add: unit was tilted to drain outside. Would running the unit for short periods of time cause this? My mother is 93 and the heat doesn’t bother her until it would unbearable for me. She leaves it off a lot and turns it on intermittently. Her house is very damp. I’m wondering if the high humidity and short run times are part of the problem.

Newer units don't necessarily have drain 'holes'. They are designed to 'sling' the water back onto the outside condenser by the outside fan blades. Sometimes there is a small 'half-moon' knotch in the bottom rear that serves as a drain.

If it dirty inside, there may be a blockage between the front where the evaporator is and the rear. This means the water is not moving to the rear as it should.

Thanks. Do you know how to clear this sort of blockage? Open the cabinet? The unit is about ten years old and I think it cost about $100 or so, not worth having repaired unless it’s a diy thing.

• Look closly for a rubber line(likely two,one at each end) about pinky finger size running from pan at bottom of evaporator(AKA inside coils) to rear of unit. That line(s) is likely clogged. Every window unit should be hauled to the car wash for a bath ever 5 or 6 years. The coils are what should be concentrated on. Let unit air dry before plugging electric cord in.

thanks. I actually have a pressure washer, I may take it apart and give it a good cleaning before we try to use it again.

Don't spray water directly at the fan motor, and even better to cover it with plastic wrap, small trash bag, etc.

A pressure washer can be strong enough to bend the fins on the evaporator and condensor coils which causes obstruction of the airflow so be careful with that.

Don't the ACs which expect to sling the water onto the fins count on that additional cooling?

So, dadoes, it may be counterproductive to add holes when there were none to begin with.

True, and bad aim drilling a hole in the base can destroy the compressor or condenser coil. If it wasn't leaking 10, 8, 3 years ago then a clog in the condensate drain route from the evaporator is the cause ... unless the house structure has shifted and it's no longer tilted properly.

I would buy a new unit. The new a/c would be more energy efficient than a 10 yo unit and will be quieter. Check the amt of water removed by the a/c to get the humidity in the house lowered.