How to Repair Air Conditioning Units

Are you ready to repair your own air conditioning unit? Join us for DIY video tutorials, discussion boars, and the top air conditioning repair projects. At Hometalk we want to empower you and arm you with the knowledge you'll need to complete a successful DIY air conditioner repair job in your home. Good luck!

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Radiant Heating

How to Fix Your Broken AC

Test your thermostat for problems: Try the thermostat at the lowest setting. If the AC doesn’t work, the thermostat may need recalibrating. Check with the manual or a specialist.
Clear out the drain tube: Check regularly for water pooling around your air conditioning unit. The condensate drain is likely blocked - clean with chemical tablets.
Carefully clean the fins: Clean the fins to improve your AC’s efficiency. Use a soft-bristle brush on the fins - be gentle when cleaning to avoid causing damage.
Adjust any damaged fins: If you find broken fins, these can be adjusted with subtle pressure from a kitchen knife. Again, go gently or the fins might break.
Add a new layer of insulation: Repair the insulation around your outdoor AC tubes if unhappy with efficiency. Remove any damaged insulation foam and replace with a new layer.

More repairing categories

Top Projects for Repairing Air Conditioning

Looking for our top air conditioning DIY repair jobs. Look no further.

Personal Space Heater

This is a simple and inexpensive personal space heater that you can move and take with you. You can see more of my crazy creations here

Chas' Crazy Creations

It is hot, you guys. As in HOT. I am sure everyone can feel it, but being eight months pregnant, having 3 little kids to run after, and living in a house without an AC… Well, boil me to death and let’s just be done with it!

Lee @ Lady Lee's Home

DIY Return Air Vent Grille

A decorative return air vent grille, why not? Do you ever start a small task and it turns into a really large makeover job? Oh, just me, ok!? lol! I decided to clean our return air vents and then this happened! I gave the entire hallway a fresh coat of paint and then we made this vent grille to doll it up a bit.

DeeDee

A Little Bit of Spring Cleaning - Air Return Register Grill

Ahhh, springtime! I finally feel fresh and energized again. I have had some items that I have needed to take care of for some time now. My air return register grill has been bugging me for some time. No matter how often I vacuumed it, it still looked dirty. Cleaning was simple and very satisfying. The hardest part was getting a break in the rain so that I could wash it and let it dry outside.

Stacy Davis

Terra Cotta Space Heater

Ok, I have to admit, this is pretty thrifty. This space heater is a clean and cheap energy alternative and also a pretty fun looking little piece. If you live in a place where one room tends to get colder than others, or you want to save a little cash money, or are like me and live in a space where you can't control your heat, this is great! This space heater is made from some simple terra cotta pots and hardware and can really heat up a space on the cheap. We want to help you DIY, so some of the materials in this post are linked to sellers. Just so you know, Hometalk may collect a small share of sales from the links on this page.

Amanda C, Hometalk Team

How To Trim Your Return Air Filter in a 8 Easy Steps.

Spring has sprung and I needed to clean the air return in the basement. So I decided to make it less of an eye sore with this quick project! With only a few tools and materials this took a few hours from start to finish. I love using this "chameleon-like" molding, I've used it for dozens of projects so with so many scraps laying around I'm using it again. I purchased my Drip Cap Molding from a local overstock warehouse for $2.00 per 8' stick. But it is more like $1.00 per linear ft in most big box stores. Step 1 Measure and mark trim:

Holly Prim

Easy Indoor Fire Bowl

This is a simple indoor fire bowl you can make. It safely puts off a little heat and adds ambiance. You can see more of my crazy creations here

