The most common problems that can cause an air conditioner to go out and refuse to turn on include a tripped circuit breaker, faulty wiring, and issues with the coils, compressor, and motor of a room air conditioner. To troubleshoot and fix these common AC problems at home, follow these steps:
- Get a meter, tool bag, and gauges.
- Is the condenser coil clean?
- Verify the condenser fan motor and/or capacitor.
- Are the filters clean?
- Is the coils, compressor, and motor of a room air conditioner sealed components?
Professional HVAC technicians can address issues like insufficient airflow, dirty air filters, poor operation efficiency, worn-out parts, and improper maintenance. Routinely replacing or cleaning the air conditioner’s filters is essential for ensuring its efficiency. This includes identifying and repairing leaks, replacing faulty components, cleaning or replacing air filters, and ensuring proper air quality.
Self-maintenance tasks include regular washing and replacing air filters and cleaning the evaporation coils to remove dust and grime. In most cases, a professional will be needed, but this guide may help you narrow down the cause and in some cases fix it yourself.
Electrical issues can also occur, and a trained technician should fix any leak, test the repair, and charge the system with the appropriate refrigerant. If your air conditioner is not cooling your house on a scorching day, DIY fixes and major AC repair issues can help you solve these problems.
📹 Window Air Conditioner Not Cooling And The Most Common Fix
If your window air conditioner is working but not cooling at all or not as good as it used to, you may be able to fix it easy. In this …
What are common problems with AC?
Compressor and fan controls can wear out, especially when the air conditioner is oversized. Corrosion of wires and terminals can also occur, so electrical connections and contacts should be checked during professional service calls. Room air conditioners have a thermostat sensor that measures air temperature in the evaporative coil. If the sensor is knocked out, the air conditioner may cycle constantly or behave erratically.
Adjust the sensor’s position by bending the wire holding it in place. In humid weather, check the condensate drain for clogging and proper draining, as room air conditioners may not drain properly if not mounted level.
How many years will an AC last?
If your air conditioner is over ten years old, it’s time to consider purchasing a new unit. Air conditioners are often exposed to extreme temperatures, reducing their lifespan. Modern air conditioners can last 15-20 years, while older ones last around 10-12 years. The health and efficiency of your air conditioner depend on several factors, including proper maintenance, frequent use, local temperature, and the correct size.
If you keep your air conditioner in good condition, it should need a replacement within 10-15 years. However, as your air conditioner grows older, its mechanical parts may become unavailable or obsolete, and if you can’t replace a broken part, you’ll need to purchase a new unit.
What does AC do in a room?
Air conditioners are essential for cooling homes and enclosed spaces by providing cold air by removing heat and humidity from the indoor air. They work by using a specialized chemical called refrigerant and consist of a compressor, condenser coil, and evaporator coil. The compressor raises the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant gas, which is then sent to the condenser coil for conversion to a liquid. The refrigerant then travels back indoors to the evaporator coil, where it evaporates and cools the indoor coil.
A fan blows indoor air across the cold evaporator coil, absorbing heat inside the home. The cooled air circulates throughout the home, while the heated evaporated gas is sent back outside to the compressor. The heat is released into the outdoor air as the refrigerant returns to a liquid state.
Why does AC repair cost so much?
The availability of parts for AC repair can vary, with some parts being ordered from manufacturers or suppliers, which can increase repair costs. However, if the parts are readily available, the repair process is cheaper as the technician can complete the repair quickly. Labor costs, the time spent by the technician, are also a factor to consider. The longer the technician spends on the repair, the higher the labor costs, which can sometimes exceed the cost of the parts. Therefore, it’s crucial to consider these factors when deciding on AC repair in Cranford, NJ.
Is it worth repairing an air conditioner?
The “5, 000 rule” is a common method employed by HVAC professionals to ascertain the necessity of a repair. This method entails multiplying the age of the unit by the cost of the repair. A value of less than $5, 000 indicates the necessity of repair, whereas a value exceeding $5, 000 suggests replacement.
How does a room AC work?
The air conditioning system involves an evaporator, compressor, and condenser. The evaporator draws warm air from the inside of the home and regulates its flow. The cold evaporator coil absorbs the heat, turning it back into a gas and moving towards the compressor. The compressor acts as a pump, decreasing the gas volume and raising its pressure and temperature for the condensing process. The condenser pumps the heat collected from the evaporator outside, where it absorbs the heat and transforms it back into a liquid.
What is the purpose of aircon repair?
Prompt air conditioning repair is essential for maintaining comfort, maximizing energy efficiency, and preventing costly issues. Professional services offer expertise, quality repairs, and preventive maintenance to ensure optimal performance and reliability. Contact Veterans AC and Heat to schedule an appointment for timely air conditioning repairs and maintenance. Their skilled technicians are dedicated to providing reliable and efficient solutions to keep your system running at its best. Prioritize prompt repairs and experience the benefits of a well-functioning air conditioning system today.
What does an air conditioner in a room control?
Air conditioning is the process of removing heat from an enclosed space to achieve a more comfortable interior temperature and control humidity. It can be achieved using mechanical air conditioners or passive cooling and ventilative cooling. Air conditioning is part of a family of systems and techniques that provide heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC). Heat pumps, similar to air conditioners, use a reversing valve to heat and cool enclosed spaces.
Air conditioners, typically using vapor-compression refrigeration, range in size from small units used in vehicles or single rooms to massive units capable of cooling large buildings. Air source heat pumps are becoming more common in cooler climates. Air conditioners can reduce mortality rates due to higher temperatures. In 2016, 1. 6 billion air conditioning units were used globally. The United Nations has called for the technology to be made more sustainable and for the use of alternatives like passive cooling, evaporative cooling, selective shading, windcatchers, and better thermal insulation.
