Hi, I have a Frigidaire 7000 btu AC unit that rattles the whole window. I know the windows are old and I need new ones, how can i prevent the rattling without replacing the windows?
-Frank
Hello Frank,
Rattling can be caused by two things: the vibration of the mechanical parts inside the unit which causes the frame to move, or the parts themselves becoming loose and moving around within the unit. The second one isn’t as common as the first one, but fortunately there are some things you can do.

Augment the padding …

Dear Dave,
I have been reading your blog at utility bill busters for a long time now, and I wanted to ask you a question. I live in a small ranch style house in illinois in the south and as you may know the weather has been absolutely scorching! We have a window air conditioner in the bedroom and one in the living room, since those rooms are the most occupied. Recently I have noticed they seem to be running all the time but not making a difference! Should I replace …

Whether you have a Fedders, GE, Haier, Frigidaire or another Air Conditioner, the number one complaint so far this HOT summer season is why won’t my air conditioner work? It just seems to blow hot air…or doesn’t seem to cool very long at all.
Unfortunately there are a lot of different reasons for this. Some of them are easy to understand and fix. Others, well, they aren’t so much.
Filters. Air conditioners work on the heat exchange through air train of thought. Namely, they force air into a compressor, the air is …

Here around my house, the weather lately has really been cooling off. Which means that fall is on the way. With fall, of course, comes cooler temperatures. And in the interest of saving money and energy, I don’t need to be running my air conditioners – I’d rather just open the windows and let the cooler air keep the temperature inside my house more moderate and comfortable.
Here’s how to prepare when that time comes for your house
Central Air
You can’t remove central air conditioners, but luckily there’s really no need to. …

Mildew and mold – you know what it looks like.
You know what to do when you find it too – usually, bleach, bathroom cleaners, scrubbing, and a lot of patience.
You wouldn’t knowingly breathe in mold and mildew.
Yet, you might be.
How?
When you pack away and store your window or portable ac unit, make sure you store it in a place that is low humidity. Also, make absolutely sure you pack it away in the packaging or in a box that is sealed. Never let an AC unit sit there in someplace …

Its the end of the cooling season for most of us, and there might be some used air conditioners up for sale. They might be on ebay, craig’s list, the local swap sheets, in classifieds or pennysavers. And the price might be really good – many might not want to store their units and are planning on upgrading next year anyway.
So…should you jump at one?
My advice is no.
Many of us who have window ac units want to keep the units and will take the storage pain…if they are in good …

Its no secret that newer air conditioners are generally more efficient – even non energy star rated air conditioner units. Of course, you tend to pay for such “luxury”. The temptation is there to simply use your old air conditioner unit instead of perhaps upgrading it. It saves a lot of money in the short term – the cost of a new unit, in fact. But does it really save you money?
You might have already guessed the answer – no. You do save some cash in the short term, but …

Installing a window unit air conditioner generally isn’t hard. The units are heavy, true, but not a lot can go wrong. Unless you happen to forget a few key elements. And these “missing” pieces can cost you a lot in lost energy.

When you size your room for an air conditioner, or when a professional uses energy calculators to size a room for cooling system installation, there is a hidden variable that everyone misses – even the pros.
Do you know what it is?
The answer is people. People and to a lesser extent, pets.
In other words, the occupants of the house.
I’m not talking about your energy habits, like keeping the thermostat in check and weatherproofing your windows – though that is important.
There is actually a more obvious but “hidden” component we all forget …

As the weather continues to heat up, most folks are turning on their air conditioners. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing per se, athough it will surely force electric bills to creep higher (and possibly spiral out of control). I think most of us would rather get a similar cooling effect without taking the huge hit on our energy bills. Considering that wall or window units can consume 500 watts of power easily (for a small unit), its only wise to consider at least some alternatives to air conditioning.
Note: Please …