Old Hole in the Wall Air-Conditioner

[boydi]

Hi AllHave cleaned the filter, seems to work OK even if it is only a little noisy. No-one wants to service it, just recommend an upgrade that I can't afford just yet. I am in a small unit so it is a small air-con. Is there something else that needs to be serviced regularly, so I can be speciific when I enquire & who would service these "old" air-cons. Is there something I should be doing to prolong its life. I did notice there is no water dripping from the outside outlet, does that mean something needs doing.Trying to do it all myself (within reason) & getting quite a buzz about learning to be self sufficient.ThanksRuth

[journeyman Mick]

Ruth,
there's nothing to service besides cleaning the filter and perhaps brushing down the outside or blowing out the condensor fins (the outside radiator-like bit). Basically when they sto[p working it's time to give them the heave-ho and replace them, unless it's a very large and newish unit in which case it may be worthwhile repairing.

Mick

[Timmo]

If you have access to an air compressor you can give it a clean out.

Just undo the face panel and slide the unit out of its outer box. take it outside and blow all the dust out. Just be careful not to fold the fins over with the air.

they can be pretty filthy so you'll need a good mask/respirator.

[boydi]

Thankyou all

Will let it die a natural death & just keep my fingers Xed it gets me thru this summer & if I'm lucky next.

Ruth

[Smurf]

There are a couple of things you can do to avoid an early death of the air-conditioner.

1. Cleaning. Keep everything nice and clean. If you don't have compressed air available then you can use water instead with a bit of caution. The condenser fins don't mind being wet so no issue there. Just make sure you don't squirt electrical connections elsewhere inside the unit.

Using a simple hand operated sprayer (like a window cleaner bottle - but buy an empty one to avoid any chemical residue) will do the job though it will make you hand a bit tired and take an hour's work or so. Or you could spend an extra $15 or so for one of those ones that you pump up then spray. All you want to do is rinse the muck out of the condenser fins - remember no squirting the electrical connections, no bending the fins and of course switch the power off before doing this.

And of course clean the filter regularly etc too.

2. Rust. Since the air-conditioner naturally generates water in its operation, rust is a potential problem. Make sure the drain holes aren't blocked, clean out any muck that will stay damp. And if there's any rust then take some action (paint etc) to stop it spreading. I've seen perfectly good air-conditioners wrecked by rust in coastal areas especially.

3. Fan speed. The compressor will be single speed - it runs flat out or not at all. You'll keep the operating hours and thus wear and tear (and your power bills) down by maximising the cool air circulation when the compressor runs. This is simple - just use the highest fan speed that is acceptable and let the thermostat do its job of maintaining a comfortable temperature. You aren't saving power turning the fan down, in fact the reverse is true.

Other than those few things there's not much else you can do. You can't service any of the major components - when they fail they fail. But you can make their job a bit easier by avoiding anything that restricts the air flow (hence the cleaning and so on). That should make them last longer simply because they won't be working as hard.

[elkangorito]

There is a "trade-off" with a dirty filter. The dirtier the filter, the better it filters but the the air flow is restricted. A clean filter allows more dirt to get onto the wet evaporator & as such, dirt can slowly accumulate on the evaporator coil, causing it to slowly clog.

In the past, I have used an incredibly strong detergent to clean evaporator coils. This detergent is made specifically for such coils & I've only obtained it through "work" connections.

[wattlewemake]

One of the best ways to get the best out of your air conditioner is to see if it is actually making water in the drain outlet.
If not, you have a couple of things that may be wrong. 1. Could be low on gas. If so its best to bin it. 2. It may be just very dirty. A good clean will most likely fix it. 3. The fan could have crook bearings. This will cause very little air flow and most times the evaporator will freeze up. See point 1.

If you suspect it to be just dirty you can do the following. Turn off the power and unplug the unit. Remove the filter. Remove the front cover. Remove the carcase screws that hold the unit in the outside case. Get someone to help you remove the air con from the outside case. Be aware that they can be very heavy. Sometimes its best to get 3 people to lift it out. Carry it outside.
Now you can have a look at where the water is supposed to drain out. Start at the drain hole at the back and trace its path back through the unit. It will end up back at the evaporator which is behind the filter you removed after you unplugged the unit. If there is any muck or sludge in the track it makes it hard for the unit to work. Sometimes you find mud wasps nests or dirt build ups in the drain. Dampen the dirt with water and gently remove.Most air cons have a foam liner and you dont really want to damage that if possible.
Now you can have a look at the evaporator. If the fins are clogged use a spray bottle of dish washing detergent and water to soak the fins. A stiff short haired paint brush will help to loosen the gunk in the fins. Then just wash away as much crap as possible with the spray bottle filled with water.
Check that the evaporator drain is still clean after you do this. Then do the same to the condensor.(at the back of the unit.)
Leave unit to dry out. When dry reinstall in case. Re assemble the air con and switch on. Let it run for a few minutes and check if the air flow is cooler. If it is you have succeeded. Now check that the water is draining out the drain in the back.If not you may have to adjust the angle that the unit is on.(water wont run uphill) If it is still not working see point 1.

Shane.