3 Tips for Taking Care of Window Air Conditioner Units

1. Wash the filter. The main thing to do to upkeep your window unit is to make sure you wash the filter screen on a regular basis. After popping out the front grill of the unit with a putty knife, remove the mesh filter. Wash it together with the grill in a mixture of warm, soapy water and bleach to remove any mold.

2. Clean the coils. You'll find evaporator coils underneath the filter. To keep your A/C going strong, you'll want to vacuum them thoroughly using a brush attachment. Remove any stubborn dirt with a plastic scrub brush. Do the same thing with the condenser coils at the back of the A/C unit. The idea is that extra debris gets in the way of air flow—an your cool air.

3. Straighten fins. Use a fin comb to straighten any bent coil fins. You can find fin combs at a home or hardware store or online for around $10.