So a week or so ago my TV died, and today I dropped my air conditioner out the window

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

while trying to install it. Now it doesn't work. I wrestled it back into the window and turned it on and it went CLACKITY CLACKITY CLACKITY CLACKITY so I turned it off. Then I turned it on again and it wouldn't work at all. It's going to be 95+ tomorrow and I will be sitting in a hot room not watching TV.

[Ohiogal]

1. I'm so sorry! What a bummer!

Remember the episode of Married With Children where the Bundys' air conditioning went on the fritz, so they camped out in a grocery store?

I guess there's always movie theatres too ....

[LunaSea]

2. Despite the clackity, does it make cool air?

There's probably a frame or part of the enclosure that got bent in the fall.
Sounds like the part around the fan. Obviously the fan is working and might just have a bent blade.
Could be a fairly simple fix if you can get to the fan.
Track down where the clacking is coming from and see what the obstruction is.
Are you handy with tools? Got a friend who is?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. No, after the initial clacking it wouldn't run at all.

Maybe it's fixable but it's really old, and so heavy that I can't easily get it in and out of a window (which is why I dropped it). And it gets harder every year because I get older every year.

So I just ordered a portable one from Best Buy. It will be delivered on Tuesday - even though they have them in stock they're too heavy for me to carry into the house. But I can manage until then.

[krispos42]

9. I wish I was still in Minnesota

I could help you out. "I pick things up and put them down".



Sucks being without AC!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

10. Thanks! You don't want to be in Minnesota tomorrow. It will be 96F

with high humidity. I can hardly wait.

[krispos42]

17. Ouch.

Usually it's dry there!

I'm back in sweaty Connecticut. Yay.

[SkatmanRoth]

3. If no Freon leaked out you may be able to fix it

The clacking noise could be the fan blades that blow through the coils on the outside. That fan would blow hot air away from the air conditioner. Look through the vent grates and see if you can bend the blades away from what ever they are touching. You might need a long screw driver or Kebab stick.
You might check inside the air conditioner behind the filter to see if something has fallen into the cold air impeller. Fish it out and see if the impeller will turn by hand.

Don't give up with out having a look to see if it is something simple you can fix!

[Kaleva]

18. The compressor should have come on even if there's a problem with the fan.

The compressor motor is held in position inside the motor shell by springs. My guess is that one or more springs are broke and the compressor is shot. The cost to repair would be higher then buying a new one.

[applegrove]

4. Do you have a dehumidifier? Turn it on upstairs. Dry air will help cool things

down. I have a dehumidifier in my basement apartment and it has never been cooler here in the summer. Plus I never open the windows on hot or humid days. I've hardly needed a fan this spring/summer.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. No, but I'll be fine because I have a/c upstairs.

And I just ordered a portable a/c because the window unit has become too heavy for me to manage (it didn't get heavier but I've gotten older). That will arrive on Tuesday.

[applegrove]

8. Good. Hunker down. It is going to break records this weekend.

[sinkingfeeling]

5. So sorry. Take yourself to a nice air conditioned wi-fi coffee shop or

read at the library.

[LuckyCharms]

11. I'm a pro and can probably help you.

But first of all, I need to know the exact noise it made.

Are you sure it was CLACKITY CLACKITY CLACKITY CLACKITY?

Or, could it have been CLACKITY CLACKITY CLACKITY CLACKITY CLICK CLICK CLICKETY?

Makes a huge difference in my diagnosis...

[Generic Brad]

12. I can relate

Last year my hot water heater developed a leak and shorted out my heater and air conditioner - I lost all 3 simultaneously just as week long heat wave started. That was hot and expensive.

I wish you best of luck on getting your TV & cooling system restored as soon as possible. I feel for you.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

16. I am convinced appliances have free will

and sometimes they will commit suicide just to spite you. My tv did that (and so did my stove hood). I killed the air conditioner, though; I take full responsibility. Also, my piano is out of tune, the wall clock runs slow, the light has burned out in the oven, and the doorknob on the back door is a little loose.

[flotsam]

13. Both Craigslist and FB marketplace offer free items

TV's will be older tube or large screen projection units and during the summer AC units are rare...that said I saw some ac units and a ton of free tv's...

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

14. I've ordered a new tv - wanted the warranty and the bells and whistles.

And Best Buy will take away the old one - a task I can't handle myself.

[denbot]

15. Tough week..

[Kaleva]

19. "How to make air conditioner at home using Plastic Bottle"

You can also have a fan blowing over an open cooler of crushed ice.

[HipChick]

20. I have no AC...just camping out in the Library for next couple of days

and hope that temp drops by the even/night...

[whistler162]

21. Well could be worse....