Is My AC Dying?

Question

I bought a cheap Air Conditioner last year. It worked ok. I live on the top floor of my apartment building so it gets pretty hot during the day. I leave the AC on low all day because I have long-haired cats.

This year, the AC cools for 10, 15 minutes, makes a loud sound like "DONK" and then only the fan keeps working. After 10 minutes it makes another sound, like a thick click, and it starts cooling again. It just keeps cycling like that, regardless of how warm or cool the room is. It barely cools anything off. It is a cheap one, a Haier... one of those Made in China brands, and you can't add freon.

Is it dying? Did I 'burn it out" by running it almost non-stop all last summer?

PS: I clean the foam rubber filter every week I use it... but not the outside coils...

And in case it wasn't obvious, it's a window mount model

Answer 1

Chunk it and get a new one they are cheap chinese trash

Answer 2

The noise you are hearing is the thermostat kicking in and out. If it cools sometimes and not at others then the compressor is working. It is possible that the therostat is malfunctioning.

It isn't dead yet, but it may be more expensive to repair then a cheep new one might cost.

One thing you need to probably do is clean it. I don't just mean the filter either. The coils on the outside portion of the unit should be cleaned every so often also.

Answer 3

well your cooling cycle appears to be working, it sounds like a problem with the thermostat setting, telling the A/C your room is at the adequate temp. Also if it is blowing VERY cold air when its on, you could have a low charge. The compressors are cooled by the refrigerant they produce, but a low charge will cause overheating of the compressor and it will kick off on high temp. when it kicks off you can check it by unplugging it and taking a multimeter across the hi temp switch. if its open, its off on hi temp.

Answer 4

Sounds like the condenser is freezing. Try washing out the filter. Should be a kind of foam rubber thing. That will let it get more air.

Answer 5

If you have not replaced the filter in it, the drain pan kept clean or kept it cleaned out by vacuum regularly (since you have long hair cats); it may need to be. Dust, hairs, and dirt can clog up an A/C and cause it not to work properly.