Our window unit air conditioner will not cool as well as it did when brand new

Our window unit air conditioner will not cool as well as it did when brand new (Full Version)

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LittleGirlHeart -> Our window unit air conditioner will not cool as well as it did when brand new (7/3/2013 9:57:15 PM)
IT's a little over a year old, the filters clean, the tempiture thermastat is set right, same temps last year almost n i could have it so colx in here you needed a blanket, now i hardly redgister its cooling.what can we do to determin why it is not as effective as it once was? Are there companies you can call to come take a look? I know they have house ac companies, but this is a little unit where you put it in a window or a wall.

BitYakin -> RE: Our window unit air conditioner will not cool as well as it did when brand new (7/3/2013 10:11:01 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LittleGirlHeart IT's a little over a year old, the filters clean, the tempiture thermastat is set right, what can we do to determin why it is not as effective as it once was? Are there companies you can call to come take a look? I know they have house ac companies, but this is a little unit where you put it in a window or a wall. all AC units are dependant on the outside temp, they will cool X degrees lower than the outside temp, so if this is a hotter summer in your area, it may SEEM like the unit is not performing as well example if the unit is rated to lower the temp say 20 degrees, then at 80 degress outside you'll have 60 degrees inside, which is quite cool if its 100 degress outside it will only cool to 80 degrees inside, which is uncomfortable to most people. also you miht need to clean the coils, hard to explian how to do with but if you take the over off you'll see what looks like small radiators, if they are clogged with dust that sticks to the moist fins it dreasticly reduces it efficiency I try to run a window unit as long as I can till it really heats up, in spring early summer it cools VERY WELL, as the summer dones on and temps rise it becomes much less comfortable!

LittleGirlHeart -> RE: Our window unit air conditioner will not cool as well as it did when brand new (7/3/2013 10:24:42 PM)
Its consistently 80 degrees in here, even with ac on. And 110 to 100 outside. Right now at 10:24 its 75 inside, no idea how hot outside.

DaddySatyr -> RE: Our window unit air conditioner will not cool as well as it did when brand new (7/3/2013 10:30:06 PM)
How you store an AC unit comes into play, also. Did you store it with the side that is outside on the bottom? Did you lay it, directly on concrete? The simple fix may be to see if the unit needs to be recharged (improper storage can lead to loss of coolant). Peace and comfort, Michael

jlf1961 -> RE: Our window unit air conditioner will not cool as well as it did when brand new (7/3/2013 10:31:46 PM)
First, as been said, you may need to clean the coils, that is easy to do, pull the unit out of the shell, rent an air tank, get a hose to hook to it, and put a blower nozzle on it. I dont know where you live, but here in West Texas, during the morning, all we use is window units. Outside temps 100 to 104 so far, inside temp is between 78 to 80 and the units are brand new. Due to dust and the dogs, we clean the filter screens about every two days. Sorry to say a window unit is not going to bring the room temp down more than 20 degrees, unless you have a unit for 500 square feet in a room that is less than 200 sq ft. To help keep the place cool, put aluminum foil on the windows to block and reflect the sunlight, the best side to do this on is the west side or the side that gets the most sunlight.

njlauren -> RE: Our window unit air conditioner will not cool as well as it did when brand new (7/3/2013 10:35:31 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LittleGirlHeart IT's a little over a year old, the filters clean, the tempiture thermastat is set right, same temps last year almost n i could have it so colx in here you needed a blanket, now i hardly redgister its cooling.what can we do to determin why it is not as effective as it once was? Are there companies you can call to come take a look? I know they have house ac companies, but this is a little unit where you put it in a window or a wall. It may still have a warrantee, some units are two years (most are 1 year, though). A couple of things: 1)The thermostate may be flaky. Did you try turning the temp as low as it will go (if it has a temp setting)? Try that, and see if it blows cold. You should hear the compressor kick in, if you turn it all the way as low a temp as it can go (ie as high as it can go), and you don't hear the sound of the compressor kicking in, it may be the thermostat. 2)The compressor may have blown, or more likely, it may have leaked the coolant it uses out. If it is only 1 year old, this isn't likely. If you hear the compressor kick in (hint, when it does this, it usually causes the lights to flick a bit), and it isn't blowing cool, it is the compressor. 3)The cooling coils might be really dirty. At home depot, they sell this foaming cleaner you spray on the coils (at the back of the AC housing). My guess is it may be the thermostat. The probe for it is usually behind the filter, it is a metal wire with a bulbous end. One trick, wrap the end in tape, and see if the compressor kicks in. There are places that will fix A/C's, check under appliance repair in the yellow pages.

njlauren -> RE: Our window unit air conditioner will not cool as well as it did when brand new (7/3/2013 10:39:16 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LittleGirlHeart Its consistently 80 degrees in here, even with ac on. And 110 to 100 outside. Right now at 10:24 its 75 inside, no idea how hot outside. Last year, when new, did it handle 100-110 degree temps? It could also be given that kind of heat, you have too small a unit for the room you are trying to cool. How big is the room, and how much is the air conditioner rated at? If you have a 160 square foot bedroom, an 8k btu unit would be okay, a 5k btu would prob be too small. I would get the unit checked by an appliance repair place and see what they say.