What is the meaning of AC repair?
The AC repair process involves inspecting and servicing various components of an air conditioner system to restore it to working order. This process involves troubleshooting and diagnostics to identify the root cause of the issue. If the unit isn’t producing cold air, it’s likely due to a problem with the cooling cycle or refrigerant flow. If the heat isn’t working, it could be due to a problem with the heating cycle or a faulty heating element.
Before considering AC repairs, it’s crucial to determine the issue and learn common AC repairs. Professional HVAC contractors can help maintain your air conditioning unit, ensuring a smooth and efficient operation.
What is the most expensive part of an AC?
The compressor is the most expensive component to replace in an AC unit, costing up to $4, 000. It circulates refrigerant between the evaporator and condenser coils and is a complex equipment with intricate details. In Cedar Hill, TX, where humid, subtropical weather is common, the air conditioner is crucial for comfort. As leading Cedar Hill AC repair experts, homeowners often ask about the most expensive part to replace on an AC unit. Understanding the compressor’s role and its intricate details is essential to prepare for potential issues and ensure the longevity of your AC system.
How do I know if my AC needs repair?
This article outlines eight common signs that your air conditioner needs repair, including reduced effectiveness, inconsistent temperature, increased energy bills, noises from vents or AC units, unpleasant odors, electrical issues, signs of smoke or a burning smell, and an aging unit. Ineffectiveness is the most common sign, as the system should always respond to your thermostat settings. Monitoring usage is crucial to ensure the system isn’t taking longer than usual to cool off the home.
Inconsistent temperature is another clear signal of a heating and cooling system problem, as hot or cold spots in certain rooms can indicate air balancing issues, such as clogged filters or ducts. Aging motors or other components can also weaken the system’s pressure, causing rooms further away from the unit to receive less air. It is essential to contact excellent AC repair professionals in Owasso, OK, to address these issues and ensure your home’s comfort during the summer.
📹 How Does An Air Conditioner Work? — Appliance Repair Tips
Air conditioner not cold enough or leaking water? This video provides information on how a window air conditioner works and …
⬇ Other articles that may help: Another Example of Cleaning Window AC (no soap): youtu.be/f-fnwJ_L3GM Did washing it down not help? Here is what to try next: youtu.be/eYfCBFJd4wY EASIEST Way to Install Window AC: youtu.be/Lq8jA2uYaFE All window A/C parts and what they do explained: youtu.be/tEoQI13KiAc How to install window A/C in horizontal slide window: youtu.be/QXVGp3VUmnE
Jay- I want you to know that I learned a lot from perusal this article. I knew that I needed to clean the filter in my ac unit. I had no idea about cleaning the other parts. I have sent the article to my son & my fiancée. I told them both to watch the article because this is what we are going to do. You were thorough with your explanation and you didn’t have a dull monotone voice. As you know, just because a person knows how to do, doesn’t mean that they can explain it to others in an engaging interesting way. You were great; THANKS 🤗
Glad this worked for me. I started freak out a bit because my unit quit cooling halfway through the day while working. I was worried for my pets as the temps climbed to 94 inside. After I got off work I took a hose inside flushed out on the inside then outside. Waited an hour to let it dry and turned it on and it once again started to cool my room. Saved me a lot of money as my window unit is actually a really big unit that also heats my room in the winter. Spent almost a grand on it years ago and was not ready to have to replace it. article just saved my pets and my bank account.
I knew my ac unit wasn’t working as well as it used to but I thought I was going to have to buy recharge equipment in order to get it working properly. After I watched your article I cleaned the main filter in my tub/shower put it back and turned the unit back on. Wow what a difference. Thank you so much for your help. Fantastic article!!!
I just took out the filter for the first time in YEARS. This window unit was used and I’m not sure how long it was since it was cleaned before I got it but I’ve had it for 7-8 years. It was WAY over due and never knew there was any filter in these. Now I just put the filter back in all clean and WOW what a difference in how it runs and it’s colder too. Thank you so much Jay for making this article!!!!
Jay your article is FANTASTIC! I watched your article this hot and humid morning after my A/C stopped working overnight. I could hear what I believe was the compressor but the fan was not working. I took my 12,000 BTU Friedrich air conditioner apart carefully following your instructions, brushed, hosed (inside and out) and straightened a few bent coils and this afternoon it is working again!!!! I think the hardest part was lifting the A/C out the window to the yard and back into the window by myself. Your article and teaching style are thorough and empowered me to believe that I could fix something that I knew absolutely nothing about. You really helped save the day! Thank you so much!
I’m a retired hyacinth guy. This is a very good article! 90% of all room ACs that don’t seem to cool just need a good cleaning. However, never ever turn that ac in its side or in any position other than the way it sits in your window. If tipped on its side or on its end, the oil in the compressor can move out of it. This may cause the compressor to seize up from lack of oil.
Re: “I’ve heard that making sounds makes it easier on your body”. (I’m a nurse) Answer: when you bear down with effort and hold your breath you trigger a “vegal reflex”, when you breath out through the effort it prevents this (making sounds is a good way to prevent you automatically holding your breath). In a young healthy person the vagel reflects might just lower your blood pressure and heart rate for up to 10 minutes, which can cause you to get lightheaded or faint. But if you have heart issues/vascular disease or are older it can even trigger a heart attack. So very good on your body to make noise or consciously make sure you’re breathing out while exerting large effort. 😁 Health hack of the day.
