Your air conditioner won’t last forever, no matter how well you take care of it. The need to replace portable air conditioners in the future is inevitable because they have the shortest lifespans of all household appliances.
A portable air conditioner has a ten-year lifespan. You can extend the service life of an item by about 5 years if you take good care of it.
Here, we examine the lifespan and operation of your air conditioner.
What Shortens the Life of An Air Conditioner?
A bedroom air conditioner experiences less wear than one installed in a garage. Below are the things lowering the lifespan of a portable AC:
1. Improper Installation
One of the main reasons an air conditioner’s lifespan is shortened is improper installation. As a result, you ought to have the unit installed by a pro.
The manual’s instructions must be strictly followed because the air conditioner is a complicated machine. Therefore, skilled technicians can perform the various installation steps without consulting the manual.
2. Over-Usage & Misuse
It goes without saying that larger rooms will need a lot of cooling. The lifespan of your portable AC can be significantly shortened by such excessive use.
Use a portable air conditioner that has a larger capacity than the room, as per our recommendation. It will lengthen its life.
3. Dirt
All machinery and equipment’s worst enemy, dirt, in particular, can significantly shorten lifespans. The efficiency of the device may be severely hampered once the filters become clogged.
Regular filter cleaning improves air conditioner performance while avoiding other problems like overheating.
It is well known that dirt significantly shortens the lifespan of air conditioners. As dirt accumulates in the air conditioner, the filters will have a significant negative impact on the efficiency of the unit.
To increase the lifespan of your portable air conditioner, you must clean it frequently. Regular cleaning of the AC will reduce overheating as well.
4. Lack of Care & Maintenance
Your air conditioner’s lifespan can be extended with care and maintenance measures like checking coolant levels, cleaning filters, and services. Care and maintenance are also essential to preventing the failure of the unit in emergency situations.
Rodents, insects, and pest infestation are a few additional factors that can shorten the lifespan of an air conditioner. It’s imperative that you take action to stop these infestations, therefore.
Tips for Extending the Life of An Air Conditioner
As was already mentioned, maintaining a portable air conditioner will lengthen its lifespan. Therefore, it’s imperative that you practice regular upkeep and maintenance. You can extend the life of your air conditioner by taking the following steps.
1. Store the AC Safely During Non-Usage
By not using your AC unit during the off-season, you could have caused damage to your air conditioner. The damage could have been many reasons:
- Rodent infestations
- Poor storage facilities
- Rough handling during placing the unit away
- Potential dust getting inside the unit
- Leaving the device uncovered, etc.
In order to avoid pests, you must store your portable air conditioner in a secure environment. Before using the unit at the start of the summer, make sure it has been serviced.
2. Pay Attention to Filters
The quality of the air that your unit is blowing out is determined by filters. Your air conditioning system won’t operate as it should if dust, dirt, and debris get inside the filter.
Aim to prevent these things from getting clogged up at all times. Never use soap or other cleaning products on the filters. Use a fresh piece of cloth or a gentle brush instead, at least once per month.
The filter can also be removed and rinsed in water as an alternative. Don’t let the dust fall into the drain; instead, let it air dry completely before reinstalling the unit.
3. Location
The lifespan can be= extended by strategically positioning the air conditioner. Let’s say you intend to store it in a cluttered area. The portable AC unit will then exert twice as much effort to maintain the current temperature of the room.
Make sure to always keep that space clear of clutter and other objects that could prevent the unit from operating properly. Additionally, in order to maintain proper air circulation, your air conditioner must be placed closer to the window.
4. Power Source
Additionally, you need to choose the proper power source for your air conditioner.The compressor and the fan can both be powered by an electrical source that can deliver 120 volts of AC.
Supplies with a high chance of bursting should not be used if they have been repaired or short-circuited. You’ll have to spend more money as a result.
The air conditioner will function more effectively if it has the right power source. Just make sure the appliance is kept in good condition.
Is It Safe to Leave a Portable Air Conditioner on All Day?
Your room will stay cooler in the summer with an air conditioner. But you can only function well if you handle proper maintenance and upkeep.
If you’re unsure if it’s okay to leave your air conditioner on all day, keep reading to learn more.
Is It Right to Operate Your AC 24/7?
Yes, you can use your portable air conditioner all day long. However, doing so will only put extra strain on the appliance and raise your electricity costs.
Alternatively, let’s say that your entire AC system isn’t working properly. Until someone arrives to fix the central cooling system, you can use the portable AC unit.
We advise turning it off at night if you reside in a region that experiences cool nights and sweltering summer days.
Do Portable Air Conditioners Need to Be Drained?
A portable air conditioner rarely needs to be drained. For instance, the portable air conditioners made by Avallon, Koldfront, and Edgestar have condensation exhaust systems that let out water vapor that has accumulated during the cooling and dehumidifying process. Through the exhaust hose, hot exhaust air and moisture are both released.
In humid conditions, however, the water that has been collected won’t be used up quickly. Thus, the internal reservoir will fill as a result. The AC will turn off on its own when that occurs. In this situation, you may need to drain the internal water tank of your air conditioner.
Conclusion
As we have seen, a portable air conditioner typically has a lifespan of ten years. Regular upkeep and maintenance, however, can extend the lifespan by another five years or more.
Cleaning the filter is a regular maintenance task. But make sure a qualified electrician does it.
For efficient performance, you must buy the right kind of portable air conditioner. If the AC overflows, don’t forget to drain it.
FAQs
How Often Should You Replace Portable Air Conditioners?
A portable air conditioner typically lasts between five and ten years.
Is It OK to Run Portable AC All Day?
There is typically a cut-off time for air conditioners, whether they are portable or stationary. They cannot be left running continuously throughout the day without endangering the device.
Are Portable AC Worth Buying?
For cooling a single room or other small area, portable air conditioners are a fantastic option. They don’t need to be installed permanently, are reasonably priced, and are simple to install. As they cannot adequately cool an entire home, portable air conditioners are not a substitute for a central air conditioning system or HVAC unit.