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How to Clean a Window AC Unit – Without Removing It

How to Clean a Window AC unit

Cleaning a window AC unit can be easy or not so easy depending on how long it’s been since you cleaned it.

And if you your AC unit is not cooling like it should or if it’s doing something stupid like spitting water at you, then you know it’s time to give it a good once over.

Some things can be easily cleaned without having to mess with taking it apart or removing it from the window.

Some other things may not be quite as simple. Like I said, it depends primarily on how long it’s been since it’s been cleaned. Unless it’s located in an area that is just predisposed to getting dust all over and inside your window AC.

Cleaning supplies

A few items that will make the job much easier if you have them on hand is a vacuum with good suction. A handheld would be much easier to work with if you have it and a “can of air” which is usually called electronic duster. A good scrub brush is also going to be handy. For pros, an air compressor with a nozzle is going to speed things way up.

Let’s get cracking.

1. Unplug it
No use messing around with an electronic device while it’s plugged in.
We’re just trying to clean it, not diagnosing a problem that requires power.

2. How to remove front cover of window air conditioner

The first thing to clean is the filter and to do that you’ll have to remove the front cover of the air conditioner.

There are more than one brand of window air conditioner and there are a multitude of different styles of removing the front cover also.

On most window air conditioners, you will simply have a pull tab located on the top or the side that allows you to pull the front cover down and off.

But there are other window ACs like the GE for example that have a filter that just pulls out from the side and do not provide easy access to the grill.

On window AC that doesn’t have easy access, it will require you to take a couple of screws out and pull the entire plastic casing off of the front.

If you have a manual window AC with knobs to dial in the temperature, you’ll have to take the knobs off first to be able to get the plastic casing off.

Cleaning the filter is a very simple process that usually can be done with the vacuum cleaner or a brush. You can even wash it under the faucet in the sink. Only be careful to let it dry completely so you don’t have any chance of mold growing in the AC by putting a wet filter back into it.

2. Clean the grime off of the grill and fins.

How to clean air conditioner fins

Once you have the cover off and the grill is exposed, take a soft brush and brush any grime and dirt off of the fins.
A soft brush because you do not want to bend the fins.

If the finns are already bent, you can purchase what’s called a fin comb that will straighten them back out.

This step can easily be done with a vacuum cleaner or a can of compressed air. If you have a portable compressor, you will be able to blow any grime and debris on the fins off that much easier.

3. Clean the cover

Before you put the cover back on, use the opportunity to clean the dust and debris out of all the nooks and crannies located on the cover. Believe it or not, even if it doesn’t look like it, dust can keep your air conditioner from blowing at the rate it is meant to. (This is a big deal with fans too. You would probably be surprised how well your tower fan would blow by just doing some simple brushing maintenance on it.)

4. Clean the rear of the AC.

Can you hose down a window air conditioner?

If the AC is still in your window, you can actually hose down the back side of the window AC with a hose. The only caveat is that you do not use a high pressure attachment that could bend the fins or damage any component inside of the AC.

After all this part of the AC is meant to be in the elements and can take a beating from a rainstorm or snow. Hosing it down is an easy way of getting dirt and debris off of the outside of the air conditioner.

Make sure you keep the water on the outside of the unit and not spray in such a way that it goes inside the house.

If you are not in an area where you can clean your window conditioner with a hose, a vacuum cleaner will do just fine, and or an air compressor will do even that much better.

And remember if your air conditioner is not that dirty, a can of electronic duster that you use on a computer keyboard will do the trick just fine. It’s a lot easier using a can of electronic duster than it is to drag out a water hose for a vacuum and an air compressor if you don’t have to.

5. Clean the drain hole

If your air conditioner is spitting water at you, there is a good chance that your drain hole is clogged up.

The condensation coming off of your cooling coils when the air conditioner is running is designed to drip out of that little drain hole.

If the drain hole is stopped up then the water will just keep on rising till it starts coming out of the vents and spritzing your house.

If the drain hole is already clean and it is still spitting water at you or not draining, then you should tilt the air conditioner slightly so that the water drains out of the hole instead of building up. You may have to put a shim or something on one side of the air conditioner to keep it tilted slightly for the water to drain off.

The drain hole on a window AC is typically just a small hole around 3/8″ big located either on the side or towards the rear of the AC.

While you have the hose out, spraying out the drain hole should be pretty easy.

If you don’t have a hose, try blowing the drain hole out. If there is something really jammed in the drain hole, try taking a small pointed object like a small screwdriver and poking it through the hole being careful not to poke too hard as to puncture anything on the other side of the hole.

Never add a second drain hole to a window AC using a drill unless you have the whole AC taken apart so that you can see exactly where to drill without puncturing any part of the AC compressor. ( How do I know that? Let’s just say that I’m glad I didn’t spend more than a couple of hundred bucks on that AC.)

How to prevent mold in the window AC?

You can prevent mold in a window AC by ensuring that the drain hole is clear and that the condensation is draining off properly.
If the air conditioner is not draining and water is able to fill up inside of the window AC, then the chances of having mold inside of your AC go up considerably.
The second thing you should do to prevent mold in your window AC is to wipe it down regularly, and vacuum the dirt out.
Mold cannot grow without having the basic ingredients of moisture, food (like dirt) and dark.

Keeping your drain hole cleaned out, the AC tilted so that the water drains out easily, and wiped and vacuumed of dust, will eliminate two of the main ingredients of mold right there.

If you already have mold in your window AC, you should be prepared to take the window air conditioner out of the window and disassemble it so that you can spray the inside thoroughly with either Lysol or vinegar.

It’s not the end of the world or your air conditioner but mold sickness is a real thing and you should take it seriously.

The casing of a window air conditioner is generally held on by some very plain in view screws that can be taken out. The whole cover will come off easily after that. That will give you access to be able to spray a mold deterrent like Lysol or vinegar into any nook and cranny you can locate inside the AC.

There’s nothing like having an air conditioner during the hot summer months.
The problem is that they tend to get dirty and need regular maintenance.

Taking the time to spruce up your AC unit is going to help eliminate mold and mildew that builds up inside the unit and stops it working properly.

It’s worth opening up your unit once a year and cleaning it out once a year, even if it’s still running smooth.
The filter should be checked once a month and cleaned whenever it looks dirty as well.

Here are the 12 steps of cleaning a window air conditioning unit.

What you Need

2 soft cloths
A hand-held spray bottle
Fin comb

Bucket
Vacuum
Rubber gloves

Soft-bristle brush
Goggles
Coil cleaner – which can be found at any hardware store

The 12-Step Process

Start out by disconnecting the AC unit from all power sources
You need to unplug every single power cord being fed into the unit. If the window unit is wired directly to the home then you want to either turn off the master circuit breaker or disconnect the unit from the fuses. The manufacturer’s instructions will tell you how to discharge the capacitor. This capacitor is a device that holds the extra charge needed to kick-start the motor in your AC. Removing it is an essential step in ensuring there is no charge left in the device before cleaning it.

