Some air conditioners seem to go on forever, but they do retire eventually. Window air conditioners are an affordable way to cool your home and are ideal for smaller spaces, such as apartments. Although they do not require a large upfront expense, homeowners still want to make sure they get the most out of the air conditioner they buy. Most window air conditioners have similar service lives, but their longevity depends on use, maintenance and proper storage. Average Lifespan Most window air conditioners have a service life of about 10 years, but this can vary depending on how often the unit is used and whether or not it is properly maintained. Air conditioners that are only used for a couple of months each year typically have a longer service life than those used several months each year. Most manufacturers include a warranty with their window air conditioners which indicates the expected life of the units. Some offer a 5 year warranty on all parts, while others offer longer warranties.

A Dirty Unit Dies Young Regular maintenance of your window air conditioner ensures it runs efficiently and can prolong its service life. Dirty filters prevent proper air flow, which means your air conditioner has to work harder to provide cool air to your home. And if the air flow is blocked, the air that bypasses the filter may bring dirt into the evaporator coil, which reduces its ability to absorb heat. Window air conditioners typically have a filter inside the grill. haier air conditioner window unit troubleshootingSome filters are reusable, but others must be replaced. pinnacle air handling unitCheck your window air conditioner manual to determine the type of filter yours uses. friedrich ac heat wall unitThe evaporator and condenser coils can also collect dirt over time, so clean these every year and clean the drain tubes as well.

Many window air conditioners have a drain pan where a tube carries condensation from the unit. If this tube is plugged, your air conditioner won’t run as efficiently, and this can shorten its service life. Run a stiff wire through the drain tubes to clear buildup and scale. Location and Sizing Can Extend Life Window air conditioner life can be prolonged if the window it’s installed in is out of direct sunlight. A north wall or a wall that is shaded is usually ideal because heating of the air conditioner from the sun is minimized in these locations. Before you install, check the heating and cooling capacity for your air conditioner. If it is too small, it won’t be able to handle the cooling load during hot spells. Most air conditioner manufacturers include capacity on the label. The required capacity for the room depends on the size of the room. Window air conditioners range in capacity from 5,500 Btu (British thermal units) per hour to 14,000 Btu per hour. Your unit may be sized by “ton,” which is 12,000 Btu per hour.

Typically a window air conditioner needs 20 Btu for every square foot of space. Proper Storage If window air conditioners are not stored properly when not in use, they may become damaged or dirty, and this can limit the service life. Remove your air conditioner when it’s no longer in use and place it in a dry location. Cover the air conditioner to prevent dust and debris from falling inside and keep it in a location where it will not be kicked or bumped. Do not store a window air conditioner on a high shelf where it might fall. References Natural Resources Canada: Room Air ConditionersSunland Home Inspection: Component Life Expectancy and Component Replacement CostsU.S. Department of Energy: Maintaining Your Air ConditionerThis Old House: How Long Stuff LastsU.S. Department of Energy: Room Air Conditioners Photo Credits Thinkstock/Comstock/Getty Images Suggest a CorrectionWritten If you need to start and stop your air conditioner just because your remote is broken,  then you already have got an answer from Uzair Sharf,  but keep in mind that you can buy a replacement universal remote for just a few bucks.

Apart from this,  the only other reason i can think for someone needing to avoid the remote control, is to deny direct access to the air conditioner to the room user (start and stop the air conditioner in a hotel for example, if you want it to work in a fixed temperature without giving the customer the ability to change it)If this is what you want to do, then you could use a wi-fi remote unit like this one herehttp://www.aenaos-sa.gr/airpatro... which will give you full control on your air conditioner from your mobile phone (start and stop your air conditioner, adjust fan speed and adjust the louver). (the website is in greek, so you will have to use auto-translation or have a look at the video).Written There can be two possibilities either you don't have a remote and want to switch on AC manually or you want this whole thing to get automated.lets suppose you don't have a remote, well for this Uzair Sharf , go through his answer, has correctly mentioned in his answer about how to get your AC on manually.

And if you want to get this thing automated, you need to spend some extra bucks. Get one thermistor fixed on one of the wall of your room. Now form a loop of power circuit, consisting thermistor in between and set a temperature limit at which you want the AC to get in.This can be done by an electrician if you supply the switches, thermistor etc.Written Make and model of any particular appliance is absolutely necessary.  Personally I have never even seen an AC unit with a remote control, think that is a horrendous idea, and would never ever want one.  But there has to be a manual control as well.  I find it absurd that they would not put a power on/off on the front of any AC using, as that is a violation of safety standards.  But there has to be one somewhere, even if you have to take part of the front cover off.  I would suggest that they are universal remotes available also, except that I find remote control for something like AC to be too absurd to even consider.  That is like having a remote control to flush your toilet or something.