Restore portable AC cooling. Clean the hidden condenser coil. No cost fix.

My decade old Haier roll-around portable A/C unit was not cooling properly. I needed it during renovation work due to very hot weather. Cleaning the filter did not help, and I needed to clean the hidden condenser coil which was caked with years of dust and debris. I'll show the viewer how to effectively clean the evaporator and condenser coils to restore efficient operation. After this deep cleaning it works as good as new.

[@christineangelofmusic1]

Thank you so much for making this video! It was really helpful! I thought it was so fun to see you zooming in on your vehicle with the wagon behind. I hope you are staying cool!

[@agems56]

I can't wait to do mine right now! that unit looks much like our older two tube model for fresh cool air in and hot exhaust air out which are so hard to find nowadays! 10 years worth of dust should make quite a cloud and makes me wonder why an exterior filter isn't placed on the cover itself!

[@ppppprph]

Great job. I learned a lot. Thank you 🙏🏼

[@1977kingybabe]

Brilliant vid pal, did it to mine today & took me a few hrs, but worked a treat & so simple to do... Respect my friend.

[@fixtinkerreviewrepeat3074]

Glad the cleaning helped and thanks for watching!

[@bklynman100]

Wow, you ain’t kidding with “sweat equity” in that heat! Glad you got it working and hopefully that cabinet install went flawless! Thanks FTRR!

[@fixtinkerreviewrepeat3074]

Thanks for watching! The cabinet install went well and inside temp was comfortable.

[@agems56]

That's "Flawlessly" Just saying!

[@bringotnight]

Extremely helpful video. You’ve given me hope that I can repair my own, similar portable ac. Hope is something I didn’t have before I watched your video. Thanks!

[@fixtinkerreviewrepeat3074]

Leave a comment about the results. Hope you get the cool air flowing! Thanks for watching.

[@flowerchild777]

I hope things went well for you, Shane

[@Kwikasfuk636]

@@fixtinkerreviewrepeat3074 but what if the compressor isn't turning on ?

[@fixtinkerreviewrepeat3074]

@@Kwikasfuk636 Well then, requires some troubleshooting . . . Thermostat, connections / electrical, Freon leak or bad compressor. Usually the starting capacitor is weak or bad and needs to be replaced. I'd check that first.

[@TiktokDoctor]

I watched this just for fun, thanks for the content and the headphone warning haha. Keep doing what you do

[@fixtinkerreviewrepeat3074]

Thanks for watching and your comments!

[@karmlan123]

Thanks for the video. Viewing from Singapore.

[@kaypuccio57]

Thank you so very much for your video!!! It saved my life and sanity, haha!

[@fixtinkerreviewrepeat3074]

Thanks for watching!

[@SuperRelief]

This vídeo was very helpful for me, thank you !

[@flowerchild777]

Wonderful👍Thanks for the demonstration. I'm glad it worked out for you🤗

[@fixtinkerreviewrepeat3074]

Thanks for the comments!!

[@Antman.antman]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge & helpful tips! I have a portable air conditioner that has stopped working and I’m thinking this is the reason why. It has same issues as you described about yours thank you

[@fixtinkerreviewrepeat3074]

Hope you get your AC working and can cool off during all this heat.

[@LifeisLoveLily]

I have this brand of AC but it is a dual hose. I cannot figure how to remove the chassis and have removed a dozen screws already but it still won’t release 🤦🏼‍♀️ the evaporator wheel? Is caked with dust as well and cannot access the screws either. So frustrating! This is an excellent video though so thanks for sharing!

[@anneh3596]

Extremely helpful, thanks!

[@fixtinkerreviewrepeat3074]

Thanks!

[@highlandaecfan5372]

Thanks for your time, great stuff.

[@fixtinkerreviewrepeat3074]

Thanks for watching.

[@buddysteve5543]

You should convert your portable ac unit into a dual hose unit so that it will be way more efficient in cooling your space!

[@agems56]

I know! Right? Those single hose units only suck air back out of a dwelling what had just been cooled in the first place, now the two duct units for some reason are hard to come by, and so are 14000 BTU units which in my opinion should be the starting point for a home! Anything less is garbage and 8000 BTU units should not even be considered except to cool a tool shed!