Clean off the outside cover of the unit. Wipe it down using a wet cloth. Get rid of all the grime and dust that you can to ensure that it doesn’t fall down into the unit when the cover is opened. That just creates more work for you later. It’ll be much harder to get off then too.

Now you can take the front cover off. Some of them are designed to be removed easily using just your hands. For others, you might need to remove some plastic screws or hooks. Place down these screws or clamps in a safe place while working. That way you can avoid losing them. Be warned that some units will also have metal grills that need to be removed. Their edges can be sharp, so take care when removing them!

You need to clean the reusable filter in your unit, assuming that it has one. Take the filter out of the AC unit and put it in a bucket filled halfway with warm and soapy water. If you don’t have one to hand then your sink or bathtub would do fine. Get rid of dirt and other buildup by swishing the filter around. If it’s really dirty then you might need to use a soft brush to clear it all off. Put the filter off to the side so that it can dry out before you put it back into the unit. Having a wet filter in the unit just attracts more mold and dirt, which is not what you want when you’re trying to keep it clean!

Make sure that you change the disposable filter in your unit regularly. Once again, that is assuming that it has one. The US Department of Energy recommend changing filters once a month during the warm season.

Vacuum out the inside of the unit. A vacuum extension can help you reach the bottom of the unit, as well as the sides of the unit, the back of the front cover, and – if you have one – the metal grill. A moist rag can help here if there’s too much dirt for a vacuum to handle by itself.

Put the unit back together. Be sure to let the unit dry out completely before you put it back together. Plug the window unit back into the power source and switch it on. Clean off any debris that might blow up after it has been powered on again.

Be sure to keep your unit stored in a cool, dry place when the time comes to put it away. Cover it up with a sheet of plastic and leave it in a dry place as this will prevent the spread of mildew and mold.

If you want to take your cleaning to the next level, there are some extra steps you can take before putting the unit back together.
These are optional steps and should be performed delicately.
These steps are for cleaning the fan blades and coils, which are very delicate and are easy to bend and break by accident. The motor housing can also be very sensitive and should be avoided at all times when cleaning an AC unit.

Now it’s time to clean coils in your AC. Make sure you use rubber gloves and protective goggle for this. Add the coil cleaning solution to the water bottle and spray the coils lightly. Take care to spray only the coils. Leave them for around 15 minutes before pouring some warm water onto the coils. Ensure that the coil cleaner has been completely removed from the coil. Be careful to avoid getting electrical parts near the coils wet. Consider putting a dry rag down on the electrical parts to prevent water damage.

Clean the fan blades of the unit using a soft, clean cloth to remove dirt from the fan blades. Be sure to wipe gently so as to avoid bending and damaging the blades. AC units can be pretty loud as they are, and bent blades only makes them louder!

Finally, you can use the fin comb to repair dents in the fins of the coils. Now you can put the AC unit back together and go back to enjoying cool air whenever you need it.

Do Humidifiers Increase Oxygen? (No and Yes)

Do Humidifiers Increase Oxygen?

A humidifier is not an oxygen machine or an oxygen concentrator and it should not be mistaken for one.

A humidifier is an appliance that adds moisture or humidity to the air. And humidity actually displaces oxygen.

But a humidifier can increase oxygen indirectly in a couple of ways.

1. Humidity is a natural air purifier that weighs down particles like pollen and airborne bacteria as well as viruses.

Adding moisture to the air with a humidifier can make these particles too heavy to float thereby increasing the natural oxygen available.

The National Library of Medicine has stated that “the majority of adverse health effects caused by relative humidity would be minimized by maintaining indoor levels between 40 and 60%.

By keeping the relative humidity at the recommended level, you naturally increase the oxygen by using the natural capacity of humidity to purify the already existing oxygen.

Plant humidifier

Using a humidifier as a tool to help keep your oxygen creating plants healthy.

Using a humidifier for plants is not a new idea. Plants need the right humidity to thrive and stay healthy just as much as people do.

The same dried out air in the house that causes your skin to crack and your nose to feel brittle will also have an adverse effect on your plants.

Plants need that 40 to 60% relative humidity to thrive as much as people do.

If you haven’t heard about it, there is a list of plants that NASA has conducted an in-depth study on and has declared them to be all natural air purifiers.

Some of the plants included in the list are Aloe Vera, Rubber Plant, and Mother-in-law’s tongue.

And a number of the plants, including the ones I mentioned above happened to be some of the best oxygen producing plants that exist.

Do you see where I’m going here?

The combination of the right plants with the right moisture in the air can make an amazing air purification system and a high oxygen producing environment.

So what’s the answer to the original question?

“A humidifier can help increase oxygen when it is used as a tool to help purify your air and to keep your all natural air purifying and oxygen releasing plants moist and healthy in your home.’

How do you know how much humidity to add to aid your plants?

The ideal is to mimic the natural environment and climate where the plant grows the best.

In other words, cactus is going to need less humidity because of its natural desert surroundings and Rubber tree is going to need much more because of its natural tropical habitat.

Doing the research for your plants is key.

Knowing the humidity level in your home is also key.

If you do not know what your humidity is already, you do not have a starting point.

A hygrometer is an inexpensive thermometer type device that measures humidity.

But a better option is to own a humidifier that has a hygrometer/ humidistat already built in.

Most Humidifiers are usually known to be pretty cheap devices you find in the drugstore or Walmart.

But these days humidifiers are smart machines that can either work as cool mist or vaporizers and include features like essential oil compartments and bacteria resistant materials.

Recap

Do humidifiers increase oxygen?

A humidifier is not the same thing as an oxygen concentrator.

Human beings cannot breathe underwater and it is also true that when the humidity is very heavy, it can be harder to breathe because of the thickness of the air.

High levels of humidity are also known to be a lot more likely to be full of mold spores and dust mites. Dust mite populations are actually exploding with high humidity.

So just blasting humidity into a room with a humidifier is not an answer to increasing the oxygen or creating an environment where you can breathe better.

But maintaining the proper relative humidity in the house is a great way to reduce the amount of airborne germs and allergens as well as hydrate your nasal cavities and your skin.

Humidifiers are also an excellent way to keep your plants lush and thriving.

And if you want to take it a step further you can include plants that are listed in NASA’s top Air purifying and oxygen releasing plants.

Humidifiers can help increase the oxygen in a room but they do so indirectly.

Benefits of a Humidifier While Sleeping (next to snoring train)

So how much of our lives do we spend sleeping, do they say? Like 26 years or something, and another 7 years just trying to get to sleep. That’s insane.

We all know the feeling I’m not getting a good night sleep and trying to be at our best the next day or sometimes days.

Not getting the adequate amount of sleep presents a whole host of problems.

Some very severe like memory loss, heart disease, and low sex drive.

There is no doubt that sleep is a very important part of everyone’s lives.

But did you know that humidity can have an effect on how well you sleep?

It’s a fact.

Air that is too dry can cause your breathing to be impaired because of dust and germs that easily float when there’s not enough moisture in the air to weigh them down.

