How to Fix a Window Air Conditioner
- 1). Remove the front grill. Pry it off with a putty knife if it's held by clips, or use a screwdriver if it is screwed in place.
- 2). Unplug the air conditioner, slide it out of the window cabinet and set it on a sturdy table. You may need a helper to move the air conditioner if it's heavy.
- 3). Locate the mesh filter. It covers the radiator-like fins on the machine's evaporator coils.
- 4). Remove the filter, and wash it and the grill in a mixture of warm, soapy water and bleach--this will remove any mold. Shake out the excess water and set the filter and grill in your dish drain to dry.
- 5). Vacuum the evaporator coils thoroughly, using a vacuum with brush attachment. Remove any stubborn dirt with a plastic scrub brush.
- 6). Inspect the fins on the coils. If any fins are bent or flattened, buy a fin comb from an appliance store and run the comb up or down the fins to straighten them.
- 7). Turn the air conditioner around so the back is facing you. You will see a second set of coils--the machine's condenser coils.
- 8). Vacuum these coils thoroughly, using the vacuum and brush attachment. Remove any stubborn dirt with a plastic scrub brush.
- 9). Inspect the fins on the condenser coils, and if any are bent, use the fin comb to straighten them.
- 10
Remove any dirt or lint from inside the unit, using the vacuum and crevice attachment. Make sure you clean the fan blades, too, using the vacuum and brush attachment. - 11
Put the air conditioner back into the window cabinet. - 12
Reinstall the filter and front grill, and plug in the machine.
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