[@buddysteve5543]

@@agems56 I have a 12,500 btu which I bought from a special store where they sell returned merchandise at Costco, Best Buy, Walmart, etc.. I paid $200! It was a steal! I use it in my bedroom only. Does a really good and quick job!

[@adventdante]

Thanks. This helped a lot.

[@fixtinkerreviewrepeat3074]

Glad it helped.

[@britneyclears641]

Ahh so this is why mine isnt dropping to a low temp then, best im getting is 25c degrees, its very hot in the uk atm il be giving mine a jolly good clean tomorrow, thanks for the great advice

[@fixtinkerreviewrepeat3074]

Thanks for watching! Hope the cleaning works and the cool air flows.

[@parademan1]

Awesome video. Thank you Sir!

[@infernofella]

Thank you for making this video!

[@fixtinkerreviewrepeat3074]

Thanks for watching.

[@ShotgunMike]

Great video.

[@JH-fy7ef]

Thank you for this video!

[@merlepittman5622]

Best solution is actually spraying it out with a water hose. Better for cleaning between fins. Then just leave it for a few days to dry out completely before plugging in again.

[@SandyDiVa]

Hi! Do you have any suggestions for a unit thats just a year old, looks completely clean, but only works as a fan? It does get E errors after running for awhile, too but i got this second hand (after it became just a fan) so i have no idea what the error codes mean. We cant afford a reg AC let alone a portable one but our windows in our apartment can only fit casement or portable AC units. Id give anything to get this thing blowing cold air, but no one will even work on them anymore

[@oliviasmartt1841]

Awesome video. I can’t find anyone to fix my $700 LG unit that’s only 1 year old. Barely used 3 months. Hopefully I can fix it myself. :)

[@Ibuddy66]

You too?!?? Same with me. What happened to yours? Ours just started making this weird whirring noise and makes anlong loud buzz before the compressor starts. It used to be so quiet and nice. I don't get what happened!

[@fixtinkerreviewrepeat3074]

Take it slow and give it a good cleaning inside. Make sure the air is flowing well through the unit. A bad / weak capacitor can cause that noise as the starting voltage ramps up.

[@fixtinkerreviewrepeat3074]

@@Ibuddy66 Start by cleaning it. That noise may mean the compressor start capacitor is bad. Sometimes the compressor itself goes bad. Changing the capacitor is not difficult, but I didn't get into that in the video. Do a KZbin search and you'll get some good advice. That's a $25 +/- part and is fairly easy to replace. The numbers on the part are very important and the replacement needs to match as closely as possible.

[@flowerchild777]

@@fixtinkerreviewrepeat3074 Thanks so much for sharing this information. Don't you have to discharge a capacitor before messing around with it?

[@fixtinkerreviewrepeat3074]

Yes, a cap should be discharged before working on or replacing it. Unplug the appliance from the wall socket. A screwdriver across the terminals will discharge it. Be sure to hold the screwdriver by the handle. It will spark momentarily. This is a high voltage, low amperage spark that will not damage the screwdriver. Might cause a painful shock if touched directly with your hand. Beyond the scope of the video, but a good point.

[@garrinbenston8303]

Thank you good man

[@user-xy6pn7hi2w]

Great video I must admit

[@jamesloughmiller1449]

Thanks

[@MelindaMc]

Wonderful instruction. However, I live in an apt. Can't lug it downstairs. Can I use canned compressed air? Maybe in the bathroom so dust only flies in there?

[@flowerchild777]

What a great idea. You can wipe down one small bathroom walls and fixtures with a damp cloth and then clean it, better than an entire living room, or kitchen, whatever.

[@fixtinkerreviewrepeat3074]

Thanks for the comments. A small brush on the vacuum cleaner can be used, but be careful not to damage the fins. Unfortunately there's usually many hard to reach areas. Canned air would work on a tiny area. You'd need much more force to get the hidden dirt out.

[@kalorien1]

I recently bought one of these used and I'm trying to clean the condenser coils but I can't reach the back part of the bottom one. How do I remove the front part of the casing so I can reach it? I don't have strong enough air to just blow it out. Thank you.

