to share some top tips on window air conditioning maintenance. Window AC Unit BasicsWindow-mounted air conditioners are a great way to beat the heat, but they do require some periodic maintenance.  It is important to not oversize your unit, because it diminishes the efficiency and the humidity reduction.  A 10,000 BTU unit air conditioner is good for rooms 400 to 450 square feet, while a 20,000 BTU unit is good for a room about 1000-1200 square feet. If you have a really large living space, a unit of 30,000 BTUs is perfect for rooms 1500-2000 square feet.  And for a room that is 1500-2000 square feet, you will need an AC unit that is 30,000 BTUs.  An air conditioner sizing chart is available from the department of energy on their website under the energy star link. Before Installing a Window Air ConditionerBefore you install your window air conditioner unit, be sure that you plug it in to a three-prong grounded outlet, and never cut off the third ground plug.  It is important that you size the air conditioning unit properly to the size of your room. 

This unit is about 5000 BTUs and is perfect for a room up to about 150 square feet.Cleaning Your Window Air ConditionerAt the beginning of each cooling season and monthly, while you are using your air conditioning unit, you want to remove your air filter and clean it with warm sudsy water in your kitchen sink.  Cleaning your air filter regularly with dish soap and water will maintain its efficiency.  Let the filter air dry before it is replaced into the unit.  how long will central ac unit lastYou also want to vacuum out the dust from the condenser coils.  central air conditioner prices reviewsTo do that, you will remove the front cover from the air conditioner unit, and with a soft brush on your vacuum attachment, clean out the dust from the condenser coils.  how much to recharge home ac unit

Check the accordions on the side of the unit, and if they are torn or ripped, it'll need to be replaced for good efficiency.  You can find replacement accordion kits that are inexpensive.  Those are your top tips for your window air conditioning unit maintenance.  Sign Up for Our Free NewslettersMold in window air conditioner units is a serious problem because every time you turn on your air conditioner, it will blow tiny, invisible mold spores into the room. Mold spreads and grows easily and before you know it, you can have mold growing throughout the room. After that, it won’t take long before it begins to spread to other areas of the home. Mold growth in the home can lead to serious health problems. It can also cost thousands of dollars to remove mold from the home. Fortunately, if you take quick action, you can get a handle on the problem before it progresses that far. You might see mold in window ac units if you look carefully or you might see mold on the filter if you remove and examine it.

You might not be able to see any mold, though, at least not right away. Small amounts of mold can be very hard to see, although given time the mold will grow and will probably become easier to see.  Another way to know if there is mold in your air conditioner is if there is a musty smell when you turn on your ac. Mold produces chemicals called microbial volatile organic compounds that give off a characteristic musty odor. If you smell that, there is mold somewhere in your home. If you smell it most strongly when you turn on your air conditioner, the mold is probably in the ac unit, even if you can’t see it. If you or other members of your household are experiencing symptoms of mold-related illness, you might suspect the presence of mold somewhere in the home. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(1), symptoms of mold-related illness are wide-ranging and include shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, sneezing, irritated eyes, sore throat, headaches, respiratory infections, fatigue and a general feeling of malaise.

If you’ve recently started using your window ac for the season, mold in the ac unit might be the cause of your symptoms.To find out for certain, you can have a professional come in to test your air conditioner for mold. Unfortunately, it’s very difficult to thoroughly remove all traces of mold in window ac units. It is actually cheaper and easier to simply replace the unit with a new one. That way you know you don’t have to worry about mold anymore. In addition to replacing the ac unit, we recommend having a professional come in to check for the presence of mold in the wall around the window in which the mold ac unit was installed. It’s easy for mold to spread from a window air conditioner to a nearby wall, especially if the air conditioner was leaking any moisture, and mold frequently grows inside walls where you can’t see it. There it can continue to grow and spread throughout the home. Catching it early can save you much trouble, not to mention money, down the road. It can also prevent the development of serious mold-related health problems, including respiratory disorders like asthma and pneumonia.

That’s right, you can schedule a free inspection for mold if you’re concerned about mold in your home. We recommend doing so if you’ve found mold in window air conditioner units so that you can make sure there is no mold in the walls adjacent to those windows. A mold removal professional will visit your home and inspect carefully for mold and if any mold is found, provide a written estimate for the cost of having the mold removed. There is no obligation, though, so even if you plan to handle any mold removal on your own, you can still benefit from some free professional advice. To schedule a free inspection for mold, just follow the link.Return From Mold In Window Air Conditioner To Our Main AC Mold PageWritten Check it every 30 days. If it looks clean, put it back in. This is a common question. But I have some houses where one person lives there and they travel 5 days a week. I have other houses where 5 people smoke, they have 3 dogs, 2 cats, and a meth lab. No one can say for sure, every house is different.