MrRodgers -> RE: Our window unit air conditioner will not cool as well as it did when brand new (7/3/2013 11:07:39 PM)
A/C units are first diagnosed measuring what is called...the temp. drop. It is usually 20-25 degrees and anymore is too much and 25 is a max. If it is cooler that means there is an overcharge of refrigerant. Check for leaks of any outside air into your space. Close any you find. Plus, if your unit is dirty, one indication is that you are seeing little if any water (condensate) coming out of the drain as the first function of an A/C unit is to dehumidify. Once it has been running for a few minutes, take a long stem or cooking thermometer and check the temp. of air going in and write it down. Then come inside and take the output (supply) temp. If it is not 20 degrees cooler then your unit is likely undercharged and it needs a spot of refrigerant. You will need a certified mech. to do that but he will put the gauges on the machine. Then if he adds refrig. he needs to weigh it in as adding refrig. is by weight and they charge so much a lb. Storage and operation must be level for proper lubrication and operation of the compressor. If it was not stored level, you will likely need some more oil or by now maybe a new compressor as most are sealed.

MrRodgers -> RE: Our window unit air conditioner will not cool as well as it did when brand new (7/3/2013 11:12:40 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: njlauren quote: ORIGINAL: LittleGirlHeart Its consistently 80 degrees in here, even with ac on. And 110 to 100 outside. Right now at 10:24 its 75 inside, no idea how hot outside. Last year, when new, did it handle 100-110 degree temps? It could also be given that kind of heat, you have too small a unit for the room you are trying to cool. How big is the room, and how much is the air conditioner rated at? If you have a 160 square foot bedroom, an 8k btu unit would be okay, a 5k btu would prob be too small. I would get the unit checked by an appliance repair place and see what they say. You are on the right track here but as little as a half ton or 6000 btu unit is more than enough to cool say a 16 x 10 bedroom for example. But again, if your outside air is 110, then 90 degree supply (output) temp. is all you can expect and that could be the problem...too hot outside. If it is really 110 outside then 80 inside is doing damn good. One more thing, close the blinds and curtains trying to minimize all radiant heat. Radiant heat is the enemy of A/C as well as humidity.

LittleGirlHeart -> RE: Our window unit air conditioner will not cool as well as it did when brand new (7/4/2013 1:04:02 AM)
It was brought home kept in the box, the way it was in the store then it was put in the window. how do we check the coolant levels? quote: ORIGINAL: DaddySatyr How you store an AC unit comes into play, also. Did you store it with the side that is outside on the bottom? Did you lay it, directly on concrete? The simple fix may be to see if the unit needs to be recharged (improper storage can lead to loss of coolant). Peace and comfort, Michael

LittleGirlHeart -> RE: Our window unit air conditioner will not cool as well as it did when brand new (7/4/2013 1:12:32 AM)
yes. It did. it was quite the little champion. IT had it so cold in here I wanted blankets. And now after literally 9 hours or more of running, an no blinds open I need a fan on to feel cool enough, when before the ac alone was enough. Its just not registering that it's ran much. Of course i know with out it wht it'd be like so I do know it ran, but not as good as before. if it was running like it should, we should feel like something akin to a walk in freezer in here an we just don't. it used to get so cold in here the thermostat shut the ac off. Our rooms not huge but not small. I don't know exact measurements but you could fit 4 kingsize beds, end to end and side to side. with just a weeeeeeeeeeee bit of room left and when I google dimensions for king size beds I get Overall dimensions: 72" wide x 84" long Width per person: 36" My dad made sure to get a unit that had enough BTU's to be more than generous. tomorrow I'll get a measuring tape and take actual measurements if the comparison to kingsize beds wasn't helpful. quote: ORIGINAL: njlauren Last year, when new, did it handle 100-110 degree temps? It could also be given that kind of heat, you have too small a unit for the room you are trying to cool. How big is the room, and how much is the air conditioner rated at? If you have a 160 square foot bedroom, an 8k btu unit would be okay, a 5k btu would prob be too small. I would get the unit checked by an appliance repair place and see what they say.

