In case you missed itA step-by-step guide to removing your A/C unit—without any scary slip-ups We're far enough into September that we we can probably stop worrying about one last heat wave coming back to spite us, which means it's time to take out our window air-conditioners for the season. But, given some horror stories about A/Cs being dropped on passing pedestrians, you'll want to make sure you remove yours as carefully and safely as possible:First: Get another person to help you shoulder the load. (No shame in not being able to manage an unwieldy, precariously perched, 40-pound behemoth of an appliance on your own, after all.) Turn off the power, then unplug the unit.Afterward, lay down a fresh towel to sop up any water that's accumulated in the appliance, Gizmodo recommends, making sure you're wearing a long sleeved shirt, close-toed shoes, and maybe even some protective gloves.Unscrew the air-conditioner (if necessary), and stand on the cord for extra leverage in case it falls, then hold the unit from behind while the other person lifts up the window.

Be prepared for the A/C to naturally tilt back at this point. Carefully scoot the unit out of the window, then place it on the towel to let any excess water drain out. For good measure, send someone outside to give neighbors or pedestrians a heads up. After all, just because your apartment insurance would cover this kind of accident doesn't mean you shouldn't avoid one. New York City apartment insurance broker Jeff Schneider of Gotham Brokerage (a Brick Underground sponsor) tells usLest you think you're off scot-free because you've got a PTAC air conditioner—an all-in-one heating and cooling unit located against the wall like a radiator—don't forget that it's crucial to change the filter at least twice a year, or risk incurring water damage (and mold).Once you've got the air-conditioner safely indoors, clean the filters or, if you're feeling spendy, send it out for a pricey cleaning. (These services will also store your A/C for the season once they've cleaned it.) If you'd rather not shove it under the bed or deal with the hassle of heading to a storage unit, you can also look into services like Boxbee and Makespace, which will deliver you a box, then cart away your A/C (or any other unwanted goods) for storage.

And with that all squared away? Time to figure out exactly where you left the space heater last spring.***This story was first published in September 2014, and was updated in September 2016.With 30-degree temperatures and angry winds irreverently slapping us New Yorkers in the face, it’s officially getting cold. air handling unit processWhich means now is the perfect time to tell that noisy 50-pound gorilla chilling in your window, “A/C ya later!”how to fix an air conditioner wall unit What happens if you don’t remove your air conditioner from the window?ac unit fan motor not working First, your A/C can suffer from premature wear and broken components. Second, heat could escape through your A/C’s accordion extension panels, making room for cold air to turn your home into a fridge.

Naturally, you’ll want to crank up your thermostat from 0 to 100 real quick, unnecessarily increasing your heating bill by about 3% for each Fahrenheit degree that you turn your thermostat up. And who wants to waste all that hard-earned dough? (Pro tip: Before you leave home for eight hours, turn your thermostat back 10°F to 15°F. You’ll save 5-15% a year on your heating bill.) But in order to bid your air conditioner adieu, first you have to uninstall the dang thing. Ideally with the help of a friend. Things you’ll need to get the job done safely: When you’re ready to begin, follow these 11 simple steps to uninstall your A/C in a breeze: Turn off your air conditioner. Unplug the A/C’s power cord from your outlet. Remove the A/C’s front panel and set it aside. Lay a towel on the floor. Look out your window and make sure no one is directly below it. Then, stand on the A/C’s power cord just in case the thing decides to plummet.

From here on out, make sure you have at least one hand gripping the A/C at all times. Nobody wants to get injured on their walk home. Remove the screws on one side of the unit. Put the screwdriver and screws to the side. With that same free hand, reach through the window, grip the A/C, and slide it over to the opposite side. Unscrew the remaining screws on the unit and put them aside. Use your free hand to open the top window pane. Carefully balance the A/C on the window sill with both hands, grab it, and lay it on the towel. If you installed any additional hardware to support your A/C in the window, remove that too and lay it on the towel.Celebrate like the boss that you are. If you get stuck on any of the steps, watch Gizmodo’s handy “Removing Your Window A/C” video. When you’re done, you don’t have to worry about storing the air conditioner in your apartment. Simply schedule a MakeSpace pickup and we’ll store that bad boy for you.

And when you need your A/C back next summer, we’ll deliver it to you.Finding mold is never a good thing, but it’s something all homeowners or renters will likely encounter at one time or another during their lifespan. Mold can present itself in more than one location but is more commonly found in air conditioning window units, air handlers, and furnace humidifiers. It’s important for homeowners to educate themselves on how to safely identify and remove mold from their homes. In order to help keep homeowners safe, we’re dedicating an entire series to safely identifying and removing mold from window units, air handlers, ductless air conditioners and furnace humidifiers. In order to safely remove mold, you’ll need the following tools: 2 – 4 Soft Towels or Cloths Face Mask (Make sure it covers your mouth and nose) QwikClean® Foaming Coil Cleaner AC Window Unit Mold Removal Instructions: Gather necessary tools and put on safety gear Turn AC off and turn the circuit breaker off or unplug unit from power source

Loosen and remove the front grill of the unit Remove the filter – it should be located just behind the front grill. If your filter is disposable, safely dispose of it and replace with new filter. Spray filter with PuraClean® to increase filtration effectiveness If you’re using a reusable filter, spray the filter with PuraClean®, scrub both sides of the filter clean using a soft-bristle brush, rinse and hang to dry. Before reinstalling the filter, spray with PuraClean® to make cleaning easier in addition to increasing the filtration efficiency up to 250%. Remove metal cover by lifting upwards, you may have to unscrew this as well Use the vacuum to clean debris from the interior of the unit Spray any visible mold with QwikClean® Foaming coil cleaner and use a damp rag to wipe out all visible mold growth If necessary, scrub moldy areas using the soft-bristle brush and QwikClean® from Step 8 – including the front grill. Let everything dry for 15 to 20 minutes before reassembling.