How to Maintain Your Portable AC

Quick tips on how to maintain your AC All portable AC's are easy to install and are straight forward in cleaning. Portable Air Conditioners Portable air conditioners can be moved to any room in the home and are great for spot or supplemental cooling. It is very important to maintenece and clean your portable AC because with a dirty or clogged filter, the heat from the compressor cannot escape from the back and will overheat your unit. On the back of a portable AC, there is usually a filter attached to the vent cover. Over time these tend to get quite dirty, simply remove the vent cover with the filter and clean with water and dry throroughly. This will increase flow dramatically. Keep in mind that portable air conditioners still need to be vented through a window or wall, and after a unit is moved to a desired area, the exhaust hose must be positioned before cooling can begin. But the good news is maintaining a portable air conditioner is usually quite easy. Here are some common maintenance requirements found in most portable air conditioners: Initial Venting • Easy, simple installation • Exhaust hose must be vented out with included venting kit • Slide venting kit into a window > If there is no window - then unit can be vented through walls or drop ceilings (may require more work but allows your to use AC in any area) Water Drainage Empty periodically, especially in humid climates - water will condensate and collect in bucket > Frequency of emptying water buckets really depend on your climate conditions, and the amount of time the unit is turned on • More advanced units are able to evaporate more moisture from the hot air, allowing for less water to be emptied Cleaning and/or Replacing Air Filters • Regularly cleaning or changing the air filter will result in an allergy-free, healthier, and more breathable environment • Cleaning the filter on a monthly or bi-weekly basis, depending on use is schedule to keep to ensure your unit is working to its full capacity • For washable filters, simply slide the filters out, immerse the filter in warm water with a mild detergent, and rinse thoroughly and dry before replacing them back into the unit > However, units that use carbon filters but be replaced according to manufacturer's directions - usually every few months or so To Clean: Wipe down the surface of the portable air conditioner with a soft, damp cloth when the unit is turned off. Abrasive chemicals or detergents should never be used to clean the surface of the unit, as this may result in scratches or damage. Also, try to keep the portable air conditioner away from direct sunlight as much as possible, as this can change the surface color of the unit's body. Portable Air Conditioner Buying Tip: To simplify maintenance, choose a portable AC with auto-evaporative technology because the tank will not need to be emptied as frequently (unless used in an extremely humid climate). Sources: appliancebuyersguide.com, bloomberg.com, marketwatch.com Created by: air & water Find out more at: www.Air-n-Water.com