LittleGirlHeart -> RE: Our window unit air conditioner will not cool as well as it did when brand new (7/4/2013 1:18:42 AM)
Yup. I have it set clear down to 60 from turning off when it hit 70. from what I understand then it would shut off if the room reached 60 but it never does reach 60 in here. quote: ORIGINAL: njlauren It may still have a warrantee, some units are two years (most are 1 year, though). A couple of things: 1)The thermostate may be flaky. Did you try turning the temp as low as it will go (if it has a temp setting)? Try that, and see if it blows cold. You should hear the compressor kick in, if you turn it all the way as low a temp as it can go (ie as high as it can go), and you don't hear the sound of the compressor kicking in, it may be the thermostat. 2)The compressor may have blown, or more likely, it may have leaked the coolant it uses out. If it is only 1 year old, this isn't likely. If you hear the compressor kick in (hint, when it does this, it usually causes the lights to flick a bit), and it isn't blowing cool, it is the compressor. 3)The cooling coils might be really dirty. At home depot, they sell this foaming cleaner you spray on the coils (at the back of the AC housing). My guess is it may be the thermostat. The probe for it is usually behind the filter, it is a metal wire with a bulbous end. One trick, wrap the end in tape, and see if the compressor kicks in. There are places that will fix A/C's, check under appliance repair in the yellow pages.

MrRodgers -> RE: Our window unit air conditioner will not cool as well as it did when brand new (7/4/2013 3:26:15 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LittleGirlHeart Yup. I have it set clear down to 60 from turning off when it hit 70. from what I understand then it would shut off if the room reached 60 but it never does reach 60 in here. quote: ORIGINAL: njlauren It may still have a warrantee, some units are two years (most are 1 year, though). A couple of things: 1)The thermostate may be flaky. Did you try turning the temp as low as it will go (if it has a temp setting)? Try that, and see if it blows cold. You should hear the compressor kick in, if you turn it all the way as low a temp as it can go (ie as high as it can go), and you don't hear the sound of the compressor kicking in, it may be the thermostat. 2)The compressor may have blown, or more likely, it may have leaked the coolant it uses out. If it is only 1 year old, this isn't likely. If you hear the compressor kick in (hint, when it does this, it usually causes the lights to flick a bit), and it isn't blowing cool, it is the compressor. 3)The cooling coils might be really dirty. At home depot, they sell this foaming cleaner you spray on the coils (at the back of the AC housing). My guess is it may be the thermostat. The probe for it is usually behind the filter, it is a metal wire with a bulbous end. One trick, wrap the end in tape, and see if the compressor kicks in. There are places that will fix A/C's, check under appliance repair in the yellow pages. You need a technician who will put on his gauges to determine the refrigerant level. For a single average room, most window units are more than enough capacity. Setting it on 60 will have it run non-stop. Please check to see if it is draining condensate...the water it takes out of the air.

ChatteParfaitt -> RE: Our window unit air conditioner will not cool as well as it did when brand new (7/4/2013 3:38:22 AM)
The unit most likely needs cleaned, but please try to answer these questions. What brand is it? What size in BTUs? Does it cool at all? Not just blow air around, but cooler air comes out? Yes or no? Look in the bottom of the pan, is there water? Is it icy? Go outside and look at the back coils. Are they dirty? Are they icy? Have you checked to determine if the button that controls the thermostat works? Turn the unit off for a couple hours, set it on low cool (or the first setting) and wait for at least an hour. Do this on all the settings and see if you get a different level of cooling, then report back. Again, it most likely needs to be cleaned, but it's hard to troubleshoot over the internet. BTW: An AC tech is likely to charge half of what the unit is worth, unless it is a very expensive huge unit, which I doubt.

