clean a window unit air conditioner

Window AC only blows cold air for a few minutes. When I turn my window air conditioner to ON, the compressor turns ON. The AC cools the room for 5 minutes but then the compressor turns off. It still “blows” air but it is not COLD. When this happens and the compressor turns off, I can press the MODE button and change it to FAN ONLY mode. After 1 minute I turn it back to COOLING mode and it comes back on. Is the AC low on refrigerant or could there be a bad thermostat? Please help me fix my window air conditioner.My Window Air Conditioner Cools Then Turns Off How to Clean a Window Air Conditioner? If your window AC or air conditioner only blows COLD air for a few minutes and then turns OFF and just blows air, try thoroughly cleaning the unit. It may be turning off because the compressor is overheating or the filter is dirty.A window AC unit can leak refrigerant over time, it will depend on how old your AC unit is. The AC coming ON then OFF quickly may just be the thermostat cycling as normal.

The room may already be cold enough and the window AC thermostat senses it and turns off the COOLING mode.If there is dust and dirt that has accumulated inside the AC or air filter, the compressor may overheat and turn OFF prematurely and the unit will not cool. Cleaning your window AC unit will help it run much more efficiently and cool the room faster and colder.How does a window air conditioner work?HOW TO PROPERLY CLEAN A WINDOW AIR CONDITIONER:(You can leave the unit in place without removing it from the window to clean using the method below)Unplug the window AC from powerRemove the front plastic cover that attaches to the unitSlide out the AC air filterClean the air filter that filters the air going into the unitClean the front plastic cover to remove dirt, dust, and debrisClean the coils so they are free from dust, debris, and dirtClean around the compressor so it is free of debris, dirt, and dustClean the fan to remove any dust, dirt, or debrisReinstall the clean AC air filterReinstall the front plastic panelPlug in the AC unit and test to be sure it is coolingAfter cleaning the AC, check to make sure nothing is disconnected or damaged (compressor

, thermostat, thermal overload switch, control switches) if so replace parts, get the unit serviced, refill the cooling refrigerant, or replace the complete AC unit. Window AC Replacement Parts – Filter – Brackets – Covers – Knobs – Side Panel Kit – Curtain – Frame Air Conditioner Repair Troubleshooting Tips How to Clean a Window Air ConditionerPlease Share Our Helpful DIY Information Your air conditioner does two jobs: It cools down the air and it dehumidifies the air.
ac unit full of iceIf you live in a dry climate, you want the AC to dehumidify as little as possible because it uses extra energy and makes you spend more on lip balm and hand lotion.
how split ac system worksIf you live in a humid climate, you really want it to do that second job as well as it can to keep your indoor air dry and comfortable.
ac units for the wall

But where does all that condensate go? In most homes, it goes outdoors through a pipe, like the one above. Sometimes there's a little pump that pumps it out, but most often it drains by gravity alone. Occasionally that condensate line gets clogged. This happened at my condo last week. (We live in Atlanta, Georgia, a mixed-humid climate.) Gunk in the pipe built up to the point where it was barely draining. We could run the AC for a little while and then we'd have to turn it off again. This past weekend I tackled the problem. One of the best ways to do so is with good old air pressure. If you can close off all escape routes except the one in the direction of the clog, you can shoot positive pressure into the pipe near where the indoor unit is located. That should blow the clog out the other end. In our case, that wasn't an option because our condensate line is connected to our upstairs neighbor's air conditioner, too. So I got out my little wet-dry shop vac and set it up to suck the gunk out at the end of the pipe.

The photo below shows the setup. I was hoping to avoid a trip to the hardware store, so I used red duct tape to try to make an airtight connection between the shop vac hose and the condensate line. I took the shop vac hose with me to the store and bought some fittings in the plumbing department. I hooked it all up (photo above) and got a nice, airtight connection this time. With the taped connection, I got maybe half a cup of water out of the pipe. With the airtight connection, I got the bucket full of crud you see below. If you really want to see how bad it was, watch the short video below and you can see my wife pouring it out. Yes, all that gunk was in our condensate line. One problem with condensate lines is that algae can grow in them. In our case, there's also a lot of sediment in that bucket, possibly from a corroded evaporator coil. We replaced our AC in 2009 and the condensate line hasn't been cleaned since then, so some of that crud could have been from our old unit.

If you haven't thought about your condensate line lately (or ever), this would be a good time to do so. You can have your HVAC company make sure it's clean, or you can get a shop vac and do it yourself. To keep it clear, you can use an algaecide that's safe for air conditioners. Your HVAC company can recommend one for you. In hot-humid climates like Florida especially, clogged condensate lines are a frequent problem. A little preventive maintenance now could save you thousands of dollars in water damage repairs and the loss of your air conditioner when the heat really cranks up. This Thermostat Setting Can Cost You Money and Make You Sick Have You Seen What's in Your Hotel Room Air Conditioner? An Interesting Way To Freeze Your Air Conditioner Coil North American School Systems Course & Event Calendar Laboratory CoolingLaboratory cooling & clean room air conditioning Our cooling solutions provide precise control of temperature, humidity and air quality for laboratory cooling and clean rooms for companies globally.

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