I watched your article last night and decided to apply the knowledge to resurrect my bedroom window AC unit. Your step by step approach gave me the confidence to do what you did. THANK YOU! My AC is now working, better than it was before, and it didn’t cost me a dime. Keep up the great work. I’ve subscribed.
I just cleaned my 38 year old AC as you instructed. I was going to just use a vacuum and rags but can now see that this would not have been nearly as effective. My AC not only looks much cleaner, it made a massive difference. It even sounds better. The outside fins don’t feel as hot, as there is more air moving through. The inside is blowing more air as well. Thanks for the tips.
Nice article. I have the exact same unit. If you remove a couple screws on top after the cover is off you can actually flex back the plastic on both the front and back coils. You will be surprised but the majority of the dirt is there. You just can’t clean them well from spraying the front only. Take care!
Today June 8 2023, the air quality is at 185 due to the Canada wildfires, the worst in the entire world right now. Me, a student who is working an ok job that gets the bills paid was not in the current position to by a new air conditioner. The air conditioner stored in the closet sucked so bad last summer that we had to put a fan in front of it. I saw your article yesterday and I’ve just now finished dissembling and cleaning it per your instructions. I didn’t/couldn’t really rinse it out but I used my wet/dry vac a toothbrush and a kabob skewer to remove all the chunks of rust. The vacuum was helpful when using the blow setting to get into those crevices. Since I didn’t soak it and just used damp rags I was able to put the AC up as soon as I reassembled. I am sitting here now with a powerful Newly cleaned AC and a new skill I can offer my friends and family. I have 3 dogs and we all thank you very much hands down the most useful article I’ve ever come across
Not saying it’s wrong to “put it on the floor on its butt” as you did at 4:16. But you should mention that 1) most window type ACs are fixed in the hole in the wall, so you don’t have a choice but to pull it out like a drawer from the front; and 2) doing what you did will disturb the freon or coolant. For the latter, it’s not the end of the world, but it can cause problems down the road. If you do that, make sure to let the unit rest upright for about 4 hours to let the coolant settle — as what they do when transporting refrigerators and freezers. Cheers.
Any cooling unit like this should never be placed in any position but the one it normally runs/works/is used in if you can avoid doing so. There is oil for lubrication internally, this oil, just like the motor oil in you vehicle, should be kept at the normal running position. This holds true for refrigerators, freezers, etc. If you do/must lay it in any other position the safe thing to do is put it in the normal run position but wait 24 hours before even plugging it in. Those fins on/at the evaporator and rear condensor are easily bent/damaged even by the pressure of water from a hose can damage them. If you do, a tool that looks like a comb can be used to repair them. Better not to damage them in first place. I would have put a sandwich bag or clear wrap over the controls you do not want to wet. With all the cotton wood crap this fellow has in his hood he should have cleaned the inside of that rear condenser where the white fan would blow it. I watched, he got some but it probably was clogged more so than any other part. Washing down and trapped between that black fan shroud we see and bottom of condenser. If we look inside the case about 1/2 to 3/4 of the way we can see foam/rubber seals. This seals the outside portion of AC from the inside portion of the AC. from bugs, heat, rain, Etc. When sliding AC in or out be careful not to damage those important seals. It looked, when he was sliding the AC down into casing, it hung up on those seals. In/on the front he said he was going to glue the front (important) seal that keeps the cool air coming out the top louvers from being pulled right back into evaporator area but never did.
My GE unit (5k) wasn’t blowing much air even though the removable filter was cleaned daily. High dust area, so after perusal this article I gathered the pluck to remove the unit and take off the shell and front fascia. There it was, an almost completely plugged front fins on the front coils. hosed the whole area off, went over the back radiator too while it was exposed and blasted out the sediment that had accumulated in the bottom pan. Put it back together and had plenty of airflow! Thanks.
Thanks for the article. I was getting geared up to add freon to my big window unit. However, I noticed that there was no hot air blowing out of the back. In fact, I noticed that there was no air at all coming across the condenser coils. I slid it out of it’s case and brought it outside. Upon inspection, I noticed that the fins for the condenser coils were completely clogged. Took off the fan shroud and cleaned them thoroughly. Works like new now. Thanks for inspiring me to take it out.
One of the annoying aspects of the window unit design is getting access to the back of the condenser unit which leads to most cooling issues. Basically the back gets clogged and it can by tricky to get the right amount of water pressure to push through the condenser to remove the dirt without bending any of the fins. PS some of the newer higher BTU but still compact units are more difficult to clean due to the use of a deeper condenser and evaporator units.
I see it’s a LG brand and looks like it might have a temperature on/off cycle when temperature is met? Anyway, I’ve been through the multiple screw ordeal and hate it. Please, could you share What model is this AC? This is the easiest clean and maintenance window unit I’ve seen on YouTube thus far and I would like to get one for myself. Very easy maintenance. What is the BTU? Thank You for Your Time and Help!!
The factory left out a screw at the rear bottom corner, unfortunately I put a screw there and it penetrated the Freon pipe, they should have capped of the hole it cost me big time, that’s what happen when they make one cage fit many slide in units? That is a good reason to take pictures along the way and make sure that a extra long screw goes back into the same hole, thank you for the suggestion!
WOW!!! This is VERY instructive! I could not understand how so much of the unit keeps exposed to the elements with little to no drainage… Now I understand, and I’m ready to clean it up confidently when needed. I do agree with Randall Warner that this is one of the most useful “How to” YouTube articles I have ever seen and it deserves a YouTube award. Thank you so much! 🙂
who is going to go through all of that work? Take it from the window, carry it outside, take it apart and clean it (hard work) it’s easier to buy a brand new one, but as I can see that you are cheap, you won’t even buy a nozzle for your hose. JUST KIDDING BROTHER!..That is so good to know, I had no idea you can do this with a window unit, and I believe 99 out of 100 homeowners didn’t either. Probably purchased a new unit. You never cease to amaze me. God Bless you and your family, especially the camera woman lol.
