Is it normal for my new LG inverter AC to spray water all over my porch?

The LG inverter units are notorious for this becasue they lack a traditional drain plug by design to improve efficiency. The fan blades have a 'slinger ring' that picks up the condensate and throws it against the condenser coils to help cool them down. It works well for energy savings, but it creates a misting nightmare on wooden porches. I solved this exact issue by building a small **custom baffle system** using strips of white PVC lattice molding. You want to angle them downward at about 45 degrees, about two inches away from the back of the unit. This catches the spray and directs it straight down instead of letting the wind catch it, while still allowing the hot air to escape freely.

Underneath that baffle, a large rectangular planter box is defintely the way to go. You just have to be smart about what you plant there. These units can easily pull several gallons of water out of the air on a humid day, which will absolutely drown most standard flowers. I recommend going with something like **Elephant Ears or Canna Lilies** that thrive in bog-like conditions and constant moisture. If you don't want to deal with plants, fill the planter with river stones and drill a small hole in the bottom of the box connected to a 1/4-inch irrigation line to lead the water off the deck and into the yard.

Make sure your AC unit has a very slight tilt toward the back—maybe about a quarter inch. If it's perfectly level or tilted forward, the water pools in the front of the pan and the fan can't spray it properly, which leads to leaks inside the house. With the baffle and the planter combo, you turn a messy maintanence issue into a landscaping feature. Just keep an eye on the planter during the hottest weeks, because if the humidity is high enought, that 'watering' can become an overflow situation where you need to empty the tray manually or ensure your drainage holes are clear of debris.

Those LG Dual Inverters, like the LW1522IVSM, pull massive amounts of water. If the planter idea feels too bulky, check out a DiversiTech 230-DP1 drain pan. It’s a slim tray that fits right under the chassis. I usally run 1/2-inch ID vinyl tubing from the pan's nipple and snake it between the deck boards so the water drops straight to the dirt. It’s way cleaner than a misting spray. Just watch that pitch—if you go beyond that 1/4-inch tilt, you might hear the fan slinger start 'slapping' the water, wich sounds like a deck of cards in a bicycle spoke.

Spot on with the slinger ring explanation. Those LGs really do atomize the water into a mess. One thing to keep in mind if you go the baffle route is to use stainless steel screws for the mounting. The constant misting creates a micro-climate of high humidity right at the back of the unit that'll rust out standard galvanized or outdoor screws in a single season. I'd also suggest wiping down the back of the chassis once a month because that spray can sometimes trap pollen and dust against the fins, which turns into a sludge that blocks your airflow faster than you'd think.

Update: Quick update—the drain pan suggestion was a lifesaver. I grabbed a slim tray and ran some vinyl tubing thru the deck boards just like you guys mentioned. It keeps the water off the wood without being an eyesore. I also took the tip about using stainless steel screws to handle that high humidity. No more slippery porch or soggy boards!