Window Air Conditioner Maintenance

There's nothing more uncomfortable than having no moving air in the house during hot summer months. Many people who can't afford central air conditioning rely on window air conditioners to cool rooms or small portions of a house or apartment. However, if you don't properly take care of that window unit, you may find that you only get one or two seasons out of it before it has to be replaced, which can be expensive and put a crimp in your budget. Or, the air conditioner doesn't seem to put out as much cool air as it did before, leaving you to wonder what's wrong with it.

Window a/c installation help is here.

By properly maintaining your window air conditioner, you will guarantee optimal performance as well as saving money and giving your window unit the chance to perform as efficiently as possible. Here's how:

1. Regularly clean the air filter - You may have to remove a side panel to get to the air filter of your unit, or even the front of the unit. Remove the filter, which is usually a spongy sheet less than ¼ inch thick, and wash gently with sponge in soapy water. Allow filter to dry and then replace.
2. Using an old paintbrush, brush the outside of the unit, especially the backside, where the fins are located. Dirt and dust can clog these fins and reduce efficiency. Some units may require removal of the back grill to reach the fins.
3. If necessary, straighten bent fins with a fine-toothed comb or a fin comb, which can be purchased from air conditioning and heating suppliers. If fins are bent, they restrict the amount of airflow into the air conditioner, affecting its cooling abilities.
4. You put oil in your outside tools, so don't forget to oil your window air conditioner, if your conditioner contains an oil port. Some older models do. If your unit contains an oil port (look at the user's guide), oil your conditioner twice a year. However, most window air conditioners sold these days are sealed and don't require additional oil, but better to check first.
5. Clean inside the air conditioning unit. Using the attachments that come with your vacuum cleaner, try to clean as much dust that has collected inside the unit both before summer and after summer time use.
6. Don't forget to clean the drain hole! Most wall air conditioner units come with a tray on the bottom. If possible, remove the tray and clean, and, if it has one, also clean the drain hole that is connected to the hose at the back of the unit.

If you're purchasing a new window air conditioner this year, look for those with a high EER, or Energy Efficiency Ratio, of 10 or more, but the higher the better. If it also comes with an Energy Star label, then your unit will be eco-friendly as well, a big plus all around.

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