I would never turn the A/C over on its back or sides, I know I had problems after doing that in the past, the refrigerant settles in the wrong places. When you have multiple dogs like I do and live on a gravel road, I have to clean that filter DAILY, even then, those crappy “filters” only catch maybe 50%, the rest winds up going thru it into the coils and has to be blasted out with a garden hose and one of those nice sprayers that lets you add soap or chemicals to it and select a variety of spray patterns- they are under $20 usually. What they refer to as a “filter” on these things is more of a LINT screen, because about all it catches is the big stuff. The electronics in these cheap POS’s is usually what goes bad, I havent found any brand that seems to last more than about 3 seasons, and they all start not getting as COLD as they were when new despite thorough cleaning with a garden hose as described. They probably lose some refrigerant over time, or the sensors or controller in the electronics starts going bad, or the compressor starts wearing out. I’m done with these cheap window units, I’m looking at a self install two zone Mr Cool mini split for next year, being installed up by the ceiling and the consensor being a separate unit outside, and better real filters should keep it a lot cleaner too.
Hint to all: Im a licensed HVAC Contractor. Cleaning your coils are always a great idea. Laying your air conditioner on its back for any amount of time is a really BAD idea. The oil in the compressor will leave the compressor and may not get back in when returned to the up right position. The oil lubricates and helps cool the compressor like in your car engine.(same reason you never transport a refrigerator on its side or back) It also gets into the smaller refrigerant tubing restricting refrigerant flow. These two conditions can eventually kill your compressor if it does not die immediately after starting it again.
I have that same LG air conditioner I cleaned it before I installed it but it has a problem where it cools everything fine but after several minutes the fan stops working so I have to turn it off for 10 or 15 minutes and then it works fine. I do that every time I get that problem I hope someone can help me
I found that using rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle works really well for cleaning that sticky, greasy, dirt on air conditioners, ceiling fans and stovetop and stove hoods. I also spray rubbing alcohol inside my air conditioner while it’s running full speed to freshen up the stale odors that accumulate on the inside.
When turning a window air conditioner on its side and upside down and stuff like that before you plug it in to use it you should put it back in its original position and let it sit for a while to the freon levels off inside. Just like a refrigerator if you transport it land on its back that refrigerator needs to stand in its upright position for quite a while for thatIt’s free on to little out.
Wow my window AC came with the apartment. It was built in the 50s. Bet the unit has not been washed since it was installed back in the day. All I can do is wash the foam filter at the front. And spray what coils I can reach with vinegar and let it dry. Talk about sucking electricity AND it is an all electric complex. Fart and bill goes up, I say.
I found a handful of these type units in a storage unit I bought. I was wondering how to TEST them to see if they blow cold air still. Do I have to put it in a window to test them? Or can I just put it on a table like you have, plug it in, turn it on and FEEL for cold air? Thanks to anyone who knows and answers =)
In the event you have a new or unknown life form growing in your air conditioner you may have reach the full potential and usefulness of the device, if that is the case with your AC than by all means go ahead and purchase another they are generally good for 5 years here in central florida where we use it every single day of the year except when we clean it, well it looks like my beloved pet dog went in to labor, she is 5 and means more to me than life it self. She is perhaps the smartest animal on on the planet she understands every word i say When i inquired about the father of the puppies she will bare, she ran to the back yard and barked at the neighbor’s house indicating a small chiwawa male which resides there, we will be seeking puppy support, just this morning she showed me the hole he dug to get at her, tech. this could be a rape case, my girls don’t just lay with any mexican chiwawa that comes around, i personally think it was just a hit and run.These puppies will be chiweenies, and i can assure anyone that they come from good stock, the mother sweety pie, being the smartest k-9 alive she should fetch a pretty penny for her offspring, perhaps this is the generation where they start talking, we will see.
Ive dealt with alot of window acs. Biggest issue is the buildup of dirt on the inside of outside rad. It gets caked with dirt. Sometimes its tough to get at but cleaning that debris out often gets these units working again. Those openings that allow air in are to large and allow too much dust and dirt in. If you wrap those openings with say window screen it will block much more dirt from entering and plugging up that back rad.
Hi,guys! Just cleaned my wall unit. I was carefully to not get water to the control panel or any electrical parts. But still not starts. I can hear a little buzzing noise but neither the fan or compressor starts. I can use the control panel,shows temperature, mode etc but that’s all. Any idea? Could be the capacitor got little bit of moisture? Appreciate any thoughts
Hello Jay. I have a air conditioner almost like yours and I take mine apart every year and clean it..hey buddy I grunt and groan all the time while I am working on something.lol..my old arthritis makes me grunt lol.. very good article buddy 👍 glad to hear from you glad to see you are doing good. Me and Arnold and bigfoot are just hanging in there buddy is about all…gee whiz it’s been cold here for the last few nights and morning predicting temps in the 20s for night time lows but the days are nice and warm..we are in blackberry winter.. it’s the last one of the season..it’s when all of the wild blackberry are in bloom..oh yeah buddy I almost forget to tell you I’m still praying for you and your family 🙏 my friend
This was great! Thank you for a very helpful article! I have a bigger window unit so I will not be taking it apart as you did. Actually, I wish I could but it’s a unit. I will try to do as much rinsing on the outside and hopefully, it solves my problem. I already cleaned/washed filters and used AC Coil Foam Cleaner. Wish me luck!