Termyn8or -> RE: Our window unit air conditioner will not cool as well as it did when brand new (7/4/2013 4:11:59 AM)
UFR The only thing "improper storage" can do is allow the oil to run out of the compressor and into the evaporater or condenser. If it hits the expansion valve, which is probably a cap tube unless it is an extremely high end unit, it's over. You would know because the compressor would lock up and blow the breaker. (or the internal protect) These things are almost always subjective. You do not likely have a refrigerant leak if it gets cold at all because leaks do not fix themselves. The first thing is to turn the fucker all the way up, err down, err whatever way makes it the coldest. You have to listen to it, you can hear the compressor start and stop. When it is turned all the way cold and it isn't cold enough the compressor should run continuously. If not the thermostat is out of calibration. Don't trust that shit. Take the front off. Crank the thing all the way cold. IF on the off chance to did leak some refrigerant, the coils in front will only get cold on the bottom. When you first turn it on you'll notice it gets cold at the bottom first. After some time depending on many things, it should eventually get the whole coil cold. Like I said, if it gets cold at all it is very unlikely you have a refrigerant leak, but it does happen and that test is reliable enough. If it isn't cold enough, cranked all the way up and the compressor cycles on and off look at those coils in the front and find a copper tube with a slightly thicker end. That is what senses the ambient air temperature for the thermostat. It shoud be mounted on standoffs so it senses the incoming air temperature, not the (evaporator) coil temperature. If it gets bumped and is in contact with the coils, that's the problem. Whether it is or not, you can get the compressor to run longer (and cool more) by moving thaat sensor away from the coils. If you do this be careful you don't run it so hard that it ices up, which brings us to the next little thing about humidity..... Many newer, high EER rated units now take the condensate and use the fan to slpash it up on the (condenser) outside coils. The unit is actually more efficient in higher humidity. If the humidity is down, so will be the efficiency. I did not perve to find out where you live, but if it's a "dry" heat, you might consider taking the garden hose to the outside of it. Under normal conditions there should be condensate dripping from the thing after it's been on a while, though you should not be able to tell from the inside as it needs to be pitched so that stuff runs outside. If the condensate is running inside and it is a high EER unit, you might have to give it a bit of a tilt out. The moving parts of the sealed system are a motor armature, piston rod and piston and two reed valves. Most of the time these things last many decades. Everything is well oiled and it is exceedingly rare that things just wear out a bit. They usually either fail or they don't. Sorry to be such a know-it-all but I am from a fucking family that NEVER calls a repairman. T^T

LittleGirlHeart -> RE: Our window unit air conditioner will not cool as well as it did when brand new (7/4/2013 11:51:57 PM)
The back of it's not dirty no. It's a general electric, 8,000.yes cold air comes out, if you stand right in front of it, it's rather nice. I don't know if it has a pan, daddy will do all that in the morning. or Monday. yeah it was not super expesnive maybe 300. I wanted one that was hella expensive because it had enough btu to make sure even on the hottest day it was cooli n here, but I couldn't afford one, couldn't even really swing the 3 or 4 hundred ones and my dad bought it for me. quote: ORIGINAL: ChatteParfaitt The unit most likely needs cleaned, but please try to answer these questions. What brand is it? What size in BTUs? Does it cool at all? Not just blow air around, but cooler air comes out? Yes or no? Look in the bottom of the pan, is there water? Is it icy? Go outside and look at the back coils. Are they dirty? Are they icy? Have you checked to determine if the button that controls the thermostat works? Turn the unit off for a couple hours, set it on low cool (or the first setting) and wait for at least an hour. Do this on all the settings and see if you get a different level of cooling, then report back. Again, it most likely needs to be cleaned, but it's hard to troubleshoot over the internet. BTW: An AC tech is likely to charge half of what the unit is worth, unless it is a very expensive huge unit, which I doubt.

littlewonder -> RE: Our window unit air conditioner will not cool as well as it did when brand new (7/5/2013 12:00:38 AM)
don't bother with getting someone to look at it. Cheaper to just buy a new one. For the price you paid, it will cost you near the same price just to have it looked at.

LittleGirlHeart -> RE: Our window unit air conditioner will not cool as well as it did when brand new (7/5/2013 10:11:47 AM)
littlewonder, I actually want to save up for a mr slim ductless heating and air conditioning unit. I have heard good things about them. I also need to figure out what's going on with this one so if we have another one hopefully it won't happen again, maybe some companies will do a free consultation.

kalikshama -> RE: Our window unit air conditioner will not cool as well as it did when brand new (7/5/2013 10:19:26 AM)
quote: Its consistently 80 degrees in here, even with ac on. And 110 to 100 outside. Right now at 10:24 its 75 inside, no idea how hot outside. If the city you have listed in your profile is correct, right now it's 72 degrees outside, so should be colder inside. Your best bet is to find where your father bought the unit and see if it is still under warranty.

kalikshama -> RE: Our window unit air conditioner will not cool as well as it did when brand new (7/5/2013 10:23:19 AM)
quote: I actually want to save up for a mr slim ductless heating and air conditioning unit. I have heard good things about them. I was going to get ductless AC but decided not to make the $3,000 investment because I can't take the craziness downstairs anymore and my landlord is not able to take the cost of the installation off my rent. (Your cost for ductless should be lower as I am on the second floor and have a bigger place; however, my quote did not include a unit with heat.)

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