Kenmore air conditioners are probably the most popular window air conditioner units available in the US today.
You can pick one up for a pretty low price ($200-$600) at stores like Sears or Kmart. And they come in a wide variety of sizes. Some Kenmore units are as small as 5200 BTUs, which means they can cool a room that is about 150 square feet. But Kenmore also sells huge air conditioners up to 12000 BTUs which can cool rooms up to 450 square feet.
If you have one of these Kenmore units, you should know a bit about the different parts of the air conditioner. This will help you diagnose any potential problems that come up as well help you figure out how to take care of your air conditioner.
Here are the basic components of your Kenmore air conditioner: condenser, compressor, and evaporator. On a Kenmore window unit, all three parts are house in the same unit.
By contrast, with a split ac or a central air conditioner, there are two separate units. One unit sits outside of your home and holds the condenser and compressor. The other unit is inside your home and contains that evaporator.
An air conditioner works by heating and then cooling a special substance called refrigerant. This liquid is in the compressor and is compressed into gas. When in the gas phase, it cools and forces the heat out the vent on the back of your air conditioner. An internal fan pushes that hot air out of the back of the unit. The remaining liquid is forced into the compressor to cool down the air in the room. This is how your room is cooled by the air conditioner.
Additionally, your Kenmore unit also contains coils (one hot and one cool) as well as fans. The hot coil gets rid of the hot air and the cool coil absorbs the heat. The fans help to force the cool air back into your home.
The compressor is the most important and most expensive part of your air conditioner. If you are just getting ready to buy a Kenmore air conditioner, consider buying the extended warranty on the compressor. While Kenmore is known for making fine products, it might be worth the peace of mind to have the extra warranty on the compressor given that it is so pricey to replace.
If you do have problems with your compressor, it is possible to just replace that single part. In fact, you might be able to save money by purchasing a refurbished compressor. Another thing to consider is that most air conditioner manufacturers buy compressors from the same distributors. This means that you can generally get a replacement compressor from a different brand and still have it work on your Kenmore.
If need be, the evaporator and condenser are replaceable as well. Sometimes, a coil can be faulty and cause the condenser to fail. If you are having problems with your air conditioner, that might be a good place to look.
Jane Dabad is the lead writer at The Air Conditioner Guide. For more information, check out these helpful guides: Kenmore Air Conditioner Reviews, 12000 BTU Air Conditioner Reviews, and 3 Steps for Finding the Best Window Air Conditioner.
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