Chas' Crazy Creations

Free A/C Hack That Could Save You $75-$100

When I bought this house a couple of years ago, I hired a home inspector as part of the loan process. He told me that the HVAC unit was in good shape, and still under warranty, but he recommended that I clean the air conditioner filter right away. I thought it was pretty obvious because the filter in the door was clogged. When I took possession of the house, there was no filter in the door to the AC unit. I was planning on changing it anyway, so I thought no more of it. Until it got hot that first summer…I could hear something dripping in my hallway. I investigated, checking both bathrooms, and couldn’t find the source of the dripping. After a few hours, I realized that the air conditioning unit was struggling, and I was still hearing that dripping. My filter was pretty clean, but I realized the noise was coming from inside the closet. When I looked, I discovered condensation on the floor of the HVAC closet. I couldn’t figure out what was wrong, so I called the contact information on the unit. They couldn’t explain over the phone, so I had to pay for an after hours service call. By this time, it was getting late in the afternoon and the air conditioner wasn’t cooling the house.That service call ended up costing me over $180, but I found out some useful things, and I had the guy show me how to clean the filters. Turns out that there is a built-in filter that needs to be cleaned annually. Today I’m showing you how to take it out and clean all the parts so you don’t have to pay that outrageous service call!

Jeanne Johnson Ortego

Easy Cheap Fix/look for Old Air Duct Vent

We have a air vent in the floor right by the door going to the garage. It is 19 yrs old And looking rusty and gross. Now I know you can buy a new one, but why spend more money than you need to right?The biggest issue with this vent is placement. It gathers all the dirt, water, etc... as we have snow/sun seasons. It's the only air vent on our hardwood floors.My solution and cheap... spray paint.It turned out perfect. I wonder why I waited so long to fix it...

Knelso18

DIY Bucket A/C

Please take a minute to click here to sign up for the Mother Daughter Projects weekly newsletter. You'll get notification about our new projects and what is up and coming.Like us, you've probably had this project pinned for some time. Anyone who has ever worked in a hot garage, in summer, in Florida knows that even a tiny hint of cold air is welcome relief! I wanted to try the project but didn't want to go to the expense and effort of ordering the needed styrofoam bucket liner that the project required. I was on the lookout for something that would eliminate the need for the liner. As luck would have it, I found this insulated vertical drink cooler that would be perfect for only $2 at a yard sale. I already had the needed plastic tubing, fan, and hole saw cutter so the expense for this project was minimal!

Mother Daughter Projects

Personal Space Heater

This is a simple and inexpensive personal space heater that you can move and take with you. You can see more of my crazy creations here

Chas' Crazy Creations

Homemade AC Unit

Lee @ Lady Lee's Home

DIY Return Air Vent Grille

DeeDee

A Little Bit of Spring Cleaning - Air Return Register Grill

Stacy Davis

Terra Cotta Space Heater

Amanda C, Hometalk Team

How To Trim Your Return Air Filter in a 8 Easy Steps.

Holly Prim

Easy Indoor Fire Bowl

This is a simple indoor fire bowl you can make. It safely puts off a little heat and adds ambiance. You can see more of my crazy creations here

Chas' Crazy Creations

Free A/C Hack That Could Save You $75-$100

Jeanne Johnson Ortego

Easy Cheap Fix/look for Old Air Duct Vent

Knelso18

DIY Bucket A/C

Mother Daughter Projects

Air Conditioning Repair Videos

Get your broken AC repaired quickly with our DIY air conditioner repair videos.

Personal Space Heater

This is a simple and inexpensive personal space heater that you can move and take with you. You can see more of my crazy creations here

Chas' Crazy Creations

DIY Bucket A/C

Mother Daughter Projects

How To Install a DIY Mini Split Air Conditioner and Heat Pump

I live in South Louisiana where the climate is very hot and humid for more than half of the year. I spend a lot of time in my workshop, so I decided to install a DIY mini split AC and heat pump for temperature and humidity control. The Mr Cool DIY 18,000 BTU 1.5 Ton Ductless Mini-Split Air Conditioner and Heat Pump (model: DIY-18-HP-230A) fit my needs, so I purchased the unit. Keep reading to learn how to install a ductless mini split. Visit my blog at the end of this post for more information such as mini split cost and sizing.

