Window Unit Repair

[DADoES]

There's a 24.5K BTU Whirlpool window unit at one of my workplaces that has a shorted compressor. Installed in 1997. The local independent appliance tech quoted $850 to repair it. Eight Hundred Fifty Dollars. Needless to say, it'll be replaced instead of repaired. But that'd be about right. Sears Parts lists the compressor at $656.49. It's no wonder everything is throwaway nowadays.

 

[scott55405]

It is a shame, and I learned one time back in the 90s when I was in a position to want to have a window-style ac repaired, that most places won't even touch them. You're absolutely right about the throwaway society.

I'm sure a unit that large (which I didn't realize you could still get them that large) could probably be had, at least on sale, brand new for less than that repair bill, possibly even the compressor bill. I've observed that window ac's are becoming much like today's microwave ovens. Not that expensive, and when they're done, they're done.

 

[maytagbear]

One of the elements of

the throwaway society that really bugs me, is the sheer waste of it. We are going to run out of landfill eventually. Maybe sooner rather than later, and then where will we be?

For example: I LIKED Tide refills, and got them.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[toggleswitch]

My parents out TWO new compressors in their NORGE brown bottom-mount refigerator over the years. It was apparently worth the $ then. They definitely considerer appliances a major purchase.

Their GE Lexan cased(plastic) Carry-cool 5,000 Btu/h (one room capacity) window-rattler A/Cs were in service from 1974 to 2004 and probably still run! They were donated to the carpenters who put their new GE A/Cs through the wall in back-breather wall-cases (*sleeves*).

Their Sears Kenmore A/C had a similar life.
23k BTU/h 220v 30a line and a very low efficiency of 6.0 (EER => BTU per Watt) The plug on that thing was huge. (OMG what did he just say?) What most people don't get is low efficiency A/Cs tend to dehumidify better in that their coils are smaller and the evaporators (inside coil) runs colder.

Moral of the story: the energy used is not necessarily wasted, it is just doing something other than cooling or that which is being measured/tested!

(Ok, QC is leaving the pulpit now.......)

 

[jamiel]

I ended up with a honking big Kenmore window unit as the only one in my house in Chicago. As long as I ran it continuously it was fine (but I was single...not so good with a family). Anyway, the second spring after I moved in it died. however, it was under the 5 year sealed system warranty. Sears came out and fixed it (a coolant line rubbed a hole)...all's well!

 

[tomturbomatic]

1977. That's more than 27 years in a hot climate. The next thing would be the fan motor.

 

[DADoES]

1997. Approx 9 years. ;-)

I don't recall what was it, but something else has already been repaired on that unit. Could have been the compressor, which apparently wasn't as expensive at *that* time.

The office there had a smaller Whirlpool reverse-cycle unit installed at the same time, 1997. The compressor on it was replaced under warranty. Then it went out again, out of warranty, so the unit was replaced with a strip-heat model, this would be ~3 years ago. The reverse-cycle unit was of (what seemed to be) better quality overall. The 'new' unit now is developing a bad fan motor. After running for a while it starts chattering/rattling/squeaking. I pulled it for a look, sealed motor, interestingly labeled LG.

Years ago, in 1984, I bought a small Friedrich unit for my grandmother's spare bedroom when I stayed there during the long work-weekends. It hasn't had heavy use, and was pulled and stored in her garage when my sister bought a small heat/cool unit (which she doesn't use either because she prefers to sleep in the other smaller bedroom at back of the house). Anyway, when her main kitchen unit died a couple years ago, I hauled out the Friedrich and installed it in the living room for a few days until I got the kitchen unit replaced. That little Friedrich fired right up.

 

[jasonl]

Cheap ac's

The cheapest AC's I've seen are those Frigidaire units sold by Lowe's. They are "best buys" in CR. They had a variable speed fan that could blow tons of air but then it would quiet down as the room reached the temperature. And here down south you have to "oversize" the window unit. Say if your room requires a 6,000 btu, get an 8,000. You're trading off effeciency for comfort.

And yes, AC's don't create cold air, they remove heat from the air (happy now, Toggle hehe). "Hell yeah, them Are Condishuns makes cold air. You turn dat on and it makes da cold air"