[@LorraineCassidy-kj9yd]

I have the same unit. Do you know how to get the front of the cabinet off? We took out all of the screws on the sides and the bottom which loosens the whole thing but can not get the top part to loosen. Can not see any more screws to take out to loosen the entire front. I have read that many others have had this same issue but no one has found the solution. Any help is greatly appreciated!

[@VoicesNetworking]

Does anyone know why mine is making noise as though something broke off inside of it?

[@artemis3831]

Where's your accent from? I need to know!! Is it an east coast 'near Boston type of accent? or is it Californian-based? Also, thanks a bunch for making this video. It's frickin great to know I can probably keep my AC alive a bit longer. Although I'm having rust issues with the metal frame holding up the mesh on the evaporator coils.. 🤔

[@fixtinkerreviewrepeat3074]

East coast . . . NYC & Upstate NY. Some mistake my accent as from Tennessee, Y'all . . . .LOL

[@ruthvillalobos9376]

I cleaned the condenser and changed the capacitor, but the ac is still not getting really cold like it used to. It is also now accumulating more water than usual. What else can I do?

[@fixtinkerreviewrepeat3074]

The fact that it is removing humidity is a good sign. The compressor is probably working to some degree. The evaporator coil seems to be getting cold and causing condensation. However, it may be just not cold enough to cool the air in the room as much as you want. Let the unit run for a few minutes and check that the output hose that goes into the window is blowing hot air. Not quite hair dryer hot, but very warm air. There are parts of the interior that are very difficult to clean unless you have compressed air to blow the dirt buildup from the filthy hidden coils out. May need further cleaning or possibly it is time for a new one.

[@flowerchild777]

@@fixtinkerreviewrepeat3074 I really, really appreciate your efforts, sir. If it doesn't help her, it'll definitely help me🤗

[@dedemurray7]

Can I use my hair dryer on low heat to get the dust out? I

[@kwf92]

I have the same AC and it keeps overflowing but I don’t understand how to take it apart like you did

[@fixtinkerreviewrepeat3074]

These units are a bit heavy and awkward. Maybe get someone to help and look for all the screws in the case. Hope you get the case apart. . . a necessary first step.

[@flowerchild777]

I had a unit that kept overflowing SO OFTEN, that we quickly got a tote and put a cement block, or something similar, in the middle to set the unit on. That way I could easily dip the loads of water out and dump it. I understand how ridiculous this may sound to some, but it worked really well for us🤗

[@user-nh9pr8gv4o]

I have a t o s o t, 5000 BTUs portable air conditioner and humidifier. It blows out cool air but not cold. It doesn't sound like the compressor kicks on. Searching everywhere and I can't find out if this is a unit that requires some kind of refrigerant/coolant. I know it needs to be cleaned but I want to know before I take it apart.

[@fixtinkerreviewrepeat3074]

Thanks for watching and your comment. Adding refrigerant is not a DIY job. These units are sealed and require specialized tools and knowledge to work with the refrigerant. If the compressor isn't starting the most likely issues would be the capacitor or the thermostat. On some air conditioners the compressor may not start immediately. If the unit has not been plugged in for an extended time, it may take a few minutes for the capacitor to charge so it can start the compressor.

[@alext8828]

Could Windex be sprayed on the coils to get the last bit of grime off of them?

[@fixtinkerreviewrepeat3074]

Windex?? Haven't tried that . . . A commercially available HVAC coil spray might be a better product. Just avoid getting the electrical stuff wet.

[@buddysteve5543]

Why not just use AC coil cleaner? That high pressure air can damage those finns you talked about!

[@MelindaMc]

What about the dirty drip pan?

[@flowerchild777]

He probably blew that out as well, since it was already outside. Maybe use a wet-vac or see if a neighbor has one you can borrow?

[@fixtinkerreviewrepeat3074]

The drip pan would be a bit messy, but wet rather than airborne dust.

[@ariesloveandlight5367]

Wireless never used and just blows warm air

[@angelcedeno5605]

Oh man! Look up Carl Brutananadilewski!!! Hahaha sorry.

[@larrycook4632]

Great video.

[@fixtinkerreviewrepeat3074]

Thanks for watching the video and glad it helped