Thanks! Does anyone know if the the refrigerate tank inside is repairable or replaceable? I accidentally drilled a whole in it because I was drilling holes in the bottom of the unit to let the water out( I don’t know why they just can’t do that at the factory), and I poked a hole in the tank. Can the whole be fixed, and refrigerate added, or is it a gonner? Thanks for any answers!
Excellent job man inform the people to let it sit outside or in the garage somewhere where it can air dry for at least a day or two to the electronics will dry and at the minimum don’t plug it in after you have pulled it apart and flipped it around for at least 24 hours so you do not burn the fuse on the compressor
Excellent article, easy to follow too. My unit is exactly the one you’re showing here, and LG8000, so that’s great for me too! My father used to take care of these things but he’s no longer with us so I’ll try LOL. With your article I feel a lot more confident to even attempt it! I don’t think I need to take my apart as far as you did – the only reason I need to look into it is because the “clean filter” light on the panel is lit (which I didn’t notice until today!), it’s only been used a few summers. Thanks so much for sharing your experience, it will be very helpful for sure!
Already tried that cleaned it good always do ! My ac fan works. The compressor comes on I can hear it but 15 min later it gives up. I have notice one thing there is no water dripping anymore it’s like the compressor gets to hot and just shuts down. Anybody know what it could be this is a 38000 btu going through a hole in house so it’s tough to take out. Any suggestions please lmk thanku
Hey, do you have a article on how to charge a window AC unit like the one you just cleaned? Mine is an older model from LG that hasn’t had a filter cleaning since it was bought. When I opened the front to clean the filter, I noticed some ice on the coils, and now it’s not blowing cold air. I think its either more ice that I cannot see that is blocking flow, or its the freon levels. Thank you for this article!
Haven’t heard a mention of the bent fin problem and wanted to add there are combs that can straighten them out. When too many get bent or dented as I noticed a few areas on your machine are, that if not corrected can also hamper the cooling ability of any airconditioner. You can also use a putty knife but be very slow and careful.
Very informative and since my handy(woman) skills are very very limited and I have poor aptitude for dissembling and putting things together,I’ll see if one of the building maintenance can clean. At least I understand why no cold air is coming out. I cleaned the filters already so all of the other parts need cleaning. Thank you for the information.
Exactly what I needed to know & step by step guidelines along the way! IDK if I missed it but I was thinking “Wow, that looks heavy”! Did he mention to have an extra pair of hands for heavy lifting?? I’ll be perusal more of “How to Do’s” bc I may have been a victim of “Broken items.. I bought an ac but it doesn’t blow cool air, what can I do without spending more money??
If anyone thinks he cleaned the coils properly. They have rocks in their heads. The inside of the coils gets built like a felt cover, it is really thick. Air can’t pass through the coils to cool because they are blocked by this felt-like covering that has accumulated over the seasons. He did nothing to address that build-up. You have to get behind the black plastic shield in order to remove that build-up, otherwise, the unit will still perform poorly…
Hello, My friend From being an A/C tech. I believe you should not have put the A/C unit on it is back(butt). (The condenser side). You have sent all the oil in the coils and lines between the compressor and the condenser to rush going to the condenser coil coating it. Which will reduced the efficiency of the condenser. You could have put the unit on the ground and pulled the unit out
I have a window A/C unit installed in the wall of my shop, it is not easy to remove. What I did that helps a lot is I put the sticky one-side velcro (hook part) around the intake grill of the unit and stuck on a piece of polyester quilt material over the grill. This is a very good pre-filter, it will get filled with sawdust before the inner filter gets really dirty. On mine, the grill frame comes out at the top like yours and will come up and out so I can take both filters outside to hose off. I have been running it for 14 years now.
You might want to suggest that after bouncing, turning, rotating, flipping…. that the AC unit should be left for at least 24, preferably 48 hrs in its proper working orientation BEFORE even plugging in! (Same thing applies to moving refrigerators, freezers,…. anything with COOLANT (Freon, …) or you could have just cost yerself $75 – $300 for being impatient! (… told a friends, they didnt listen…”told ya so!”) BTW…. Why is it we Never seem to have the time to do it RIGHT in the first place, but we ALWAYS have time to do it over again? lol
What causes a window unit not to blow air out the back? I sprayed it like 4 days ago clean. Put it back I’m and ran good. Now no air was blowing out the back of the condenser area, I sprayed water on back side and inside and nit started blowing hotish air again. What could be the problem? Anyone know? Got 2 young kids needing any advice besides buy a new one. Thank you ahead of time.
4:30 Dude Thank you so much! I always Grunt and it seems to ease the burden (I don’t know who the they sayers are but I’m definitely on board with the theory) Sometimes I will overly grunt and people will stop dead in their tracks and say Sir are you ok? and when I say yes like there’s nothing wrong they give me a strange look lol
I have a brand new unit I just put in this week. 14,000 BTU Frigidaire. It is only getting the room to the mid to high 70s in 85-degree weather. I taped a thermometer to the grill that is blowing the cold air, and the temperature of the air is continuously changing every 5 minutes or so from 58 degrees for the low, up to 73 degrees for the high. It’s usually somewhere between the two, between 63 to 70. Any idea as to what that could be? Thanks for your help.
Although your way is probably the most comprehensive way to clean a window AC its not the most practical for many homeowners due to the weight of the unit. I found taking a good brush, vacuum and especially using a leaf blower on low speed. The leaf blower really works good to force the dust and particles out from inside and outside the unit. You definitely have to wash the filter though.