When you’re trying to sleep, breathing in these impurities can cause snoring, coughing, and exasperated sleep apnea.

Dry air also can cause your skin to become dehydrated leading to flaky itchy skin, and acne.

As well as cause your nasal passages along with your throat, to become raw leading the nosebleeds and a dry sore throat.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, air that is too humid can be filled with mold spores and dust mites, also making it hard to breathe deep while you are trying to get a good night’s rest.

Excessive humidity can also be harder to breathe which can impair your slumber, and be a nightmare for people with asthma and sleep apnea.

But fortunately, there is a device that can help you remedy any problems you are having sleeping because of poor low humidity.

The device?

The humidifier.

Yep. The Humidifier.

The benefits of sleeping with a humidifier nearby are many.

Restful sleep when you’re congested and your nasal passages are swollen and brittle, hydrated skin when you’re dried out,

and Air that is cleaner to breathe because of the capacity of moisture in the air to ” weigh down” dust and particulates inhibiting their ability to float.

Sounds wonderful and it is. Humidity is much more a part of being healthy and getting proper sleep than most people including myself ever thought of or gave it credit for.

How do you know if you need a humidifier?

How do you know when you need to use a humidifier?

There are certain times of the year, namely the cold winter months when the air becomes naturally too dry.

Then to combat the cold, we turn on the heater, which dries the air out further.

During this time of year, it’s a no-brainer. You need a humidifier.

But even with that information, knowing when to use a humidifier is still guesswork unless you have a way of measuring the humidity.

Aha… The point!

Measuring the humidity level of the air in your home is the only way you can be sure you need to fire up the humidifier.

How do you do that?

A hygrometer. A hygrometer is to humidity what a thermometer is to temperature.

A simple device that measures the relative humidity.

You can buy them fairly cheap and monitor the humidity at your leisure.

But, Humidifiers these days come with everything you need to measure your humidity, dial in the humidity level you want, and let the machine do the work.

You can buy a humidifier with a built-in hygrometer and a humidistat to set the humidifier at whatever humidity you want.

You can purchase humidifiers that have all the smart capabilities that allow you to control your humidifier via your phone, or check the relative humidity in your home, or schedule the humidifier to come on at a certain time.

All at your fingertips and all easily programmed to take commands by voice.

With what is known about humidity these days and it’s capacity to hinder viruses, hydrate skin and help keep acne under control, as well as act as a natural air purifier,

Combined with the amazing selection of humidifiers available that can do it all,

I think its time we took humidifiers more seriously and looked at them as an investment other than a cheap plastic drugstore item.

Humidifiers are also starting to make big jumps in the way they are cleaned.

You can now purchase humidifiers that have ultraviolet lights to target and kill bacteria inside of the water before it becomes part of the air,

There are also humidifiers that are made out of antimicrobial plastic that keeps bacteria and fungus from being able to grow on the actual materials that the humidifier is made out of,

And there are also additives you can buy to put in the humidifier to keep mold and bacteria from becoming an issue.

And don’t forget, smart humidifiers will also alert you when it’s time to clean your humidifying device.

Recap

Sleeping with the humidifier when the air is dry has many benefits.

1. Keeping your skin hydrated,

2.Weighing down and keeping dust and particulates out of the air so that they are not breathed in,

3.Easing the pain of swollen and dried nasal passages are all benefits to sleeping with a humidifier on.

But as wonderful is all that is, humidifiers are not needed all year long.

In order to get the best result out of a humidifier, you need to know exactly when to run it.

And in order to do that, you first need to measure the humidity before you get started.

A hygrometer is a simple tool to measure the relative humidity.

Fairly inexpensive, the hygrometer will let you know whether you even need to turn the humidifier on or not.

Fortunately these days, it’s not hard to find a humidifier that has a hygrometer built in as well as a humidistat to dial in the humidity level that you desire.

Like everything else in the modern world, humidifiers can be purchased to work with your Wi-Fi and be controlled using an app to schedule and monitor your relative humidity level.

If you’re living on the opposite side of the spectrum and you’re average humidity is too high, a dehumidifier may be the ticket.

Humidifier Benefits For Skin (a beauty elixir?)

Humidifiers have traditionally been a congestion and dry nose device and something that may not come to mind immediately when you’re thinking about moisturizing your skin.

But lately, humidifiers are as likely to be found in the beauty section as much as they are in the seasonal cold and flu section.

Why is that?

It comes down to the science and a level of understanding of how the relative humidity at any given time can be at the root of dry skin.

Though it is well known that not all skin types are the same and some people have naturally oily skin and some people not so much.

But regardless of skin type, dry skin as it is related to humidity, is basically dehydrated skin.

Dry skin = dehydrated skin.

Hadley King, MD states “dry conditions can cause small cracks on the epidermis that expose nerve endings and the deeper layers of skin to the outside world”
“Increasing moisture levels helps to maintain hydration. When skin is properly hydrated it naturally combats common winter skin concerns.”

Does the humidifier help with dry skin?

One of the easiest ways to help combat dry skin as well as being one of the best all natural moisturizers is a humidifier.

Humidifiers have a single purpose. To restore humidity back to the air.

According to PubMed, the relative humidity must be maintained between 40 and 60% to minimize adverse health effects including dry skin.

Humidifier benefits for skin

Keeping the humidity in your home at an optimal level with the use of a humidifier can benefit you and be an integral part of your skin care routine by Supplementing the moisture in your skin when the cold has dried you out and the heater is drying you up.

A humidifier also benefits the skin by keeping dust levels down. When the air is dry, dust floats easily, which in turn contacts your skin much easier, drying it out that much more.

Air that has the right humidity, moistens dust and keeps it from floating.

The relative humidity also keeps allergens and viruses from being able to travel as far. When the air contains the right relative humidity, viruses and allergens, as well as other airborne bacteria, becomes too heavy to float and fall through the surface much faster.

Steam humidifiers can also help open up your pores for deep cleaning.

Facial steam humidifiers hydrate your face and allow you to remove a deeper level of dirt and bacteria from your skin

What’s the best humidifier for skin?

Humidifiers can come equipped with all types of features that were once not heard of in the humidification arena.

But the feature you should be sure to include in the purchase of a humidifier is undoubtedly a hygrometer or hydrostat as it’s also called.

A hydrostat is like a thermometer for humidity. It tells you exactly how humid the air is and allows you to set it dial in the relative humidity level that you want it to be.

Without a hydrostat/hygrometer you have no way of knowing how much humidity you need or even if you need it at all.

Another feature that you should look into when purchasing a humidifier is the capacity to run as either a warm mist humidifier or a cool mist humidifier.

Both have their advantages.
For instance a cool mist humidifier may offer more relief for a dry throat and dry nasal passages. They are also infamously endorsed as a better option for cold symptoms or congestion and sore throats by Mayo Clinic.

Cool mist is also recommended for children because it doesn’t offer any risk of getting burned and when you’re sleeping with the humidifier running for relief during the night, steam is not something you’re looking for.

