Expert: Jim Barnhart - 6/26/2007

Question
QUESTION: I live in an apt that has a window unit (Sears Kenmore about 6 yrs old) placed into an opening in the wall.  Last summer it started making very loud racket when the compressor would kick on.  The Sears repairman came and said it could go on like that for a long time so the owners won't replace it.  This summer it's making the same noise and getting louder but since it's putting out 53 degrees air temps at the vent they still say it's fine and won't replace it.  My concern is that it's getting louder and it scares me that it could catch on fire or stop all together and I have copd and need the air.  It doesn't seem to be even cooling alot in the room it's in plus it's so loud you can hardly hear yourself think.  I was wondering if there isn't something I could try or do to make it run better... it will run non-stop all day and evening til I manually turn the temperature switch down to being on only 1/4 the way.

Thank You,

Jan

ANSWER: Jan,
I don't know of anybody who repairs window units any more including me.
There like tube TV sets when they go bad you have to toss them.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: It's not up to me to toss it, the landlords
won't but may I ask this.  Is there a danger
with it running like it is, making all that noise
and running non-stop all day and night until I
manually turn down the thermostat? Even with it
running all day it only cools to about 78 in here
and that doesn't matter if it's 80 or 90 outside.
Is 53 degrees normal for the air it puts out?  And
if so then why does it only get down to 78 in the room?

I know you can't answer much because of not seeing it
for yourself, I was just wanting some idea of whether
it can catch fire or something.

Thank You Again,

Jan

Answer
Jan,
If an air conditioner cools the air twenty degrees from the intake to the outlet it's working to peak efficiency.
If it's about 78 in your apartment and the air coming out is 53 then your AC is doing an outstanding job of cooling, It makes me wonder if your thermometer is correct?
If your AC is pumping 53 degree air into the apartment the 78 degree air should get cooler and cooler and the air coming out should be getting cooler and cooler unless there is something heating the air faster then the AC can cool it.
Air conditioners are sized for about a twenty degree difference from inside to outside tempature, when it's 90 out it should be 70 inside unless you have something producing heat like an open door or window.
I don't know what is causing the noise, maybe a squirt of oil on the motor shaft will quiet it down?
The motor has a thermal overload switch that will turn the motor off if it gets over heated.
I would bug the landlord to do whatever they need to give you what your paying for with your rent money which is a quiet cool air conditioned apt.