I do this every other year in the northeast, I have a raised Ranch 2000 Sqft and a window Unit that pushes 20,000 BTU or just under 2 ton of air running on 230V that cools the entire home. My unit is 25 years old, preventive maintenance is EVERYTHING in keeping old things running like new. If the Military taught me one thing it’s take care of your equipment because it will take care of you when you need it the most. Most people that live in the Northeast understand how important a AC Unit is… sure we see temps in the winter of way below 0 F. but what they don’t say is in the summer we also see temps well over 90 F with over 90% humidity, Florida thinks they have a humid problem come live in the Northeast, the only difference is we don’t have to deal with it as long….thank God. I’d rather live in Arizona or Nevada with no air than deal with this FU*%&ing humidity…..yeah 105F with 27% humidity, I’ll take that any day over 85 F with 89% humidity
A good foaming coil cleaner makes life so much easier, Been using it for a long time now and I`ve never had to do more than rinse it off after a few minutes!! NEVER scub the fins of the coil with a scrub brush.. it will damage the fins and NEVER scrub the filter with anything it will poke holes in it! Just things I`ve found out the hard way!!!
I will soon do this, can’t today because busy stuff. But I will do it because it’s so hot on the room T~T I miss it being a freezer as my grandma says. I will post updates •~• Update: couldn’t get it out the window, I also cut my leg by falling down part of the area where the ac is. But me and my sister cleaned the small pool we have and it’s filled up & really nice. I also moved my fan to my bed which helps a bit more 👌 so yeee I did try to clean what I could of the ac it helped a tiny bit, but that’s the update •×• also I walked into five spider webs then lol
All the crap that builds up between the fan and the condenser makes me wonder why it’s not designed to pull air in the back and exhaust it out the sides, that way all the crap builds up on the back of the unit where its easy to clean without removing and disassembling the unit instead of inside the unit where you have to remove it and take it all apart to clean it.
Was ready to pitch old one and even ordered new one. I completely opened unit and found coils to be completely covered with crude on backside where I could not see it. Hosed everything off being careful to not wet down electronics and now works like new!! When new one gets delivered I can have them put it right in the back of my van so I can return it to Home Depot:)) Thank you.
although what i was looking for was to why was my window ac draining so much water to the point i was having to drow out a lot of 5 gal buckets of water almost daily? Just the first thing this article shows me was a dirty filter. WALA! the filter was so darn dirty on my rental studio that i had totally overlooked it. cleand filter and solved my water draining like crazy. I will buy the Pan Pills to clean out the pan damaged left ovr. Thank you a million bc I was about to throw it away and spent $5-6 Hundred on a new one.
in a better world this would be designed so you can easily remove the control electronics by sliding them out and then just pressure clean the whole AC, let it dry and put everything together and everyone should be capable of doing it… all stuff must be designed to make this way and that rust on the bottom it is avoidable if they just sprayed some polyerethan foam or did some rubbery coating, they know that it will rust as there will be a lot of moister but somehow they just don’t care because they want everyone to buy buy buy….
— Subject is drilling drain hole in bottom of AC– Working on audio and electronics for decades. So I understand the dust and all you did. This reminds me of when I take something apart. Most say they cleaned it which amounts to a 5 sec wipe down. I’m in something for hours. So, the old age question that I can’t still fig out and not much on it. Which I feel would make a good topic with a AC. I have fixed a few and been inside some. Also cleaning, but a AC is not my full know how area. Topic- Frigidaire 12 grand btu. I got it about 5 years ago. I see the bottom has no drain. Matter of fact I brought a few since and see none have it. So I get that water in pan spray sound when AC is on. That got old fast so I drilled a hole in bottom. Water drains out it and has been that way for years. Now what I gather from searching ( can’t rely on that truth always ), is water cools coils and stuff. Is why no drain. It throws water on all etc. I could maybe see the point in this. I have since forever wondered if I should plug up that drilled hole and stop drilling holes in stuff. Just put up with the loud water splashing in AC. Which at times I did see that got pretty deep in pan and when it rained it filled it. So, question is simple to drill a drain hole or to not and why?
@4:32 When you exhale it helps regulate some of the pressure that builds up in your chest and abdomen. When you release the pressure that has accumulated in the abdomen and chest it reduces the risk of sustaining internal injuries, like hernias and vessel strains. Professional powerlifters hold their breath during lifts, a technique known as the Valsalva maneuver. The idea is that holding your breath while lifting extremely heavy weights can provide core strength and protect your spine. However, holding your breath while lifting heavy weights runs the risk of increasing your blood pressure, which can lead to fainting or a heart attack. Unless you’re a serious weightlifter and you plan on attempting a one-rep max lift there is no reason to hold your breath while lifting weights. While inhaling during the eccentric phase and exhaling during the concentric phase can be beneficial, the more important thing is that you engage the core to create stability for the spine. When you flex your abdominal muscles it creates the brace you need to safely and effectively lift. Straight-back and bending at the knees when neccessary is last but not least.
Doing troubleshooting on ac window unit not running,make sure you have power, make sure you have you filter clean and the clogged water line is clean, check the capacitor, put you amp of your meter on the line of the compressor only black or red, if you have amp pulling or the compressor is running and the discharge line is not hot, you got leak, you’re welcome.
Just one complaint. This is all great if you can actually GET the damned casing apart. Why does it seem like everyone that makes these articles always start with the casing already off? I’ve tried with many AC’s over the years and have NEVER been able to get the screws loose. They just strip so I just hose off what I can get to, which is never enough.
