How to Repair and Recharge A Portable Air Conditioner 

This is very impressive; after a few minutes it was clear that I do not have the hardware to do this repair myself but I kept watching because of how interesting this whole process was. Thank you for choosing to turn your repair into such a thorough tutorial.

The most thorough troubleshooting I’ve seen for Portable AC so far …. Thanks for your time and effort sharing it to us…. Keep it up

Figured out 10 minutes into this video that repairing AC is over my head. Stuck around to watch the rest all the same. Great video

Purchased: August 2022 - still works GREAT! ru-vid.comUgkxxsUnXhGsSJLim_XnMHyQK0u3XVaW-CGn I live in a studio and during the summer it gets scorching hot - really old building with no ac units. I can’t express how EASY it was to install.This unit has been a life savior during the summer and some days during other seasons where it can still be a bit warm at night. In this small place is my friend, a husky, poodle mix and myself. We need AC - lolI don’t use the dehumidifier option - I’m not sure if it will leak in my house, since I did not install the small draining hose that came with it. May look into it late but I don’t worry about much humidity in the apartment.I don’t understand why the negative reviews since all things mentioned, I personally did not find issues with. Definitely worth it!

I appreciate the thoroughness and clarity of this how-to. Makes me feel like I could do it if I had all the tools! For now I think my AC is going to remain busted

I was playing with the idea of rechargin my old portable AC unit with freon myself because i can't find anyone in my area that does repairs and recharges but after seeing your video I will go and look for a qualified person. DIY only goes so far. Thank for the video, still helps.

This is beyond my skillset and available tools, but even at 2am, I had to watch the whole thing. Well done and explained.

I never thought I'd say this, but I'll just buy a new one

Many people dont understand that an older repaired unit might work better than a new one. Ive seen this with window ac units and rv rooftop units. Im not sure if its how they rate btu's nowadays but this is why i opt to repair alot of stuff. Nice video! You really helped me with my camper rooftop ac unit.

With all those aluminum fins acting as a massive heat sink, can't expect too nice a weld. I learned a lot from this video. Thanks for teaching with clarity!

Wow - what a difference compared to the last video I watched. The other video left everything important up to the imagination, except for the model number of his unit. Your video was so much more practical and informative; just enough to let me realize I don't have what it takes to handle my own repair. Thank you!

Awesome video. As somebody that works on many mechanical things, this guy clearly knows what he's doing and has all of the right equipment. It is so refreshing to watch a quality RU-vid video going through all of the proper steps for the repair rather than half of the garbage on here posted and uploaded by some idiot just because they can. Great work, you can tell this guy is an experienced portable a/c repair tech.

You amaze me. That was so educational. I now know I will not play with my portable AC. The level of detail you gave was perfect. They should show your videos in classes for this stuff.

Now we know why there aren't many technicians that do repair portable AC, and if they do is very expensive. The problem is knowing the right technician like you , so we don't waste time and money in a sketchy job. Depending on the price , age , quality of the portable AC and finding a good trustable technician. Congratulations on the video , you took all precautions and right equipment to do a good job. Certainly is not job to play around.

I really appreciate the level of detail and clarity of the explanations. I now know for sure that I correctly diagnosed my unit and correctly assessed that I don't have the tools to do this. Conclusion: I have to buy a new one. No one fixes these things anywhere I know, and I am certain that if there were, they'd shake me down.

I agree with some of these other viewers, if i had the equipment, id love to be a technician like you brother. Wonderful work and terrific helpful very thorough video. You didn’t stutter or miss a beat when speaking. Impressed me, you did. 🖖🏻

I have a Forest Air A019-08KR - 2 years old with the same issue. Compressor is working but no frozen pipes or hot air so I guess there is a leak and I arrived on this video because I like to repair stuff but just at the piercing vice grip tool with a tube, I knew this was game over for me!! "simple huh?" XD Very nice video, I didn't know it was such a delicate processus and I enjoyed it through the end even if I can't do anything with it hehe Thanks for your time!

Good job bud, I'm an A/C tech and your diagnostics and procedures were flawless. Thanks.

I learned so much from this video on top of the fact that I'm screwed. Thank you so much! Subscribing

Thanks for sharing this INFORMATION! Can’t find a place to work on the portables & window units in 2024!

Thank God this task is so easy. Thought I was going to have to by new tools and equipment for this job.

I love how thoroughly you explain each step and the why of it all. Thanks!

