It’s time to retire that ugly window air-conditioner for the winter. But you don’t have to take it out yourself. A number of companies around the city will remove, clean and store air-conditioners, reinstalling them in the spring.“), which stores about 3,000 units each winter in its Bronx warehouse, for about $270 a unit, plus tax. And when the air-conditioner is in a window facing a windy street like Riverside Drive or in an apartment on a high floor, gaps from non-airtight installation can mean cold drafts, noted Kenny Dhanani, owner of RCI discount appliance. Just don’t forget that your air-conditioner is in storage. Most companies that provide this service request that customers call fairly early in the spring to arrange to have the air-conditioner reinstalled.), customers are asked to call before May 15, said the company’s president, Ranjit Singh. Otherwise, employees may be busy installing new units. “When it’s hot,” he said, “everybody wants to have it the same day.”

Necessary items like your trash bins or an AC unit aren’t exactly the look and feel you want your yard to have, especially if you’re aiming for a relaxing oasis, or a well-manicured garden. Hide the unsightly stuff in your yard with this simple DIY screen. Basically, you’re constructing a 3-sided wooden box with planks along each side to hide your items. It’s pretty simple, but it looks great. You can adjust the proportions of the fence to match the space you want to enclose. hvac unit will not come onYou can see what it looks like in the photo above, and the Apartment Therapy link below has a complete parts list, and step-by-step instructions. types of window ac unitsWhen you’re all finished, you’ll have something that looks much better than a big rubbermaid shed, or even better, won’t drive your HOA crazy. home ac units repair

This design doesn’t include a gate, but you may want to add one for easy access to whatever you store behind the screen, or you can leave space between the screen and the wall for access.How to Make a Simple, Modern Screen to Hide the Ugly Stuff in Your Backyard | Image from Erin Francois. Published on September 16th, 2013 | Many people make the mistake of leaving their window air conditioner in place during the winter or not taking the time to properly prepare the AC unit for storage. This can cause premature wear and broken components. Take an hour or so to prepare your window AC unit for storage to prevent damage and ensure that it runs well when the new cooling season begins. When should you get your air conditioner ready for storage? Once outside temperatures drop below 60 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, it may negatively affect the performance of the air conditioner. For many parts of the U.S. and Canada, now’s the ideal time to remove your window air conditioner and prep it for storage.

Here are seven simple steps to prepare your window air conditioner for the off season: 1.       Read the unit’s owner’s manual for care, de-installation and storage instructions. 2.       Remove the unit from the window with care. Never attempt removal of a window air conditioner without the assistance of another person. 3.       Inspect the unit for damage.Enter your air conditioner’s model number here for model-specific troubleshooting and how-to repair help for air conditioners. RepairClinic has replacement parts for air conditioners including knobs, remote controls, curtains, fan blades, blower wheels and many others. How to find your air conditioner’s model number 4.       Replace or clean the air filter. On most models, the air conditioner’s air filter should be cleaned or replaced once monthly during the cooling season. Get it ready for next season by cleaning or replacing it now. 5.       Clean the condenser coils and water pan.

An air conditioner’s condenser coils will accumulate layers of dust and dirt over the course of a cooling season, which may cause the air conditioner to work harder to remove heat. Follow the owner’s manual instructions to remove the outer cabinet so that you can access the coils. The easiest way to clean the coils is by blowing compressed air or using a soft bristle brush. Don’t use a pressure washer, as the high pressure may bend the condenser coils’ delicate fins. Use warm water, dish detergent or white vinegar to remove dust, lint and dirt from the condensation pan at the base of the unit.  Make sure the pan is thoroughly dry before storing. 6.       Use touch-up paint to cover scrapes and scratches on the unit’s exterior. RepairClinic has biscuit, white and black-colored touch-up paint for air conditioners. 7.       Find a good storage location. It’s best to store window air conditioners during the winter. Leaving window air conditioners in place can cause drafts and lead to increased energy consumption.

Air conditioners are best stored in an attic, basement or utility room. Garages are not a wise place because small animals and insects are more likely to seek shelter inside of AC units in those locations. Mice and other rodents are known to chew on wiring and cause expensive damage. If you must keep the unit mounted in the window during the off season, be sure to use an air conditioner cover that’s specifically designed to protect AC units from weather damage. How to determine what size window air conditioner you need Six simple ways to get your window or through-the-wall air conditioner ready for summer Shop for Air Conditioner Parts and Accessories How an air conditioner works Love DIY tips and discounts? That’s why we give them away. Have you joined our free VIP email list? Need help finding the right part? We’re here for you 7 a.m. to midnight ET, every day. Since 1999, three and a half million people have purchased replacements parts and accessories from RepairClinic and saved more than $260 million in repair costs by fixing appliances, lawn equipment, power tools, and heating & cooling equipment on their own.

From the beginning, RepairClinic has provided free troubleshooting and how-to resources on its website. The company’s 2,000+ free how-to repair and how-it-works videos on its YouTube channel have been viewed more than 41 million times. RepairClinic’s free, advanced online repair help system empowers do-it-yourselfers to fix common problems associated with home appliances, lawn equipment, power tools and heating & cooling equipment. DIYers can enter a model number to choose from a list of common symptoms for that particular model, troubleshoot and watch award-winning, expertly-produced videos to learn the most likely causes and conditions and purchase the correct part. stocks more than one million parts and accessories for 160 brands of lawn mowers, small engines, snowblowers, string trimmers, furnaces, air conditioners, air handlers, heat pumps, washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, power tools and many other products. Since 1999, the company has served more than three million customers including homeowners, first-time and beginner DIYers, advanced DIYers, appliance repair professionals, small engine repair shops and landscaping and lawn care business owners.