But on the other hand, steam humidifiers have other benefits like helping you be able to exfoliate your skin and well with different additives like eucalyptus that can help you better also.

So if you can purchase a humidifier that can operate as both a cool mist and a steam humidifier, that’s the direction to take.

Another thing you should keep in mind when purchasing a humidifier is that they require regular cleanings to keep them from becoming a point of origin for bacteria and mold.

There are many humidifier brands these days that make the process of keeping the humidifier clean much easier and less frequent.

Humidifiers like the Dyson AM10 use ultraviolet light to target bacteria and mold inside of a humidifier basin, while other humidifiers like the Taotronics use antimicrobial plastic in their construction to keep mode from being able to grow inside of the unit.

There are also different types of additives like Guardian Aquasticks you can put directly into the humidifier basin to keep mold and bacteria from becoming an issue as fast.

Wrap up

Humidifier Benefits for Skin

Dry skin and skin care maintenance may not be something you immediately associate with humidity and humidifiers, but the truth is the two actually go hand in hand.

Skin moisturizing should always start with making sure your air humidity is between 40 to 60%. If the relative humidity is below 40%, then your skin can become dehydrated very quickly.

Thankfully, there is an easy solution for dry air. The good ol humidifier.

Only humidifiers these days come with features like hydrostats that allow you to dial in the exact humidity you need.

Not only that, you can purchase humidifiers that can run up to 60 hours without refilling.

Other features like self cleaning technologies and combination hot and cold mist make humidifiers a must have for maintaining healthy skin.

Is a Humidifier a Cure for Asthma? (click bait alert)

The humidifier is not a cure for asthma.

But maintaining proper humidity levels in your home is very important to living with, and living well when you have asthma.

As stated in a research article listed by the National Library of Medicine, “the majority of adverse health effects caused by relative humidity would be minimized by maintaining indoor levels between 40 and 60%.”

The article goes on to say that mite populations reach their maximum size when the relative humidity is at 80%. And that most species of fungi cannot grow unless the relative humidity exceeds 60%.

Conversely, as pointed out in this article” droplets and aerosols tend to stay afloat longer and travel farther and air with lower relative humidity. Virus containing aerosols, in particular, can penetrate more deeply into the lungs to increase the possibility of transmission”

“In addition, research shows viruses have the potential to live longer on surfaces in cold environments.”

The point is that the relative humidity in your home should be maintained at a level between 40 and 60% regardless.

And depending on the season and, or the climate you live in, you may very well need a humidifier. And, or a dehumidifier.

But whether you’re in a cold or hot situation right now,

The first thing you need to know is what the humidity level is in your house.

And for that you will need a hygrometer.

Hygrometers measure the humidity and show you exactly what the relative humidity in your home is.

Or if you are already in the market for a humidifier then the first feature you’ll want to be sure to include is a built-in hygrometer.

Because how will you ever know how much humidity you need to add to make your air healthier and easier to breathe if you don’t have a way to measure it.

After you have measured the humidity and found that yes, the humidity level in your home has dropped below or risen above the health and comfortability point, then it’s time to think about a humidifier.

Humidifiers come in different types and have a different range of levels of what they are capable of achieving.

And like everything else they come with the cheap version and there are also Cadillac versions.

Fortunately there are versions of humidifiers that are built for persons with asthma directly in mind.

Humidifier for Asthma

What types of features should you rank higher than others when you are in the market for a humidifier for asthma?

1. Humidistat

The humidistat will tell you what your humidity is in your home and allow you to set your humidifier to the desired humidity level you want.

Just like a thermostat that you dial in on a heater or air conditioner, a humidistat lets you dial in exactly the percentage of humidity you want in your room.

2. Secondly, you want to choose a humidifier that is germ-free.

“Germ-free” is a term used loosely here, because there is no such thing as a humidifier that doesn’t have the potential to produce mold and bacteria if it is allowed to go unmaintained.

But there are a few technologies available that can lower the risk of a humidifier becoming contaminated, and also lower the frequency that the humidifier needs cleaned.

A few options are:

a. Ultraviolet light

Ultraviolet light inside of a humidifier works the same way as putting a UV light in a fish tank or keeping one and a sterilizing container for combs and scissors works.

A UV lamp targeted directly upon the water in your humidifier will kill 99% of the germs and bacteria in the basin.

b. Antimicrobial plastic

Antimicrobial plastic is one of the coolest advancements to come along in humidifiers. It is a type of plastic that is actually resistant to fungi and mold.

It is also a great way to reduce the chance of a humidifier becoming a problem instead of a help.

c. Antibacterial additives

You can also purchase bacteria destroying additives that can be added straight to the basin of your humidifier.
Some humidifiers come with antibacterial drop in products included.

3. Combination cool mist and warm mist

Another option that you should think about including in your humidifier purchase is the capacity of the humidifier to run as either a cool mist or a warm mist humidifier.

Having the option to either use a humidifier as a warm or cool mist is a huge advancement in humidifier technologies also.

4. Larger tank size.

Humidifiers come with different tank sizes. The tank size is what determines how long you will be able to use the humidifier without refilling.

You can get humidifiers with tank sizes that last up to 60 or even more hours.

5. Whole house humidifier

A whole house humidifier, also commonly referred to as a furnace humidifier, connects directly into your duct work.

These units have a great advantage over portable units because they can produce the right relative humidity throughout your home via your already installed HVAC.

Another great advantage is the fact that there is no basin to refill with water.

They do however pose the risk of mold growth in walls and require the proper maintenance. They also have yearly replacement parts.

Summary

If you’re an asthmatic, maintaining the proper relative humidity is more important to you.

Excessively low and high humidity has consequences for everyone, but when you’re struggling with asthma, the difference in being in a room with the proper relative humidity between 40 and 60% can mean the difference in breathing or not breathing.

Humidifiers have come pretty far with advancements. There are humidifiers available these days that monitor and keep the relative humidity in your room at the optimal spot.

There are also humidifiers that have built-in cleaning methods such as ultraviolet light and antimicrobial plastics that keep the risk of mold and asthma triggering bacteria at Bay.

Humidifiers also come with many more options such as being able to use them in either cool mode or vapor mode and they also are sold large enough to be able to use them several days without refilling.

The best option however may be placing a whole house furnace humidifier that can keep the relative humidity in your entire home at the right level at all times.

Should You Use a Humidifier for Acne?- You May Be Surprised

Humidity for Acne?

Low humidity and acne are not 2 topics that you may think have much to do with each other.

Or if you are like me, you would probably guess that humidity, especially high humidity, would result in having a worst case of acne or pimple breakout.

As it turns out, both are true. But not for the same reasons.

Dry air affects your skin one way and humid air affects your skin another way.

Dry conditions can cause small cracks on the epidermis that expose nerve endings in the deeper layers of skin to the outside world. The result? Itching, flaking, and more sensitivity to products and the environment. says Hadley King MD

The damage caused by dry skin also allows the bacteria that causes acne to be very deep into the skin.

