When warm, moisture-laden air hits the freezing evaporator coils, condensation occurs. But because the coils are below freezing, the water doesn’t just bead up—it freezes instantly into frost. Over time (e.g., during normal compressor cycles), this frost builds up.

So, No plumbing connection needed. It’s a closed-loop, passive system that relies on gravity and waste heat—a simple, elegant piece of engineering you probably never see working, until it breaks.

Crucially, this pan sits directly above or adjacent to the and condenser coils , which get hot during operation (up to 60–90°C / 140–194°F). The heat radiates upward into the pan.