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The filter is usually located under the front panel and easy to remove.
Use a shop vacuum to clean the grill of debris that can reduce the unit's efficiency.
If necessary, you can remove, test, and replace the control panel, though this is really a job for a technician.
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Not all homes have—or need—a central air conditioner system. Necessity or economics may dictate that you install smaller air conditioners in a bedroom, nursery, or other living area for cooling during the hottest days. Of course, the "hottest day" is when it decides to quit working! Here's how to fix it.
A room air conditioner is an encased cooling unit for mounting in a window, through a wall, or as a console. It is designed for delivery of cool air to an enclosed space without ducts.
Here's how it 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 cooler air. The gas condenses into a liquid that travels indoors to the evaporator coils where, under reduced pressure, it vaporizes into a gas, absorbing heat from the room. The blower pulls room air through the air filter and across the evaporator coils, where it is cooled, then blown back into the room. It makes the room cooler by pulling the heat out of the air. The operation of the unit is controlled by a thermostat.
Maintain the filter and unit case:
- Unplug the unit and remove the front cover.
- Remove any clips holding the filter in place and remove the filter. It typically is located either in front of the evaporator coils or is attached to the back of the front panel.
- If the filter is not washable, or is damaged, replace it with an identical filter. If the filter is washable, vacuum off the heavy dirt and place the filter in a solution of light detergent and water. Squeeze out dirty water and rinse it with warm water. Squeeze out as much water as possible and let it dry before reinstalling it.
- Use a shop vacuum with a brush attachment to loosen dirt from the cover and grilles. Spray the cover with a detergent-water solution and rinse it with clean water.
- Wipe the surface clean with a damp cloth.
- Reattach the cover.
Clean the cooling coils:
- Unplug the air conditioner, and remove it from the window if it is window mounted.
- Remove the housing as needed to access the cooling coils. Most units secure the back panel to the chassis with bolts or sheet-metal screws.
- Vacuum the coils and evaporator fins with the brush attachment of a shop vacuum.
- Make sure all components are clean and dry before reinstalling them.
Check and flush the drain system:
- Unplug the unit and remove the front cover. Take the unit out of the window or wall.
- If the unit has an evaporator drain pan and a condenser drain pan, locate the drain tube connecting them. Pull out the tube from under the compressor base and run a thin wire through it to loosen any obstruction.
- Flush the tube with 1 cup of a solution of chlorine bleach and water to prevent algae formation. If the unit does not have a drain tube, use a cloth to wipe clean the drain channels molded into the drain pan.
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