Challenging Air Conditioner Drain

Q: Can I drill a two-inch hole through the concrete floor of my basement for the drain tube of an air conditioner? The nearest drainpipe is 25 feet away and I don’t want to install plastic pipes along the wall. Will my plan cause problems?

A: I think your plan will work just fine. The amount of water generated by an air conditioner isn't large, and it will easily seep away in the coarse soil underneath your floor. But before you go that far, here’s another idea. Why not start by placing the drain tube in a bucket to see how much water is involved? You might find that emptying the bucket every few days is easier than drilling a hole. If you do decide to drill, make the hole slightly larger than the tube that leads from your air conditioner, then seal the gap around the tube with silicone caulking.