Room Air Conditioner Repair

Many homes are cooled with room air conditioners. This Fix-It Guide on room air conditioner repair tells how a room air conditioner works, what oft goes wrong, how to place a room air conditioner trouble, and what parts and tools you will need to set it. It then gives instructions for how to maintain the room air conditioner filter and unit case, how to clean the cooling coils, how to straighten the coil fins, how to lubricate the fan motor, and how to cheque and flush the drain system. You may be referred to service panel repair, fuse repair, electrical string repair, or motor repair.  If y'all have fundamental air conditioning, see the Central Air Conditioner Set up-Information technology Guide.

How Does a Room Air Conditioner Piece of work?

Room Air Conditioner Repair

Components of a typical room air conditioner.

A room air conditioner is an encased cooling unit of measurement for mounting in a window, through a wall, or every bit a panel. It is designed for delivery of cool air to an enclosed infinite without ducts.

Hither's how information technology works: Pressurized refrigerant flows through a room air conditioner, alternately in gas and liquid form. When the unit is on, the condenser pulls in refrigerant gas and pressurizes it, raising its temperature. The heated high-pressure gas travels to the condenser coils outdoors, where the fins distribute heat to the surrounding libation air. The gas condenses into a liquid that travels indoors to the evaporator coils where, under reduced pressure level, it vaporizes into a gas, absorbing estrus from the room. The blower pulls room air through the air filter and across the evaporator coils, where it is cooled, and then blown dorsum into the room. It makes the room cooler by pulling the heat out of the air. The functioning of the unit of measurement is controlled by a thermostat.

What Can Go Wrong with a Room Air Conditioner?

With a little maintenance, a room air conditioner should role satisfactorily for many years. The electrical string may fail. The filter may need to be replaced. The coils may be dingy and the fins bent. The unit of measurement may exist noisy and it may drip water inside. Routine maintenance includes cleaning or replacing the filter monthly during the cooling season and a yearly lubrication of the fan motor (unless the motor is permanently sealed).

How Tin can I Identify a Room Air Conditioner Problem?

  • If the unit does non run at all, check the electrical service panel for a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker. Test the electric cord . Make clean or replace the filter (come across below).
  • If the unit of measurement repeatedly trips a excursion breaker or blows a fuse, clean the coils and straighten the fins (see below). If the problem continues, the unit may require professional service.
  • If the room air conditioner turns on and off repeatedly, check for and remove any obstruction in the condenser, make clean the coils, and if necessary, straighten the cooling fins (see below).
  • If the unit does not cool sufficiently, lower the thermostat and clean or replace the filter.
  • If the unit is noisy when running, tighten the housing screws and brand sure clips are in place. Side by side, lubricate the fan motor bearings (see below).
  • If the room air conditioner drips water inside the room, bank check and flush the drain system (see below). Some condensation may be normal in loftier-humidity areas.

Gear up-Information technology Tip

During periods of high humidity, water dripping from the drip pan is normal.

What Do I Need for Room Air Conditioner Repair?

Replacement parts are available from the manufacturer and aftermarket suppliers too as from local hardware stores, electrical suppliers, and dwelling centers. The tools you will demand to set a room air conditioner include these:

  • Screwdrivers
  • Wrenches
  • Shop vacuum
  • Fin comb
  • Light (SAE 10) oil
  • Garden hose

What Are the Steps to Room Air Conditioner Repair?

Room Air Conditioner Repair

The filter is usually located nether the forepart panel and easy to remove.

Maintain the room air conditioner filter and unit of measurement case:

  1. Unplug the unit and remove the front cover.
  2. Remove any clips belongings the filter in place and remove the filter. It typically is located either in front end of the evaporator coils or is attached to the back of the front end panel.
  3. If the filter is non washable, or is damaged, replace information technology with an identical filter. If the filter is washable, vacuum off the heavy dirt and identify the filter in a solution of light detergent and water. Squeeze out dirty water and rinse it with warm water. Clasp out as much water equally possible and let it dry before reinstalling it.
  4. Apply a shop vacuum with a brush zipper to loosen clay from the cover and grilles. Spray the cover with a detergent-h2o solution and rinse information technology with clean h2o.
  5. Wipe the surface clean with a clammy material.
  6. Reattach the comprehend.

Make clean the room air conditioner cooling coils:

Fix-It Tip

Room air conditioners can be very heavy to move. If you lot can't easily remove a window unit for winter, cover it with plastic sheeting and seal information technology with duct record to protect it from the cold.

  1. Unplug the air conditioner, and remove information technology from the window if it is window mounted.
  2. Remove the housing as needed to admission the cooling coils. Most units secure the dorsum panel to the chassis with bolts or sheet-metal screws.
  3. Vacuum the coils and evaporator fins with the brush attachment of a store vacuum.
  4. Brand certain all components are make clean and dry before reinstalling them.

Straighten the room air conditioner coil fins:

Note: To avoid damage to the scroll, use only an air conditioner coil fin rummage (bachelor at appliance parts stores) to straighten bent fins.

  1. Unplug the unit from the electrical receptacle. If the unit is wired into the electric system, turn off the circuit breaker or remove the circuit fuse in the electrical service panel .
  2. Remove any debris with a small brush before standing.
  3. Friction match upwards the fin comb to the fins to brand certain that they fit properly and won't impairment the fins.
  4. Carefully fit the comb teeth between the coil fins into an undamaged section to a higher place the area to be straightened. Pull the fin comb down, sliding it through the damaged surface area.

Lubricate the room air conditioner fan motor:

  1. Unplug the unit of measurement and remove it from the window or wall.
  2. Remove the unit's cabinet or cover.
  3. Find the oil ports on the motor housing. If you tin't find any, your motor may exist permanently sealed and does not demand lubrication.
  4. Remove the caps from the oil ports. Insert a few drops of light (SAE-10) not-detergent oil into each port. Don't allow oil to contact electrical components.
  5. Insert a driblet or two of light (SAE 10) oil forth the motor shaft where it meets the motor housing and the fan.
  6. Rotate the fan past manus to work the oil into the motor.
  7. Reassemble and reinstall the unit of measurement.

Room Air Conditioner Repair

If necessary, you lot tin can remove, examination, and replace the control panel, though this is really a job for a technician.

Bank check and flush the room air conditioner drain organization:

  1. Unplug the unit of measurement and remove the front cover. Take the unit out of the window or wall.
  2. If the unit has an evaporator drain pan and a condenser drain pan, locate the bleed tube connecting them. Pull out the tube from under the compressor base and run a thin wire through it to loosen whatever obstruction.
  3. Flush the tube with 1 loving cup of a solution of chlorine bleach and water to prevent algae germination. If the unit does not have a drain tube, use a cloth to wipe clean the bleed channels molded into the drain pan.

Fix-It Tip

Wait five minutes before restarting an air conditioner to lessen strain on the compressor.