Dry skin can also release a counter balancing reaction in your skin that creates an overabundance of oil to maintain hydration.

This all adds up to fertile ground for acne to flourish.

It’s a common story to hear of someone who lives in a dry cold climate expressing their amazement at how their complexion clears up when they go on a vacation somewhere humid.

Being in an environment where the relative humidity is 40 to 60% has a way of repairing dry skin.

But unfortunately not all of us live in an area where the humidity is that easy to come by.

Or, Will we be traveling to a vacation island anytime soon.

And it does not help any that during the dry cold season, the heater is running non stop drying out the air.

And in the summer, the AC is dehumidifying to counter the heat.

And don’t forget the fan blowing on you constantly.

So how do you offset the lack of humidity and create a hydrated space for your skin to repair itself and give you the moisture you need for a great complexion?

One of the best ways you can combat dry skin and acne caused by dry skin is keeping a humidifier running in your home and next to your bed while you sleep.

A warm mist humidifier or steam humidifier will restore the humidity level in your room to an optimal level and also open up your pores, which will help remove the bacteria and oils that are at the root of acne breakouts.

Also Humidifiers, unbeknownst to many people, are actually great air purifiers all on their own.

Why is that?

When the air is dry, dust and bacteria are free to flow throughout the airstream. But when you add moisture to the picture, the airborne particulates become too heavy to float and fall to the surface.

A great multifunction warm mist / cold mist humidifier with a built in hygrometer we suggest is the Levoit LV600HH. Check the price out here.

You’re probably thinking, That’s all good in the winter but …

What about humidity pimples?

Doesn’t high humidity cause acne?
Actually the opposite is true, humidity actually keeps your skin hydrated and healthier.

But humidity also causes sweat. And when you sweat, your body produces extra oils and expunges toxins and salt, which all come to the surface of your skin.

In which the most common thing to do is to take your already sweaty shirt and wipe your face with it, basically wiping the dirt and oil right into your pores.

Another thing to remember is that dry skin is not solely a winter cold season problem.

There are many reasons your skin may be dry.

For instance, swimming in a pool with chlorine will dry your skin out and swimming is typically thought to be more of a summer activity.

Soaps and detergents also have drying agents in their ingredients.

Being in a dusty room is also a sure way to dehydrate your skin.

The bottom line is your skin it’s meant to have a level of moisture in it and whether the climate is the cause or whether there’s an environmental problem, you have to find a way to keep your skin moist regardless.

Humidifiers have one job and that is to add moisture to the air with the goal of maintaining a relative humidity from 40 to 60%.

Humidifiers are actually the best all natural skin moisturizer you can own.

Humidifier vs diffuser for acne

Diffusers are a type of humidifier that disperse aromatherapy essential oils into the air along with humidity.

And though it is true that there are essential oils that are responsible for removing bacteria in the air,

Many essential oils can be a skin irritant. So it is not recommended to use a diffuser as a steam humidifier to open up your pores.

It’s also important to remember that dogs and cats are particularly sensitive to essential oils that contain menthol.

Other types of appliances that add moisture to the air include facial hydrators, evaporative coolers, and air washers.

Facial hydrators are a type of steam humidifier that are meant to be used to clean and moisturize your face. Strictly a beauty product.

Evaporative coolers are air conditioners that blow air over water too cool a room. They also go by the term “swamp cooler” because of the level of humidity that they can add to a room.

Air washers are a type of air purifier that use water to filter air.

Humidifier for acne?

Believe it or not, the good old humidifier may be the best all-natural skin moisturizer you can buy.

Keeping the relative humidity at a healthy level in your home or room is one of the easiest and best ways to combat dry skin and ward off outbreaks.

And whether you’re suffering from dry skin because of the climate you’re in or if there’s an environmental issue like harsh soaps or chlorine you’re dealing with,

The simple solution of increasing the humidity may be what the doctor ordered.

Humidifier vs. Air Purifier (Is it As Obvious As it Seems?)

Humidifier vs. Air Purifier

What’s the difference between a humidifier and an air purifier?

The answer should be pretty obvious you would think.
And on the surface it is.

An air purifier purifies the air and an air humidifier adds humidity to the air.

And when you’re trying to decide whether you need to run an air purifier or to run a humidifier,

The answer to that should seem pretty obvious too.

Do you want to filter the air or do you want to add moisture to the air?

But here is where it gets a little more interesting.

Dry air and humidity have a direct link to the transmission of viruses and allergies in the air.

Two things that you would normally consider to fall in the air purifier category.

According to an article in science daily, professor Michael Ward states “when the humidity is lower, the air is dryer and it makes the aerosol smaller”

He also added, “the aerosols are smaller than droplets. When you sneeze and cough those smaller infectious aerosols can stay suspended in the air for longer.

That increases the exposure for other people. When the air is humid and the aerosols are larger and heavier they fall and hit surfaces quicker.”

Cooler air can cause the humidity to drop as much as 20%. Which makes it much easier for airborne particles to travel.

Secondly, the extra dry air can cause the body’s own natural humidifying and air purification functions, called Cilia, not to function optimally and have a harder time expelling viral particulates as well as it would in normal humidity.

An experiment cited by medicalnewstoday.com shows that rodents placed in an environment with 10% relative humidity “succumbed to influenza virus infection more rapidly than those housed in 50% relative humidity.”

The study also showed that dry air caused the immune response in the mice to be less efficient.

So what does it mean?

The capacity of a humidifier to be able to reduce the spread of viral particles seems to have an edge in the cold dry months compared to an air purifier.

But don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.

A good air purifier, especially one that uses an h13 HEPA filter, can reduce the number of allergens and viruses in the air significantly. Regardless of the relative humidity.

Other types of air purifiers that use plasma wave or bipolar technologies can also significantly lower the amount of virus particulates in the air.

Furthermore, air purifiers are useful everyday of the year whereas humidifiers are only useful when the relative humidity drops.

But when the temperature is cooler and dry air becomes an issue, an air purifier will do zero to add any humidity back to the air.

So is one better than the other?

Should you purchase a humidifier and not bother with the air purifier?

This is a situation where there is no either or.

Humidifiers clearly have an edge when it comes to restoring the relative humidity back to 40 to 60% in the cold months when the air is extra dry.

And viruses need dry air to transport easily.

But extra humidity is definitely not welcomed all year long where there’s not a time of the year when you don’t need clean air to breathe.

And that’s where an air purifier comes in.

So the only good answer is to own both a humidifier and an air purifier.

Am I saying you should purchase a combination air purifier and humidifier?

That’s not what I’m saying at all.

There are a lot of combination appliances that make a lot of sense.

But combining an air purifier and a humidifier is not exactly the best ideal.

Let me explain why I think this.

Humidifier air purifier combos use water to clean the air. These types of units are called air washers and revitalizers.

These machines are not able to clean the air without adding humidity.

And though they may be a great idea in the winter, the dry season only lasts so long.

