how to clean window unit air filter

Home » Appliance Repair Help » Air Conditioner Repair Help Dryers - Gas & Electric Freezers - Chest and Upright Ice & Water Dispensers Due to high costs for keeping this site running, please consider making a donation. Appliance Parts, Accessories & Repair Help. RepairClinic offers the largest inventory of appliance parts for all major brands, including Whirlpool, Frigidaire, LG, GE, Samsung, and many more! What Your Appliance Error Code Really Means. Save 10% on $75+ Orders. Often knowing what that part is called is half the battle for getting the correct part for our repair. Common names and detailed descriptions of the appliance components can be found from links below.... These are interactive and will 'pop-up' a detailed description when the browser mouse pointer moves over specific areas. These interactive pages may require a Flash or Java enabled browser to view them. (Click for a larger version) A common trouble maker on at least 1 out of 3 window air conditioners brought into our shop today has a burnt cord plug (see image below).
The plug end must be changed plus what ever you are plugging the air conditioner into ( wall outlet, extension cord, etc. ) Q - The coils on the front of the air conditioner are frosting up...what's up? A - Often this is a sign that the air conditioner should be brought into repairCommon trouble makers are: - dirty condenser coil inside the a/c should be cleaned, fan motor gets oiled and a new filter is installed. Q - My air conditioner just "hums" and does not seem to be blowing any air, what's up? A - It is possible and happens a lot, the fan motor has seized up and needs replacing. Q - Water is leaking inside my room from the front of the air conditioner, what's up? A - The evaporator coils on the front of the a/c produce water which normally travels though a drain system to the back of the unit where the water is evaporated. is probably plugged and the water is running towards the front and leaking out. is a sign that it is time to bring the a/c into repair shop for a thorough cleaning.
Q - My air conditioner never drips any water out the back, isn't it supposed to? A - * Most room air conditioners are designed NOT to drip water out the back. condenser fan blade has a ring built into it to pick up the water and "sling" the water against the hot condenser tubing to help keep the coils cooler when the unit is running. This slinger can sometimes be heard "swooshing" the water around when the fan isThis is one way modern a/c are use less hydro be reusing the cooler water to help cool the hot coils.large air handling units * Usually only larger unit's may have a drain spout on the back of the a/c.carrier hvac parts distributor Q - Will my air conditioner get colder if I open the air vent?car air conditioning cost to repair it
A - No, this opens air door to the outside and actually will allow cold air to escape to the outside making it harder for the a/c to cool your room! Q - Any idea what size air conditioner I should buy for my room? A - Air conditioners are rated in BTU's ( British thermal unit's )...this is a common sizing chart based on room size to the size of a/c... What size air conditioner to buy? has created an BTU calculator and it uses ENERGY STAR's BTU recommendations to suggest a BTU level that's ideal for your situation so you can save money. Q - Is there anything in my air conditioner that should be oiled? A - Not all fan motors have oil plugs, but if they do....the plugs should be removed, a few drops of 3in1 ( or something similar ) can be placed into the hole. The plugs then must be re-installed to prevent dust from entering the motor oil holes. Turn the air conditioner OFF and unplug it. NOTE: The air conditioner must be unplugged for the automatic filter clean timer to reset.
See the Care and Cleaning section in your use&care manual. After cleaning, replace the filter and plug the air conditioner back in. Er—Room temperature sensor failure. Affresh Washer Cleaner removes and prevents odor-causing residue that can occur in all brands of High Efficiency (HE) washers Direct drive coupling used between the motor and the transmission on direct drive models NEW! Metal sleeves for added strengthRoom air c­onditioners, also called window units, work the same way central air conditioners do. They are smaller than central systems and often more expensive to operate. Depending on its size, a room unit may cool only the room in which it's located, or it may be able to cool adjoining rooms as well. Sandwiched between the coils are a compressor, two fans, a motor, and thermostat controls. Dirt is the biggest enemy of window air conditioners; it can lower the efficiency of the evaporator coil, block the operation of the fan that blows out the cool air, clog filters, and block drain ports.
How to Diagnose a Water Heater Problem How to Diagnose Sump Pump Problems How to Verify Refurbished Electronics are Legitimate How do you sharpen a knife with sandpaper? The Ultimate Refacing an Appliance Quiz The coils, the compressor, and the motor of a room air conditioner are sealed components, so any repairs to them should be left to a professional service person. However, you can make minor repairs, and regular maintenance will keep your unit running well. When extensive repairs are needed, you can also save the cost of a service call by removing the air conditioner from its mounting and taking it to the repair shop. During the winter, room air conditioners should be protected from the elements. Either remove the unit from its mounting and store it or cover the outside portion of the unit with a commercial room air conditioner cover or with heavy plastic sheeting, held in place with duct tape. Caution: Before doing any work on a room air conditioner, make sure it's unplugged.
Room air conditioners have either one or two capacitors, located behind the control panel and near the fan. Capacitors store electricity, even when the power to the unit is turned off. Before you do any work on an air conditioner, unplug it and discharge the capacitor or you could receive a severe shock. The unit's owner's manual will show the location of capacitors and tell how to discharge them. Otherwise, let an air conditioning technician do it. The filter, power cord, coils, switch, thermostat, drain ports, and fan are important to service on a routine basis to avoid larger problems. Below are guidelines on how to maintain these key parts. At the beginning of every cooling season and once a month during the season, remove the front grille and clean or replace the filter. If you live in a very dusty area, clean or replace the filter more often. Most room air conditioners have a washable filter that looks like sponge rubber. Clean the filter with a solution of mild household detergent and water;
Let the filter dry completely before reinstalling it. Some units have a throwaway filter, similar to a furnace filter. When this type of filter becomes dirty, replace it with a new one of the same type. The power cord that connects the air conditioner to the wall outlet may become worn and fail to supply electricity to the unit. To check the cord, remove the control panel. Unscrew the cord terminals and then attach a test wire across the bare lead wires. Hook the clips of a volt-ohm-milliammeter (VOM) set to the RX1 scale to the prongs of the cord's plug. If the meter reads zero, the cord is functioning. If the meter reads higher than zero, replace the cord. Clean the evaporator and condenser coils at the beginning of the cooling season and every month during the season. If you live in a very dusty area, clean the coils more often. Use a vacuum cleaner on these components. If the fins on the coils are bent, straighten them with a fin comb, sold at most appliance parts outlets.
A fin comb is designed to slide into the spaces between the fins. Use it carefully as the fins are made of light-gauge aluminum and are easily damaged. The selector switch, located directly behind the control panel, turns the unit on. If the air conditioner does not run at any setting, and it is receiving power, chances are the switch is faulty. To correct the problem, remove the control panel and locate the switch. Check the switch terminals for burnt insulation or burn marks on the terminals. If you see any indication of burning, replace the switch with a new one of the same type. The switch is held to the control panel or frame with screws; unscrew it and connect the new one the same way. If you determine the problem may not be the switch, call a professional service person. Maintaining the thermostat and drain ports on your home air-conditioning window unit is vital to keep the whole system working properly. It won't be a difficult or burdensome task if you folllow the guidelines mentioned below.