Hey thanks for this article, i have a question though… My unit is 12 000 btu and brand new, used for like 3 months last year and now i installed it this year and its already shooting only hot air. I sounds like the compressor inside is not activating most of the time, it turns on 5 minutes each hour and then turns off, air is cold only within theses 5 minutes but problem is it turns off after 5 minutes so the room is hot. Do you have an idea why it happens? It’s a insigna 12 000btu, the front filter is clean and all the inside looks barely dirty. thanks!!
sir, true, evaps get dirty, do not hose it, if you do, very light with a brush,, professional way is to remove cover, housing and cover motor and electrics like relays and capacitor, then you can clean the evaporator and even more important is the condenser, the outside fins, if that gets dirty, it your amperage will dangerously go up. oh, you did take ooff the cover, good but you should cover motor and all electrics, many parts in side electricals are not sealed and you dont want water, good job.
I watched some other article years ago of how to wash an air conditioner. I followed the directions to a T. The AC ended up on the curb cuz it wouldn’t even turn on. Also I can’t believe you didn’t even mention that if you tip the air conditioner (have it on its side etc) you have to let it sit level for a day …. or better yet, 2 days to let the coolant settle before you turn it back on.
I am experienced with the costs of time and money via my pursuit of diy and handyman and thank you for your efforts. I have two things to say. The first is that it runs long for me perusal the cleaning process beyond just communicating how a step is done (I’ve heard that length of articles is related to YouTube payback so I won’t press that. Whatever the reason, I’m 74 so sensitive to any time wasting I choose to invest). My second point is that in the intro you predicted looking into what can be wrong and can be done to remedy a cooler that isn’t cooling, but the only issue tackled was dirt blocking airways. I have a cooler that isn’t cooling that was filthy and I thought sure a thorough cleaning would fix it. It did not. Anyway, I was expecting further causes to be reviewed. I’ll keep looking. All my best to you. Pass on your knowledge whenever you can. A time is coming when something brand new may be very rare and or expensive (as it should be).
My air conditioner is over 18 years old, but it is still going strong. My apartment window height was twice the height of the air conditioner, and the apartment slide windows slide sideways rather than up and down, so I did not need to use those accordion expandable side panels on each side of the air conditioner. Instead I bolted the two accordion side panels together, and then used this combo to fill the open window area just above the air conditioner. This worked, all thanks to the two expandable panels combined being the exact same width as is the width of the whole air conditioner. The way I mounted it all is tough enough to handle an Earthquake. This is good since my air conditioner sits directly over the apartment building rear door entrance. That also meant that water drips were dripping from the air conditioner right down upon the entrance area. So, I took an old dead AC/DC adapter’s plastic box and turned it into a drip catcher and then drilled a hole into that and connected it to a tube that redirects the water off to the side, away from anyone entering the building. I love these DIY projects. By the way, after the air conditioner was 16 years old, the motor bearings had begun to squeal, so I had to figure out a way to oil the motor brass bearings since the motor was fully sealed. After fixing that, it was as good as new.
There are usually two fans in the unit, one for the evaporator and one for the condenser coil. You may have either one motor with a shaft coming out both ends or two separate motors. It sounds like you may have a condenser fan blade either hitting something or loose. A condenser coil itself will not generally make any noise unless the lines are hitting together going to it. I would look it over again and see what you can find.
So, if the Condenser Coil has debris or dust or whatever clogged up inside it, or it’s vents are clogged up, what will the AC unit do? I’m assuming it will overheat and stop pumping the coolant to the front Evaporator Coil, causing warm air to blow through the front – correct? I’ve been noticing that, since 3 years of good working activity, my “through the wall” Comfort Aire BGE-143M will only blow moderately cold air on a temperature setting of 62 (that’s the coldest setting, when it used to blow super cold air at 70 temp setting) and then, at times (for days in a row), will NOT blow any cold air at all, making the place heat up like a toaster oven! What the heck is the issue? Thanks in advance! – JM
1:42 can anyone tell me what that brown wire just above the barcode is ? i have a feeling it may be something important. see the thing is i move that out of the way every time i replace the filter. over time it stressed that wire out that it broke. and now my air conditioner wont cool. it runs and the fans runs but it doesn’t cool. EDIT : perusal further this may have been a “Sensing Bulb” but i cant get a clear answer from the internet.
I am a service tech and I have had a lot of problems with GE, they dont want to help you at all with technical literature/troubleshooting info. The digital controlled units are problematic and unreliable. GE has sold out to HAIER, a terrible company with junk products. Due to the non support of GE, we have dropped their line and dont recommend them at all.
Well These types of AC can be placed on your window or remove from your window since these windows type AC are small and compact some window type AC are Large There’s a medium size and there’s a Large size these Window AC that are are medium or large cannot Remove and Also you can Still place this to your windows if your window are large enough to place it just buy a support bracket but i preferred to Make a hole in the Wall of the house and place the AC to that hole it alot of work but yeah and also don’t forget the support brackets but if you want you can Weld a Cage for your AC and place on Where you want to put it
in my AC a layer of ice starts to form behind the air filter and when this is happening the AC nearly doesn’t cool at all…this mostly happens when I turn of the AC through the remote..It should get off but I still hear the noise of the compresser and the ice layer is formed…I have a Samsung split AC AS125EWF/2012
So I haven’t used this window AC unit for about 6 years now. I installed it and turned it on. Everything was normal and the air smelled like it should. Upon checking the back of the unit on the outside of the house, I noticed it smelled like a hog farm coming from the back of the unit (the inside air was fine no smell). It was also dripping a white frothy foam that has built up in a pile/puddle outside (no leaks inside either). What is the white frothy foam build up dripping/smell and should I be concerned for family safety/well-being, as well as wildlife/pet safety?