You have to remember that the humid season is coming, and adding more humidity to the already excessive humid condition is not going to be the best ideal.

You’re going to want a device like a dehumidifier to reduce the humidity at that point.

Combining an air purifier and a humidifier may seem like a great idea on the surface, but the truth is it’s really only useful for about the same amount of time as you will use a humidifier.

You should think about purchasing an air purifier as a standalone appliance that doesn’t try to combine any other function other than to clean the air.

It’s the only scenario that really works.

Air purifier vs humidifier.

Air purifiers and humidifiers seem like two totally different machines on the surface.

One cleans the air and one adds moisture to the air. Case closed right?

But there are studies that prove that viruses and allergies transfer much easier and faster in dry air.

Studies also show that cold and flu symptoms can be reduced as much as 50% by simply adding humidity back into the air through the use of a humidifier.

It’s during these cold dry times that humidifiers actually become a better air purifier than an air purifier itself.

And as “case closed” is that might sound, even though humidifiers may have an edge during that small part of the year, they are not very useful in other seasons.

Air purifiers are useful all year long and don’t depend on the relative humidity being one way or the other.

What’s the conclusion?

Households should employ both air purifiers and humidifiers.

Both work to make your home a much healthier breathing space and are not exclusive of one another.

Finally, even though it may sound like I’m suggesting a air purifier and humidifier combo,

Those machines are more humidifier than air purifier and you can only get about the same amount of use from them as you do a humidifier.

The best solution is to own a good humidifier and own a separate air purifier.

Air Purifier vs. Air Sanitization Machine – What’s The Skinny?

Air purifiers come in a lot of different designs and use a number of different technologies.

Some air purifiers are specifically designed to filter out pollutants like dander and pollen, in other words particulates that are large enough that they can be caught inside of a filter.

Other airborne contaminants like VOCs , airborne pollutants that are usually considered to be chemicals or gases need a different type of filter.

And finally airborne pathogens like bacteria and viruses need a different type of air cleaner that can actually affect them on a cellular level.

Winix is one of the best and most popular Air purifier and Sanitization Combination machines available. You can check the price here.

Air Purifier vs UV Air Sanitization Machine

An Air Sanitizer is a machine that is used to reduce pollutants like mold spores, germs, bacteria, and viruses. Both in the air and on surfaces. An air purifier is better at capturing airborne particulates like dust and pollen.

An air purifier uses a series of filters to capture airborne contaminants. Much like a fan but pulling air through a HEPA filter.

Air Sanitizer machines typically employ a UV Light as a sterilizer. Though other technologies use incineration and ozone to sterilize.

An ionic air sanitizer works by electronically polarizing the particles in the air. The ideal is when the particles are charged, they clump together and become too heavy to float and simply fall to the nearest surface.

Not all air purifiers or air sanitizers are built the same.

The most popular air purifiers are HEPA filters but most employ more than one type of filter.

There’s usually a filter that would be considered a pre-filter because it captures larger air particles like hair.
The pre-filter keeps the large junk from gathering on the HEPA filter.

Then there is the aforementioned HEPA filter which is a dense filter that is manufactured to capture pollutants as small as .03 microns. Many air purifier companies are now equipping their machines with H13 Hepa filters that are able to capture particulates as small as .01 Microns.

Levoit has the corner on the market for the best HEPA air purifiers. Check out the price for Levoit Air Purifiers Here.

This is the filter that does most of the heavy lifting and is responsible for getting rid of most of the contaminants in the air that are at the root of household allergies.

Finally an activated Carbon filter is used to adsorb pollutants such as gases.
Carbon filters are the number one choice when looking for an air purifier to target odors.

These air purifiers work much like a fan in reverse, pulling air through a system of filters.

Their Achilles heel is their need for regular filter replacements.

Also these air purifiers also do nothing to sanitize the air or the surfaces in a room.

Air sanitizers rely on ions being emitted from the machine.

There are three ways in which ions are manufactured for use in indoor air pollution removal.

Negative ion generator
Photo catalytic oxidation
Plasma cluster

A Negative ion generator specifically generates negative ions that when are emitted into the room combine with the positive ions (positive ions would be considered the airborne pollutants in the room) the result is they become too heavy to float and fall from the ambient air.

These ion generators have the reputation of making the surfaces around the air purifier grey or black.
It’s because the surfaces, especially TV and computer screens have a positive charge that collects the ions that pour from the machine.

The second type of ion generator is photocatalytic oxidation.

This is the type of ion generator that would be considered the best at sanitizing the air.

Photo catalytic air purifiers , through a process of combining light and a titanium oxide catalyst create hydro peroxide ions.

Air Oasis are the Best photocatalytic and Plasma air purifier manufacturers bar none. Check out their product line here.

These ions contain the same disinfecting capacity as hydrogen peroxide, the same stuff that you put on an abrasion or a cut to keep it from getting infected.

Photo catalytic oxidation is a very powerful way of not only sanitizing your air but the surfaces in the room where you’re using the purifier also.

If you search for a photo catalytic air purifier on Google, you’ll get multiple results from .Gov sites that provide the research that show this type of technology actually renders germs and bacteria inactive.

But photocatalytic air purifiers have the problem of generating ozone as a byproduct.

Ozone is a lung irritant and can exacerbate other breathing conditions like asthma when it is present.

Does that mean you should avoid it altogether?

Most websites just flat out say yes.

What it really means is that you have to change your approach to how you use your air purifier.

Though it is possible to turn a HEPA air purifier on and leave it on and finally just wait for the red button to flash saying you need a new filter,

Air purifiers like photo catalytic sanitizers can and should be approached in the same way that you would approach using an ozone generator.

Professionals that use ozone generators do so with two main rules.

They do not operate the machine in an occupied room. Be it humans, pets, or even plants.
They allow for the room to completely air out before using it again.

It is generally accepted that ionizers do not create anywhere near the ozone that an ozone generator does and most do not create a harmful level of ozone.

But by changing your approach to how you use the ionizer as referenced above you can enjoy the benefits of sanitized air without the threat of ozone.

The third way ionizers work is through plasma cluster technologies.

This type of ionizer works by emitting both positive and negative ions into the air stream.

The way it works is when the negative ions are released with the positive ions they immediately snap together because of polarization. In doing so they trap and oxidize every airborne pollutant in the way.

Essentially making the air itself, it’s own air purifier.

These bipolar ionizers are becoming very popular because they can sanitize the air very quickly without releasing the same level of ozone that other types of ionizers do.

Maybe you have seen one of these videos of tobacco smoke being completely eliminated in seconds when combined plasma clustering technology.
If you haven’t, it’s well worth the 2 minutes to check it out:

Conclusion

Air Purifiers are mainly devices that capture particulates like pollen and dust from out of the air. Air Sanitizer machines use technologies like ultraviolet light to sterilize the ambient air to protect you from airborne bacteria, germs, and viruses.

Air purifiers are filter based machines that pull air through a series of filters to capture the contaminants out of the air.

