3 Tips for Taking Care of Window Air Conditioner Units

Taryn Williford
Taryn Williford
Taryn is a writer, editor, content strategist, and homebody from Atlanta. I might have helped you declutter your apartment through the magic of a well-paced email newsletter. Or maybe you know me from The Pickle Factory Loft on Instagram.
published Jun 4, 2010
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Person installing an air conditioning unit on a brick building exterior.
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(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Yesterday, we featured 5 Tips for Annual Air Conditioner Maintenance. It was a helpful article for anyone with central A/C, but Unplggd reader Amanda H pointed out that we completely neglected many small, cool dwellers with window or free-standing air conditioning units.

Just like any other appliance in your place, the window A/C also needs tender love and care. Make sure to give it a thorough cleaning at least once a year:

1. Wash the filter.
The main thing to do to upkeep your window unit is to make sure you wash the filter screen on a regular basis. After popping out the front grill of the unit with a putty knife, remove the mesh filter. Wash it together with the grill in a mixture of warm, soapy water and bleach to remove any mold.

2. Clean the coils.
You’ll find evaporator coils underneath the filter. To keep your A/C going strong, you’ll want to vacuum them thoroughly using a brush attachment. Remove any stubborn dirt with a plastic scrub brush. Do the same thing with the condenser coils at the back of the A/C unit. The idea is that extra debris gets in the way of air flow—an your cool air.

3. Straighten fins.
Use a fin comb to straighten any bent coil fins. You can find fin combs at a home or hardware store or online for around $10.

(Image: flickr user skeddy in NYC under license from Creative Commons.)

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