THANK YOU! It answered my question to the downstairs large window unit. BUT The small upstairs 6K wouldnt blow cold air. I questioned its draining and so I opened the window and tipped then tilted…then it started blowing cold air. It was with water too. Are the small ones run different than the large ones? (As I just learned from your vid to the purpose of the standing water under the fan while rusting out the brand new $500 unit 🤗 YEES!)
I have a GE wall unit bought new 3 years ago 12000BTU . Worked great until 1 day last simmer when it hit 100 degrees. It never worked the same again. It no longer drips any water, output at the vent is now 48 degrees from 40-42 and the room no longer has that ac chill to it when you walk in. Any tips here? Thanks
I am smelling a kind of bad gas from my a/c since we used black duck tale to completely seal in both sides of the a/c instead of the spacer grids becz we thought they we supposed to be keeping more outside air out so we completely taped over them! Now its very humid & gassy smelling in our little room? Plz can.u help me? Thanks!
i bought a new frigdaire window unit,and drilled drain holes in it when i did this i hit a line in the rear lost all freon i took it apart and brazed the line,got a bullet valve and recharged it .endend up adding 8 cans of freon .now it only cools a thermostat to 51 degrees .i checked 1 of my old air window units and it cools to 41 degrees,no around here works on window units.it a frigdaire 12;000 btu.ive got 500 + bucks in this thing.i dont know how much freon is enough.the recharge came with a guage it’s reading 50 psi.should i purchase a vacum and try again.how much is enough,please help
I would hope you will include this in future articles for people living outside a city. If you live in mosquito country (ie. you have mosquitoes constantly to any extent during the summer or in more severe cases you have mosquito storms, that is where you walk outside and mosquitoes engulf you) wrap the intake of the outside of the unit in screen wire. this will prevent the mosquitoes from clogging and destroying the aluminum in the condenser coils. It will slightly decrease the efficiency though
How does mold not start to grow quickly with all that water just sitting in the back of the unit? My unit just started to show black mild on the front vent and in the filter and my unit is years old and we used it almost every year, so why is mold starting to just grow now? Either way we got a new air conditioner and threw the old moldy one away immediately, still curious tho.
HELP PLEASE!!! I have GE model # AEM14AQL1 wall unit air conditioner and it keeps turning on & off continuously all by itself. Starts cooling for a few minutes, makes a BEEP & turns off complete. After a few seconds comes back on all by itself. Do you have any suggestions??? I’ll be waiting in the heat 🙂 . Thanks, E.M.
ANYONE HELP: My AC used to work great, but now when its cold outside and I turn on my AC it can make the room cold, and you can tell its not just blowing in outside air, but doing it’s job. When it’s hot out, my ac blows nothing but hot air for 15 minutes straight, then gives me cold air for about 20 seconds then back to hot and so on. Also when it transition from cold to hot it makes a very very loud banging sounds then it goes BOOM, then goes back to hot air. Sometimes that banging sound will last a while about 2 minutes for no reason. I took the AC out, and cleaned out all of the dust, but it just did not do anything. One article said that all you have to do when your AC gets hot is spray the outside and inside with a water hose. The outside seems plausable, but the inside? Should I? The inside of my AC looks like metal foil beneath the filter. It just seems wierd to take a water hose to it. btw I also do not think its the freeon as it gets cols and stays like a ac when its cold out. Anyways, it’s really hot, dont really have money for repair, and I need help. ANY THOUGHTS?? Thanks in advanced!
to add to the article if you live in a place with many bugs, especially mosquitoes, it will restrict the cooling efficiency of the window unit but will prolong its life if you wrap screen around the intake vents on the outside. a simple wire to hold the screen will work. As a testament I didn’t replace the screen on my window unit after cleaning it and now its exhaust smells of death. However what can you do in mosquito country. time to clean it again and re-install the screen.
a little tup for everyone…it’s impossible to tilt the ac unit backwards while being properly installed, allowing water to collect in the back of your unit will seriously reduce the life of your condenser as the water will begin oxidizing with the steel in a couple of weeks…(one of my ac units is a month old and has a good amount of rust), and those little vents to draw in fresh air don’t do anything but let bugs in. the amount of help the water gives to help cool your condenser is so slight that it by far outweighs how much shorter your units life expectancy will be when your condenser rots out. Drill multiple holes, coat the exposed metal will silicone sealant to prevent rust, install bug screens on the vents to prevent most bugs and debris from entering your unit and clogging the condenser so you will have to take it apart and clean it far less often.
my air conditioner fell out of the window last year. not that high of a fall. from only the first story. I let it sit for a while then tried it out, seem to work just fine. Now when it starts, it makes a clicking sound. but goes away. When I turn it off, it sounds like you can heard water. Checking the back now. there are dents on the condenser coils. Is my air conditioner broken or still gonna work for a while? It still blows cold air and seems to be working right.
Thanks for sharing this great article. I’m having problems with my Frigidaire window unit blowing cool air consistently. My trouble shoot process was to clean the filter and after powering back on “check filter” light goes on and off. And the ac unit only stays cool about 10 minutes after powering on then like shifts into a different mode and the cool air is gone! Any suggestions? Thanks
Thanks. Just need to know if exterior air is circulated inside. There is an ash haze (fog like) condition due to wild fires in the neighboring county and wanted to know if that air is going to come in or not. It’s over 100 today so I wanted to limit the need to use it if needed as fire season can last for weeks or months. Though if rolling power shut offs continue, I might not get a choice any ways 🤷🏻♀️
my thermostat went dead about a year ago, I’ve never bothered to fix it and never used the ac again since I dont’ really need it. Will this extended period of non-use damage the unit? It’s in a high rise condo in a warm climate so i don’t think there’s any mold issues. What about the motor? should it be fine?