A HEPA filter combined with a pre filter and a carbon filter can capture airborne pollutants as small as .03 microns and absorb odors very efficiently.

But they cannot sanitize or disinfect the air.
And they require maintenance in the form of replacing filters in order to work.

Air sanitizers use an ionic technology
to not only remove particulates from the air but disinfect the air through the use of photocatalytic oxidation or plasma clustering.

Photo catalytic oxidation creates hydrogen peroxide ions that disinfect the air much like hydrogen peroxide solution disinfects a cut or abrasion on your skin.

The downside is they also create a small amount of ozone as a byproduct.

This means that the usual set it and leave it convenience does not apply.

Since ozone can be a lung irritant, photo catalytic oxidation air purifiers should be treated with the same respect that you would give an actual ozone generator.

How long should not be used in an occupied room and it should be allowed to completely dissipate before returning.

Plasma clustering technologies are another way that air cleaners can be considered air sanitizers.

Their method of releasing both negative and positive ions result in an instant reduction and sanitation of airborne pollutants.

Ionizer Air Purifier Side Effects

All ionizers create some ozone. Of course most do not create enough to be considered harmful.
But that does not account for consumers using ionizers responsibly.

For instance, an ionizer that is rated for a hundred square feet would create much too much ozone in an area that is only 25 square feet.

The sharp warning by the EPA is because of companies that sell ozone generators as domestic air purifiers.

As we have discussed, the two are not the same and should not be approached the same.

Don’t get caught in that trap. By using an ionizer in the air purifier correctly you can get amazing benefits.

Air Ionizer

12 Types of Machines That Clean the Air

Finding the right air cleaning machine can be tricky. There are so many types of air cleaning methods and not all are suited for your immediate needs. Getting to know a few and what they do is a great place to start.

So let’s give it a go…

Machines that Cleans the Air- 12 Types

1. HEPA air purifier

HEPA filtration is the most widely used type of machine for air cleaning.

HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Absorber) filters are engineered to capture particles as small as .03 microns. And collect

Which works very well for large particular looks like dander and pollen, as well as dust mites.

HEPA filters are a very dense media made up of random fiberglass fibers.

Interestingly, there are so many knock offs filters that do not meet regulations that HEPA is known as True HEPA now to help consumers find the real thing.

HEPA filter air cleaners are primarily single room purifiers that work better for smaller areas.

Levoit Core is our pick for Best Hepa air purifier- See it Here

2. Negative ion Generator

A negative ion generator is a machine that cleans the air by electronically charging particles and emitting them into the air.

This works because when the negatively charged ions from the machine are dispersed into the air, they instantly latch onto the positively charged ions already in the air, trapping any pollutants in the way into the newly formed bond.

Once these newly formed bonds accumulate, they clump together and fall out of the air.

Negative ion generators also work best in a small area.

3. Ozone Generator

Ozone generators are machines that intentionally create Ozone gas to clean air.
They can effectively remove long-standing odors and kill any bacteria or viral contamination in an area.

Ozone or activated oxygen as it’s also sometimes called is an oxygen molecule (O2) that contains a third atom. (O3)

Ozone (O3) is very unstable. So much so that when it comes into contact with any airborne contaminant, it destroys it through oxidation.

Ozone is a very potent air cleaner and is never used in an area occupied by people, or animals.

The reason being is that ozone gas will oxidize your lung tissue if it is breathed too heavily.

It is important to follow the guidelines when dealing with ozone.

4. Humidifier

A Humidifier is a device that does not normally come to mind when you’re talking about a machine that cleans air but you might be surprised.

A humidifier is simply a device that adds moisture to the air.

But when the air is dry, dust is easily kicked up into the air stream. Leaving you wide open for an allergy attack.

A humidifier can help control dust by adding moisture to the air so that dust particles get wet and bind together.

Making the dust particles adhere to surfaces rather than float in your breathing space.

Air Innovations are the Mother of All Humidifiers- See Them Here

5. Bi polar ionization

Bi polar ionization is a type of machine that emits anions and cations simultaneously.

This dispersion of both positive and negative ions have an immediate purifying effect on the air quality of a room.

Air pollutants like cigar smoke can be instantly removed.

Bi polar ionization also has a dramatic effect on bacteria and viruses.

By surrounding the pathogens with negative and positive ions , the cells become damaged and rendered inactive.

Winix Uses Plasmawave Bi-Polar in Their Units- Check Them Out Here

6. Dehumidifier

A dehumidifier reduces the humidity in a room by turning it into condensate and capturing it in a localized container.

What does that have to do with air cleaning?

High levels of moisture in the air creates droplets that act like traveling containers for air pollutants like mold spores and bacteria.

Humidity is also a major food source for dust mites.

By reducing the humidity in your home or office, you are effectively reducing dust mites and mold spore populations in the air.

7. Air Washer/Water Air Purifier

An air washer is a machine that cleans the air by filtering it through water.

The air is pulled in and literally thrown against a series of vats that wash the air before it is released through the other side.

The machine also doubles as a humidifier.

The plus of this type of air cleaning machine is that it never requires any replacement filters and it also moisturizes the air.

The minus is that it is not useful in the humid months.

Air washers also come in compact devices called Revitalizers.

Revitalizers throw aromatherapy into the mix. The machine comes with its own brand of essential oils to use in it.

8. Activated Carbon

Activated Carbon is an age-old method of reducing pungent odors.

Activated Carbon is like a naturally occurring sponge that instead of absorbing water, adsorbs fumes and gases.

It is particularly good at reducing offending smells. Which makes it great for areas like crafting rooms and kitchens.

Types of carbon include charcoal and coconut husk.

The most popular being charcoal.

Activated Carbon is also sold by weight.

Most Hepa Air Purifiers Combine a Carbon Filter as a Set-

Blueair top the list of Best Air Purifiers With A Carbon Filter- See One Here

9. Ultraviolet Irradiation

Ultraviolet light has the ability to destroy any type of pathogen that it is targeted on.

The optimal word being “targeted”.

UV as an air cleaner means targeting the ultraviolet light on a source of air pollution.

One source of air pollution that can be targeted by a UV lamp is the condensation runoff and drip pans inside of a central heat and air handler (HVAC).

Because of the environment of moisture and the absence of light inside a HVAC unit, mold can become an issue that becomes distributed throughout your home whenever your heat or air comes on

By placing UV Germicidal lamps at the source of the mold, you can reduce it before it ever becomes an air quality problem.

10. Photo catalytic oxidation

Photo catalytic oxidation or PCO is another way UV can be utilized as a machine to clean the air.

PCO targets Ultraviolet light onto a titanium oxide catalyst in a hydrated cell.

This process creates a mass blanket of hydroxyls and hydroperoxide ions.

This air cleaning method is essentially like pouring hydrogen peroxide solution, the same stuff used to disinfect a wound, on every airborne germ floating through the air.

See: Air Oasis for the Best PCO air purifiers

11. Air Conditioning

Air conditioning is another type of machine that you may not automatically equate with air purification.

