Q&A: Boring Holes in Concrete

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 running along the floor. Will my plan cause problems?

A: I think your plan will work 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. I’d try drilling a hole that’s slightly larger than the tube that leads from your air conditioner, then seal the gap with silicone caulking. A rotary hammer is the best tool to use for this job. I use one all the time for drilling holes in limestone rock that I split with wedges. You can rent one at any rental outlet.