How to Troubleshoot a Portable Air Conditioner

If you return home after a long day and find your air conditioner out of order, it can leave you hot in more ways than one. Once you've determined what's wrong, getting the unit running right may be just a matter of making one or two small repairs. See also How to Fix a Window Air Conditioner.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

1. If the unit won't run, check the wall plug and circuit breaker. It could simply mean the power is off. Otherwise, it's a bad thermostat that can only be fixed by a licensed mechanic.

2. If the air won't cool, remove the grill and clean the filter. Clean out any clogs in the evaporator or condenser coils by vacuuming them and scrubbing them lightly with an old toothbrush. If the fan motor is blown or the compressor is bad, call a professional.

3. If the unit simply won't blow air, it means the fan motor is bad. Call a professional.

4. Fix machine leaks by unclogging the drain with a screwdriver, then double-check for correct installation.

5. Prevent ice buildup on coils by cleaning dirty air filters. Or, in external weather conditions colder than 60 degrees, defrost the the coil by turning the selector switch to the fan position. Let it run until the ice melts.

6. Remove the cabinet, reposition the condenser fan and tighten the screw at center of fan in the case of rattling noise. The rattle is coming from a loose condenser or evaporator fan hitting the coils or housing.