But if you have an air conditioner that has a button on it to enable something called dry mode, then your air conditioner is outfitted with a dehumidifier.

Dehumidification is a type of air purifier because it removes the moisture from the air that is a primary source of food for dust mites in the high humidity season.

It also reduces the humidity that nourishes mold, which in turn releases mold spores into the air.

Even if your air conditioner does not have a dry mode setting, refrigerated air dehumidifies as it cools the air as part of its primary function.

That’s why you have condensation that drips out of your air conditioner.

Central heating and air is another way that air conditioning reduces pollutants in the air.

The air filter that you replace in your HVAC system is not only there to protect your system from getting dirty, it is also there to reduce the pollutants in the air that are circulated through your house every time the air conditioning unit kicks on.

12.Essential oil diffusers

Diffusers can be a great machine for helping clean the ambient air.

Not only do they function as a humidifier to a certain extent, they also disperse whatever essential oil you add to them.

There are many essential oils that have medicinal qualities that help remove airborne pollutants like mold.

Tea tree oil for example is known for its antimicrobial properties.

Likewise Eucalyptus and Lavender, which are both very popular aromatherapy oil additives, are both known to have antifungal properties.

A warning though, essential oils like eucalyptus and tea tree oil can be very potent and even dangerous to animals, especially dogs.

Some air cleaners are made to reduce dust while others are intended to destroy germs and viruses.

Knowing what types of machines that clean air and what they do is a great place to start when searching for an air cleaner.

AC making noise? 13 Noisy AC Problems Explained

Is your AC making noise?

Or does it make a loud noise when starting up or shutting down?

Most of the time it’s pretty easy to tell when the air conditioner is making a noise that you are not familiar with. Most of the time.
The air conditioner turning on and air compressor buzzing, pretty much just fade into the background.

So when you hear your AC making unfamiliar noise, it can be disconcerting and that’s the time to act. A little sound or a little problem can turn into a big problem fast when neglected.

Here is a short list of different noises your AC can make.

1. AC making rattling noise

When your AC is making a rattling noise outside, the easiest thing to do is inspect the outside of the unit. It could be as simple as one of the side panels has loosened and it’s rattling back and forth while the AC is running.

Debris like Sticks on the outside of the unit can get stuck and rattle when the compressor is on also. Be sure to clean the outside of the machine well.

However, if the rattling is coming from inside of the AC unit and sounds more like a mechanical issue, it could be the fan blower motor.

2. AC making whistling noise

A whistling noise coming from your AC is more than likely a blockage somewhere that is causing air to be forced through.

Things you can check:

Clogged or dirty filters

Something blocking or covering up a vent
Register vents that have been closed

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3. AC making clicking noise

A clicking sound in the air conditioner is likely pointing you to something obstructing the fan blade or a fan blade that has gotten bent and is out of balance.
Clicking or crackling can also indicate a door or side panel that is not tightened down fully and is knocking back and forth.

If your AC is making a clicking or crackling noise and it’s not easily identifiable by inspecting the outside of the unit, just like any suspicious sound
In your air conditioner, it’s worth having it inspected.

4. AC making humming noise

A humming noise coming from the AC is usually very common. The sound from the compressor running is usually described as a humming noise.

But a motor that is seized can also make a loud humming noise. If your air conditioner is not coming on and you hear a loud humming noise, then your compressor has a serious issue and you need to call a tech right away.

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5. AC making gurgling noise
A gurgling noise coming from your air conditioner is going to be related to liquid somehow.
Condensate pump
A condensate pump is used to pump the water in the drain pan outside.If the condensate pump is leaking, it can make a gurgling sound.
Clogged drain pipe
A gurgling sound can come from an obstructed drain pipe. If you have a clogged drain pipe or a leaky condensate pump, the next progression is water leaking inside. It needs to be fixed right away.
Refrigerant levels.
If the refrigerant lines have air in them, the sound could be described as a gurgling noise. Though common, it is not natural and should be inspected.

6. AC making hissing noise
A hissing noise coming from the AC means there is a leak somewhere.
Just like a tire that has a nail in it, and hisses as the air is escaping through that small hole,
When the AC is hissing, there is either air or refrigerant gas escaping somewhere.
As you can guess, this is an issue you want to have inspected as quickly as you can.
Not only will you have diminished results with your air conditioner until you do, you do not want to risk anything being wrong with your compressor. A very expensive fix.

7. AC unit making beeping noise
A beeping noise coming from your AC is typically an alert letting you know that it is either time to replace something or switch to a different setting.
Some alerts include:
Scheduled Filter replacement
Excess condensation
Low thermostat batteries
8. Air conditioner making pulsating noise
An air conditioner making a pulsating noise is usually just the ebb and flow of the compressor cycling. If the pulsating sound is a constant, it could be that the compressor is poorly insulated which makes it easier to hear.
If the AC is making a pulsating noise that is not typical, it could possibly mean something has come loose and is vibrating extra loud.

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9. Air conditioner surging sound
An air conditioner making a surging or pulsating sound is generally the amplified sound of the compressor cycling on and off.
If one of the components of your AC unit is against the frame of the house, the sound of the compressor could throughout the house. Even the compressor that is not insulated could be amplified by the vent system.
10. AC vibration noise
A Vibrating noise in the AC could indicate a lack of airflow caused by the extra force it takes to pull the air through the system.
You could also mean that something like a side panel has worked itself loose and is making a vibrating noise.
Cleaning the filters and giving the AC a good overall cleaning will typically remove these small vibrating noises.
But if the vibration is new and very noticeable, it could indicate something worse.
Having a Tech inspect your unit is a worthwhile investment to keep your AC running well.

11. AC unit buzzing every few minutes
An AC unit that buzzes off and on every few minutes is an indicator that you have a problem.
Balance
An easy place to start is to check out AC housing itself and make sure that it is not out of balance.
Frozen over
Another easy reason is that the AC is frozen over. Which generally means a clogged air filter.
Screw loose
A buzzing sound every few minutes in your AC could also mean that something has worked itself loose and is vibrating every few minutes.
Compressor
Worst case scenario, there is something malfunctioning inside of your compressor. The compressor is easily the most expensive part to replace on your AC so having it inspected as soon as possible is suggested.
12. Air conditioner squealing noise
When the air conditioner has a squealing noise the most likely culprit is a fan belt. The belt that connects the fan blower to the motor may have gotten out of line or maybe ready to break.
The squealing or squeaking noise coming from a fan belt is an indicator do you have it checked or changed.
You can still run the AC with the squealing noise, but when the belt breaks, there won’t be any cool air till you get it fixed.
13. AC making loud noise inside the unit.
If your AC is making a loud noise inside the unit, it is more than probable that something has broken or come completely loose.
Even if your AC is only making a loud noise when it is starting, something has gotten out of balance or broken.
It’s impossible to tell what has broken till you get inside and inspect it.
Nevertheless, you should have it looked at immediately.

Posted on May 21, 2021June 25, 2021Categories Air Conditioning, All Posts

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