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MercTech -> RE: Our window unit air conditioner will not cool as well as it did when brand new (7/5/2013 11:25:26 AM)
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Any air conditioner has 4 main parts... condenser, evaporator, compressor, orifice.
The condenser is the radiator looking thing on the outside of the space. The evaporator is the radiator thing that cools the air going into the room.
Things that reduce an air conditioner's efficiency:
Dirty filter or dirty evaporator coil... check the filter and look at the inside coil. Clean if necessary.
Dirty condenser coil.... the outside coil can be cleaned with a garden hose. The A/C tech may use an acid wash to get all the corrosion and embedded dirt out.
Clogged orifice... A/C tech will apply a set of gauges to measure the compressor output and the pressure drop across the orifice. Orifice can be replaced.
Compressor seals worn out... again, tech can tell from the pressure gauges. If the compressor goes bad, it is often as cheap to replace the whole unit rather than replace the compressor. (Compressor is the major price component of the unit think of blowing the engine on a car.)
Now that you know what to expect, I'll make some suggestions:
1> Clean the unit thoroughly and see if that takes care of the problem. Clean evaporator inside and clean or replace the filter. Blow out the condenser on the outside section with a garden hose. Check the condenser water drain while you are at it. The condenser drain is where the water drips out of the air conditioner when it is running. If the drain is clogged, sometimes you get ice buildup on the evaporator that reduces efficiency.
2> The most common problem with a window AC unit is dirt or leaves clogging up the condenser (outside radiator looking thing) or the radiator having all the fins bent over. (A tech has a gadget called a "fin comb" to straighten out bent over fins)
If that does not solve the problem; call an HVAC tech.
If you can't find a local fellow that works on AC package units (jargon: self contained AC or refrigeration units... includes window air conditioners, small refrigerators, water coolers, etc.) try Sears Appliance Services. Sears isn't the cheapest but can dispatch a tech in most places in the U.S.
Taking off my tech head hat,
Steve
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