Q. I have an air conditioning unit in the wall of my living room that has been permanently installed. What is the best way to clean it and the reusable filter? I just want to get the dust and crud out so it runs better.

A. Your best bet is to do an internet search based on the manufacturer and model of your AC unit. You may be able to find a user's manual that will tell you how to take apart the unit to clean it.

(No Chosen Answer)

Q. I have an outside central air conditioning unit, it is approx. 80 degrees outside and extremely humid, also very hot inside the house with fans running. The air is set to 70*, yet the air coming out of the vents feels to be room temperature and is NOT cooling the house down. Approx. two months ago, the landlord had a technician come out, and he said we had a slow freon leak, and although he filled it with freon, I was told he did not fix the leak. What is causing the air conditioner to do this? I cannot go in 100* weather without air conditioning. Any help would be appreciated :) and thanks in advance!

A. It almost sounds like the tech overcharged the unit. Either way he is supposed to fix the leak. He was not supposed to add refrigerant to a system known to be leaking. Make sure the fan is working on the outside unit. If it is not the system has no way to remove the heat from your house. Ask your landlord to call a different tech out to look at it. This guy was a fool.

(No Chosen Answer)

Q. The filter is completely frozen over with ice we cant even remove it.

A. Shut the AC off and let it defrost. Thats usually caused because the filter clogged from not being changed or cleaned. When the filter clogs, air can't circulate and the coils freeze up.

(No Chosen Answer)

Q. Thinking about having one installed. Thoughts on cost to install, operating costs vs using the air conditioning? What about leaks around the installation site...hear that from a lot of people that have had them. Thanks for the help!

A. If you need an attic fan and have a vent at one end of a peaked roof, you can have a fan installed there. I did something else too. One fan in the attic blows air down into the house. Another at the other end of the house blows air into the attic. On a cool day, but with a warm attic because of sun load, I circulate air from the attic through the house. Thermostats in the attic and in the house circulate air only when the house is 70 degrees or less AND the attic is at 75 degrees or more. Also I can switch off the one that blows air into the house. On hot days, after sundown, I can blow air out of the house, sucking it in from the cooler air outside.

(No Chosen Answer)

Q. I am trying to find out how the sanitation process works and if it causes chemical smells in the house? I'm starting to use the air conditioner in our new apartment and everytime it comes on I end up with a headache and the air smells musty. I have been informed by the air conditioning company that it needs to be cleaned and sanitized, I am concerned about the chemicals they will be using as I am senstive to chemicals. Anybody have this done before and know how it effected your home?

A. I have asthma,allergic to dust. We had our furnace ducts/pipes cleaned out ! I had no problems. The ho user is 6o years old. I do not think the pipes were ever cleaned. You should have no problem if it is a repitule company

(No Chosen Answer)

Q. Please excuse my ignorance, but is there a portable air conditioning unit (blows out COOL AIR in a HOT ROOM) without being attached/fixed to the wall, as in carry it with you just plug it in to a wall socket and have it blow out cool air. I know this may seem like a dumb question, but a simple answer would be much appreciated. Thank you!

A. There are two units that are kind of like that, but not quite. one is called a swamp cooler. they evaporate water to absorb thermal energy in a room, but make the room more humid, and only really work in dry climates. however, they are relatively cheap to buy and use little energy. the other is a regular AC unit, but, this is not a window unit. they make one that is a free standing floor unit that can be pushed around and plugged in anywhere. however, the only downside is that there is a 3 or 4 Inch diameter hose that comes out of the back of the unit that must be run outside, through a window or a cat door or something. the unit is similar to window units in that it must move the heat from the room to the outside, but it does not have to hang out the window. they are about as expensive as regular window units. and are much more portable. you just have to point the hose outside. just remember, the heat has to go somewhere. it is very hard to just make it disappear (like an endothermic reaction, a reaction that takes heat)

(No Chosen Answer)

Q. What is it, and they claim that it can cut air conditioning costs by upto 50% where can i find such contractors

A. There are some cold roofing that is available to make sure the roofing is not only NOT leaking but also it reflects a lot of heat back( if you are in a tropical climate) or act as insulator if you are arctic climate. there are many types roofings that you can do . you can google them, or check the site, you can at least get some basic information on what to expect.

(No Chosen Answer)

Q. What is involved in servicing this.

A. The air handler {AHU} is the large metal box it is used to condition and circulate air as part of a heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning. Depending on your unit, it employs the squirrel cage, motor, coils …etc. Unless you are doing work to the system, the only part of the AHU you would be concerned about {depending on its location} is the filter.

(No Chosen Answer)