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I have worked on them before. 9 times out of 10, it would have been cheaper for the customer to buy a new window unit. I do a lot of "charity" work, for lack of a better term. I have several churches I do work for, who the people there give out my name and number. Usually to folks in a bind. That is where I run into many of these units, and 90% of the time it is a leak, a bad motor or a control issue. A local appliance store, not HVAC/R supply house, is where the parts are. The place where the folks who fix washing machines, dryers and refrigerators buy their parts at is where you find the parts for the window units.
How hard is it to replace the squerrel cage and a shot motor? I need to let my boss know if it worth the trouble and expense.
After opening the window unit up, things look easy. Charging is an issue as I will need to work on them in the future. I don't know which tap I should use that can connect to my regular gauges (testo 550). Also, how do I know which is the high side and what superheat/psi should I charge to?
I did tons of them years ago ............pretty much tearing down and cleaning cottonwood out of coils. Wasn't too bad when we had whole complexes of them where you would spend whole day doing 1 after another on site. Use to have people drop them off and would do them at my covenience. Anymore I only work on ones that I get for free from people that are glad to see them go once we install central air ............. suprising how nice of ones we get for free .
Most of the ones I do are carried into the shop. I have a couple of customers with 25,000 Btu units I pull once a year and clean. They are a pain to work on, but I'm in one of those niche markets. I do warranty work for a couple of manufactures so I get a few calls on them. The smaller units don't even have parts listed for them anymore. They are a trade out warranty or a throw away after the first year. I can't give a step by step to take one apart. It depends on model and manufacture. Just pull it out and look. You should see pretty quick what you need to remove. jim
Originally Posted by jjrr007 I agree the capacitor is the only thing worth changing. For the future, I am trying to find a way to change the capacitor while its still in the window. They are very heavy to take out. If you're talking about the big 220V units, the capacitor is often behind the control panel. usually you only have to remove 3-4 screws and take the control panel off.
Yeah, window units can be heavy. How to fix them while they are still in the window. This whole discussion is too funny.
Originally Posted by jjrr007 I need the practical information on how to get to the parts (i.e. step by steps) for someone with HVACR experience. Read the manufacturer's install booklets... go to: repairclinic.com or apdepot.com and other such sites... Window units can be labor intensive because they are bulky and heavy... if you are doing much of this you'll want special hand trucks/jacks to save your back... If you have a "shop" to bench repair, it could be a profitable niche market (most of us don't want to bother with them)
You are glutting for punishment. I have a customer who has a couple rental units with window-shakers she called last week asking if I'd go look at it. I asked how big is it and she said "Small". (Yes, we're talking about window-shakers.) I told her if she paid a Service call and 1 pound of "freon" she could go buy a New One. To call me and I'd swap it out if she needed me to. Now if you want to repair something that's about the same Size as a Window Unit and Cost 8x to 10x more start working on Marine units there's Money it that!
Originally Posted by jjrr007 .... For the future, I am trying to find a way to change the capacitor while its still in the window. They are very heavy to take out. i used to have a window unit that did my bedroom in a house we just bought and I didn't get the central air installed yet. It did the bedroom just fine but had a small leak. i installed a tap-a-line then cut a hole in the cabinet so i could hook up my hoses and add some refrigerant without taking it out of the window.
I agree the capacitor is the only thing worth changing. For the future, I am trying to find a way to change the capacitor while its still in the window. They are very heavy to take out.
Wait untill you start taking it apart and deal with the styrofoam fan shrouds. You will give up in disgust.
Window A/C units are very simple. The only main difference is that they have one motor for both the indoor and outdoor fans. In general the only part worth replacing is the capacitor. Anything more than that is gonna cost near as much as a new unit.
I always thought that this units were made to be "Throw away units" Units are no good untill 75 degrees outside temps. and once there dead they are dead. Most have duel shaft motors and are very hard to access the coils from the inside ..
That's funny One broke today; I may end-up doing just that. Some of the units could be over $400. I took it out and plan to open it in a few days; that should give me some info on this.
Well first take it out window second throw in garbage after removing refrigerant
These days the only way someone would consider repairing a window unit is by replacing it.
Experience With HVACR- Need Training With Window Units I have experience fixing HVAC units for a few years now. I need to learn how to repair Window AC units as well. What resources would you recommend for learning how to fix Window AC units? I don't need an explanation of the refrig. cycle or how compressor's work. I need the practical information on how to get to the parts (i.e. step by steps) for someone with HVACR experience. I find that asking other experienced people is the best way. Thanks to all of you.
Experience With HVACR- Need Training With Window Units
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