Jeremy Hoffpauir

How to Insulate External Walls (and Decrease Utility Bills)

Learning how to insulate external walls can save you a boat load of money. And make your home more comfortable. There are a ton of insulation options out there but Roxul insulation was my choice for our master bathroom remodel. I'll explain why. It's made of Basalt rock and recycled slag. If you don't know, slag is a by-product of steel production. I live in Pittsburgh, so it's kinda second nature to know about slag. Little side note: I was a geology major in college for about 1 year...then switched to chemistry. So I geek out on cool things that make your home a better place to live. Today you'll see why I chose Roxul for our wonky 100 year old bathroom remodel. Why is mineral wool so awesome? Reason one: Roxul won't catch on fire until about 2000F. I don't know about you, I want a chance to run if my house catches fire. Reason two: Roxul is inorganic and therefore not a food source for mold. Mold in a house is BAD, unless it's in the form of blue cheese. Reason three: it's water repellent. If Roxul gets damp it won't lose it's R-rating, meaning it won't lose it's ability to insulate. Cool stuff. Here are the supplies you need to install Roxul Roxul ComfortBatt Utility Knife Drywall Knife Long Sleeve Shirt (insulation is itchy!!) Gloves Respirator Goggles or Safety Glasses T-Square Measuring Tape

Home Repair Tutor

Hometalkers' Favorite DIY Air Conditioning Repair Projects

Here are the best DIY air conditioning unit repair projects. Take a look.

How I Converted an Attic Vent Into a Quick Access Hatch

I'm getting ready to do a major kitchen remodel that going to require a bunch of attic work. Rather than crawling the dirty, head bashing distance from the garage scuttle, I came up with this easy hatch project.

John @ AZ DIY Guy

Keep Your Home Warm by Insulating Your Windows

Keep your homes warm with this quick and inexpensive solution. In my home I have window that are original to the home. They are 30 years old and in dire need of replacement. My windows are incredibly drafty. I can literally feel the money I loose when its cold. Sadly after purchasing a brand new HVAC system it left very little funds to replace my windows at this time. New windows would cost around $7,000 – $8,000, annnnnd right now, that is just not in the budget. Fortunately, I discovered an extremely affordable to solution to resolve my drafty windows while strolling the aisles of my Home Depot.

ToolBox Divas

DIY Draft Stoppers

I live in the Midwest, and it has been a cold, snowy winter! We didn't get all the home-maintenance done that we wanted to this fall, like replacing the weather stripping on our doors. We have one room in particular that has several doors, and is always the coldest room in the house.

Melissa Haag

10 + DIY Ways We Reduced Our Electric Bill

Our electricity bill has been dropping for years. It's the result of a combination of little and big DIY things we've done around the house that has added up to real savings, despite increases from the utility company.

John @ AZ DIY Guy

Using a Rain Barrel to Collect Condensate From Your Air Conditioner!

The a/c causes lots of condensation that just runs out onto the ground. From what I've read, condensate water from the a/c is 99% pure clear water, no chemicals, just a bit of dust! Why not catch it and use it? We did just that! Here's how we did it. It took right at a full week to gather a barrel full of water. That's approximately 55 gallons of water that would have otherwise jut gone onto the ground. Now we use it to water all the little plants and the garden!

DeeDee

Hide the Ugly Vent for $6 !!

I have lived with this ugly cold air return cover in my entry hallway since I moved into my home. Of course, I hate it! Who wouldn't? I have camouflaged it many ways over the years. The wood frame was installed a long time ago to hold the weight of the project. Now working with the frame is more of a challenge than hiding the vent cover!I had a few ideas for this project but most of them required time and energy. I wanted to keep it simple.I had purchased the cabinet at an online auction a few weeks ago. I nearly did not bring it home because it was so badly damaged, and the quality is deplorable. I wasn't sure loading it up was worth the $6 I had paid for it. But then I realized the doors were actually pretty, even though they are made of pressed styrofoam. So the cabinet and I came home. She sat in my carport waiting for me to decide what I could do with her doors. Except for the hardware, nothing else was worth trying to salvage. The legs were broken off on the back.Light bulb moment! If the size would work, these would look pretty darn good covering the vent in the hallway. Hallelujah! Not a perfect fit, but close enough!I already had the paint and glue, so $6 for the cabinet was really all that was spent specifically for this project. Gotta love that!!The rest of the story is in the pictures. I hope you like my end result. I love it! Well, at least for now! hee hee

Nancy Craigmiles

How I Converted an Attic Vent Into a Quick Access Hatch

John @ AZ DIY Guy

Keep Your Home Warm by Insulating Your Windows

ToolBox Divas

DIY Draft Stoppers

Melissa Haag

10 + DIY Ways We Reduced Our Electric Bill

John @ AZ DIY Guy

Using a Rain Barrel to Collect Condensate From Your Air Conditioner!

