homeblissbyNi
65sqm 3Rm resale | Light wabi-sabi & Japandi āØ
Resale HDB Aircon Drainage Hack: What We Learned the Hard Way š„¹
15103
One of the most frustrating and anxiety - inducing parts of our renovation process was figuring out the drainage pipe routing for our aircon system. Before we dive into the issue, just a little context: we engaged a separate contractor to handle the aircon installation, it wasn't arranged through our ID. From the start, our ID made it clear that they wouldn't be involved in or responsible for anything related to the aircon works. So thatās why the entire arrangement was handled directly between us and the contractor. 
Let's dive into the topic: In our MBR, as the nearest floor trap was quite a distance from where the aircon drainage pipe enters the bathroom, the first contractor gave us the āusualā solution: run the pipe visibly along the toilet wall, all the way to the drain. We had no idea what the final result would look like, so we hesitantly agreed. The original setup ā an exposed drainage pipe running across the entire bathroom. š Not only was the result visually unappealing, it also made cleaning more difficult and left the whole bathroom looking unfinished. 
Behind-the-scenes brainstorming: my husband researching alternative drainage solutions. Thankfully, my husband didnāt give up. Determined to find a better solution, he did his research and came across cases where a condensate pump was used to reroute the water more cleanly. We went back to the same installer to propose our new plan. The new plan: install a condensate pump (next photo) near the drainage pipe, conceal the pipe inside the acrylic panel, and run it through the exterior wall. A small hole was then drilled near the floor trap to allow the water to flow through discreetly. 
Earlier on, my husband asked if the drainage pipe could be concealed inside the acrylic panel above, but the installer quickly dismissed the idea, saying it wasnāt possible. They also never mentioned the option of using a condensate pump ā something we later found out could have made a huge difference. At first, the contractor insisted it would be too troublesome and said it would incur extra charges. But we were persistent and willing to pay more, as we valued easier long-term maintenance over short-term convenience. Eventually, they agreed to revise the installation. 
The new concealed layout ā clean, functional, and way more aesthetically pleasing. So glad we didnāt settle with messy version! š 
Exterior view: the concealed pipe exits through the wall ļ¼together with the aircon drainage pipe) and reroutes back into bathroom's main floor trap beside the shower kerb. 
Final cleanup before the acrylic panel is installed ā no more visible pipes! āš» This whole experience left us a little disillusioned with some installers. We donāt know if they lacked the technical knowledge or just didnāt want the extra trouble. Maybe they think a cleaner job means fewer future maintenance calls? š¤ Either way, if we hadnāt done our own research, weād be stuck with that ugly pipe forever. But Iām so grateful for my engineer husbandās persistence. If it werenāt for him, I mightāve just compromised and lived with the mess. Now we have a solution thatās clean, efficient, and most importantly ā doesnāt ruin our bathroom vibes. šŖš½
7 June
