2,474 posts, read 2,112,362 times 107,588 posts, read 39,577,952 times Originally Posted by larrytxeast Well additional information is helpful..First to get a window A/C that will last 15-20 years and longer you'd have to go back at least 30 years. No time machines available at this time. If rain is bad enough water can migrate forward up the motor shaft and wash out the bearings. That's if a special washer is missing from the rear shaft of the motor. This could cause it to start screeching. It could seize up or attempt to tighten up. It may need oil. Fan cap could be bad. More likely worn bearings as the shaft being pulled to one side will cause the magnetic hum. Slide the unit out and see if it has oil ports. Aluminum or plastic plug on top both ends of the motor. Unplug unit first of course. OP, maybe this site will help you... My A/C unit won't turn on. 350 posts, read 428,894 times Do It Yourself , How To Change Capacitor On Air Conditioning Unit - YouTube

For most homes in warm climates, air conditioning uses more electricity than any other use — up to 70 percent of a summer electric bill, according to some estimates. However, there are ways for most people to reduce this load by changing their air conditioning habits. Here are the biggest air conditioning mistakes people make, and how to reduce usage and electric bills.Mistake No. 1: Buying Too Big an Air ConditionerBigger isn’t always better. Many people are inclined to get a bigger air conditioner, assuming it will make the home colder faster. However, an oversized air conditioner won’t generate uniform temperatures or reduce humidity. It will also run inefficiently by cycling on and off quickly. Of course, a unit may also be too small to properly cool the space. To properly size a new air conditioning guide, start with this Consumer Reports worksheet.Mistake No. 2: Putting the Air Conditioner in a Hot SpotIt may seem convenient to put air conditioners in an unused spot on the southwest side of the house.

However, such placement will make the unit work too hard. Instead, install the air conditioner in a shady spot on the east or north side of the house, where it will receive less direct sunlight.Mistake No. 3: Hiding the Air ConditionerThe air conditioner may not be pretty, but neither are excessive summer electric bills. Don’t try to hide air conditioners behind shrubs or other plants. It will hinder ventilation, clog condenser coils and make the air conditioner run less efficiently. Mistake No. 4: Ignoring MaintenanceAir conditioners are deceptively self-sufficient. Many homeowners ignore basic A/C maintenance that can improve efficiency and comfort, and extend the life of the air conditioner.Clean or replace filters at least every two months. If it is used constantly or filters a lot of dust and pet hair, check the filters more often. Also check and clean the evaporator coil once a year. Run a stiff wire through the air conditioner’s drain channels regularly, and check the window seals around room air conditioners each year.

Mistake No. 5: Leaving the Air Conditioner Running All DayUse a programmable thermostat or individual unit timer to start cooling off the house before you get home from work. This is cheaper and more efficient than leaving the air conditioner running all day, despite rumors to the contrary.running water over ac unitMistake No. 6: Blindly Closing Unused VentsOpinions vary on the efficiency of closing vents and doors to unused rooms. air handling unit sectionIn many cases, this can decrease the efficiency of a central air conditioning system. too big ac unitConsult an expert before closing off any parts of the house for the summer. Also be careful about closing off any rooms that may have a thermostat.Mistake No. 7: Turning the Temperature Way DownIf you are comfortable at 78 degrees, don’t come home and turn the thermostat down to 70 degrees.

It will not get you to 78 any faster. It will just skip past 78 and waste ever more energy getting to excessively low temperatures.Mistake No. 8: Heating Up the ThermostatMake sure lamps, televisions, stereos or other heat-generators are not close enough to the thermostat to accidentally drive up the temperature reading and overwork the air conditioner.Mistake No. 9: Not Using Ceiling Fans or Running Them BackwardsMany people think their air conditioner is a substitute for ceiling fans. Instead, they should be used in tandem. According to Energy Star, make sure the fan is switched to push air downward (typically counter-clockwise). It may seem more logical to reverse the fan so it is pulling hot air upward. However, the downward airflow creates a “wind chill effect,” which makes you feel cooler.Mistake No. 10: Using the Wrong FansOn the other hand, exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom can push cool, conditioned air out of the house. They should not be used more than absolutely necessary in the summer.

Oregon DOT report offers perspective for all states EIA: Another big decline in oil inventory, gasoline production Russia says no oil production cuts OPEC agreement to cut production? Don't bet on it. Car manufacturers push for quieter tires The end all verdict to A/C vs. windows down! Posted in: Car Maintenance, by Patrick DeHaan on Jul 22, 2011 12:41 PM There have long been battles between people investigating A/C vs. use of windows, so let's face it, will we ever find a true solution that always holds true? Perhaps not, but we may get close.For the ultimate verdict I was going to compare several credible sources and ultimately see if there was any sort of rhyme or reason to their research and testing, if they did any.. While definitely not a leading researcher, they've looked at published reports from credible sources and seemingly have a good fix on this battle. , "Based on a study conducted by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), driving with the windows up and the air conditioning on is typically a more fuel-efficient way to drive [source: Hill].

We'll get around to discussing when air conditioning isn't a more efficient option, but let's first take a look at what the SAE found.The SAE study was conducted at a General Motors wind tunnel and on a desert track. In the wind tunnel, air was forced over the front of the car and also from an angle on the front of the car to simulate a cross wind. In the desert, temperatures and vehicle speed were factored into the study. Two vehicles were used in the test, one was a full size SUV with an 8.1-liter V-8 engine and the other was a full-size sedan equipped with a 4.6-liter V-8 engine. Overall, both studies showed that driving with the windows down has a significant negative effect on the fuel efficiency -- more than using the vehicle's air conditioner.For the sedan, when the windows were down, the efficiency was reduced by 20 percent, while the SUV fuel efficiency was reduced just 8 percent [source: Hill]. These differences are an important factor in determining just how much the windows down option will affect the fuel efficiency of your vehicle.

The study concluded that the more aerodynamic the vehicle, the more drag open windows will create.When driving at speeds of more than 55 miles per hour (88.5 kilometers per hour) with the windows down, there's a decrease in fuel efficiency of 20 percent or more. Although using the air conditioner decreases fuel efficiency as well, cooling the air through the compressor only decreases the fuel efficiency by about 10 percent [source: Arthur].So, when traveling at speeds around 50 miles per hour (80.5 kilometers per hour) or faster, air conditioning is usually a better bet, but what about when you're simply cruising around town? Keep reading to find out how you can save a little bit of fuel on those slow-speed short trips."So HSW says that for faster speeds, A/C is better. Now on to the Chicago Tribune, another credible source:"The higher the speed, the more wind resistance affects mileage. So, you may be saving gas by driving with the windows open and the AC off at 25 mph. But at 55 mph and faster your vehicle's aerodynamics are increasingly degraded by open windows.

At highway speeds you may get better mileage with the windows up, but it may still not be better than it would be with the AC off."Poking around city traffic, aerodynamics doesn't come into the picture very much," said auto air-conditioning guru Ward Atkinson. The auto engineering consultant worked on some of General Motors' first auto AC systems in the mid-1950s. He's a regular speaker on climate control at Society of Automotive Engineers confabs.While wind resistance from running at highway speeds with your windows down may eat up more gas than running windows-up with the AC on, there is no escaping the fact that "it takes energy to cool a car," Atkinson said."So the ultimate answer- WHEN is best to use A/C over windows and vice versa? If you're driving under 45mph or so, using your windows is better. If driving faster than 45mph or so, using the A/C to keep cool is better.So, the verdict does appear unanimous! Use that A/C on faster roads or highways, but not while in the city or traffic.