DeeDee

Hide the Ugly Vent for $6 !!

Nancy Craigmiles

Popular Repairing Air Conditioning Discussions

Take part in the conversation on the air conditioning repair discussion board.

I want to put an air conditioner in my sliding window.

/> Debi Cannon

They are horizontal sliding window 20 " h and 16-34 w, need info whats the best way to put a 12000 btu in that window.

I want to put an air conditioner in my sliding window.

View discussion

Loud Air Conditioner Unit Disturbing the Peace of My Patio

/> Ruth LaMarr

I'm trying to find an effective but inexpensive solution to baffling the noise from our air conditioner unit so that we can enjoy the patio in peace. Does anyone have suggestions, please.

View discussion

How can I prevent moisture buildup in my underground storm shelter?

/> Jackie Whisenant

I have a metal underground storm shelter that has moisture buildup and is developing rust and some mold. What can I do to prevent this from happening. It has vents above ground and I open it up from time to time on warm days. But I don't do it often because I don't want little ones falling in it. Any ideas?

View discussion

Can you help me troubleshoot a problem with my furnace?

/> Annette morgan

My unit outside will run but my furance inside wont run, in auto.The outside will work on auto but inside wont.But if I put it in manual they both work.I replace the thermostat on the wall but the problem still is the same.Thank you.

View discussion

New Air Conditioning Repair Projects

Check out our collection of new air conditioner repair projects here.

How To Install a DIY Mini Split Air Conditioner and Heat Pump

Jeremy Hoffpauir

Easy Way to Vent Your Garage

If you spend a lot of time in your garage working on DIY projects, being able to vent fumes, sawdust and even hot air is almost a necessity. Check out how you can easily cut a hole in your garage wall, weatherproof the outside and install a ventilation fan.

Eileen

Funky Colourful Draught Excluder

Do you live in an old draughty house like mine. Then keep the cold air at bay with this fun colourful draught excluder. Think cross stitch is a faff ? This pattern uses supersized half stitches which makes it easy and speedy.

Claire at Pillarboxblue

Is Your Bathroom Properly Ventilated?

We've seen it probably more than 100 times. In an attic, the bath fan discharges directly into a pile of insulation. You would be surprised that it's more common than many people realize! If you don't know the condition of yours, it's worth a quick investigation. So, what are the indicators of a properly ventilated bathroom? Here are a few tips. 1. Select the correct size bath fan. Many have a square footage chart included at time of purchase, but there are tables available online as well, such as this one from HVI: http://www.hvi.org/publications/HowMuchVent.cfm 2. Ensure adequate make up air can reach the fan. As pictured, allow a minimum of 3/4" clearance under the door, and even more if possible. Use caution, however, that hollow doors only have a small solid rail at the bottom which could limit the cut off. 3. Always terminate the ductwork to the home exterior. In the photo, the duct is attached to a pre-cut galvanized sheet, and connected with a 4" starter collar. It is attached directly under a roof static vent which was installed solely for this purpose. 4. How long to allow a fan to run post-showering? The Home Ventilating Institute recommends that a fan should be left on for 20 minutes after a shower to thoroughly clear humidity and to ensure moisture and condensation in the fan body or ducting is minimized. A preset timer, such as illustrated in the attached photo, helps achive this. 5. Not sure if your fan is drawing air? As pictured, you can give it a quick (albeit not scientific) test using a sheet of paper. if your fan is blocked by insulation, the paper likely will not stick.

Hamtil Construction LLC

Yes! You Can Instal a New Water Heater!

Last week we got up for work and there was no hot water coming from the shower. When we checked the water heater, we realized that the lower thermostat was basically melted. Luckily, this had tripped the breaker and no damage was done outside of the water heater itself. I was told that I could repair it but my husband and I, both having experienced house fires in the past, opted for a new water heater.