Youre saving lives with this tutorial (hottest summer yet. Folks literally cooking in apts.) Your service is appreciated. Love from Canada

Very good video - now I know that I cannot do this . I don’t have the tools , skills , or knowledge . You have pointed me in the direction I need - I’ll buy a new window unit . Thanks again

i am a universal technician type I,II,III with 20 years experience so just some other tips for your viewers,"great job by the way" but Before you go after the fly with the bazooka use a leak detector and check before you assume the system is low on charge, if you don't have one check for any restriction on the discharge exhaust line , or if the pipe is 2 long (if your not using factory provided one .They always rott out from uv sunrays on older systems )second check your evap or condenser coils for clogging .you can easily use a water hose to clean out but keep water away from electrical control box and watch the water psi or you'll flatten the fins and then have to get coil rake to fix.good luck all .9 out of 10 time when I serviced some ones ac in window or on wheels it just needed a good cleaning

This was a very entertaining and educational vid. Well done.

Very much enjoyed watching. As an Hvac tech myself i couldn't stop watching. Please if at all possible do as many leak finding videos as you can. I find it is the hardest part of this field. I do more of the larger coolers and Multi ton ac systems. The small stuff is exciting to me.

Great video Iain, you kept more stuff out of the land fill and taught us all a good lesson, new subscriber now.

you are very clear and precise. You should be an instructor and help a lot of young people needing a great profession and income.

Well stated, easy to follow, slow enough to get it, great videoing nice and clear. More answers and things to look for that were not known prior to watching! All in all well done and most useful!!! Thank You very much!!!

One of the best videos on the internet. PERIOD.

Best of the best video on repairing A.C

I don't know if the poster will see this, but induction heaters have come down in price somewhat and you can get "U" shaped induction coils for them. This avoids having an open flame and they can get the tubing right up to the same temps. Induction heaters are what many manufactures are using who make these coils. The other thing I've noticed, is a trend of guys in the industry that are now using "Stay-Brite #8" silver bearing solder to do a lot of these repairs instead of brazing with "Sil-Fos". This avoids the oxidation issue inside the tubing as the temperatures are a lot lower. The plus is there is no need to flow nitrogen. It is an HVAC specific engineered product that is a tin/silver alloy. Very strong, tight bonds that are rated for high pressure applications. The advantage is that the temperature needed is only about 550 F for it to go liquid, so the issue of annealing the copper, which weakens it, is eliminated. The fittings do have to be cleaned bright to assure a good flow and bond. The only "down side" is that it does require it's own special flux, but you only use a VERY thin coating of it on the male portion of the fittings. This eliminates the issue of introducing any flux into the system. Might look into it.

Very detailed tutorial on the best way to do this.

So you need equipment that nobody besides an AC repairman is going to have to do this. Got it. Still did a great job of explaining and showing the process for anyone who can use this though.

Dude... you seriously know your stuff, I wondered if it is possible to recharge these things, but by the time I bought all the equipment to do it its more cost effective to buy a new one. Its a shame they don't make these easier to recharge i.e. at least put a service valve on the thing for a start. I watched the entire video anyway as it was really interesting and its always fun watching a craftsman / technician (I say carftsman as you need to be able to braze well!) who knows his shizz, do their shizz! Well done to you sir but I will buy a new one when the time comes, shame you don't live near me as this could be quite a lucrative service / business.

Thank you for making the video. You are amazing on your exact details on the proper service. Also using proper tools.

Great tutorial!

Best video out there on this subject! Thanks.

You can fix anything but a broken heart! I found the soap kids use to blow bubbles with works great for leak detection and it only cost a buck or two. Good video.

Sir, you are an artist!! WHAT A JOB!!

I learned a lot in this video. Not just how, but why. Thank you for posting.

Very thorough and very helpful, thank you!

This is fantastic, just a bummer I have none of the tools 😩

Awesome Video! Very Informative & easy to understand! Thx!

Thanks for the awesome video. So, I can either buy all of the tools to maybe fix my broken portable AC and then spend several hours doing the work, or I could spend probably about the same amount of money as the tools cost on a new portable AC unit and only take two minutes to order it? Amazon, here I come!!!

This video did the trick. When I pulled off the cover, the top coils were about 80 clogged and the bottom coils were about 30 percent clogged with a layer of gunk. My living room opens to my kitchen with a pass-thru and, even though I have a fan over my range, I suspect the gunk on my coils contained oils contained in kitchen odors. I removed all of the gunk and my unit is much more efficient In the past, I had cleaned my removable filters by vacuuming them, spraying them with Fantastic, rinsing them and drying them. QUESTION: Is there a safe way to remove kitchen gunk from the coils? (I vacuumed and brushed them to remove dust and gunk but I imagine there might be some residue covering the coils that can only be removed by a solvent.)

This is beyond any of us couch potatos can do, it was amazing watching you and learn how ac works, Well i came to conclusion that i will give mine away free and byt new unit , thanks for make this tutorial.

very good .. i actually learned something today .

Right at about the 15:00 mark after you remove the refrigerant to the recovery tank you then do a system vacuum . What are you pulling from the system and are you venting what ever that is into the atmosphere ? This is a very well done video from a person that has really great skills . I would love to gain the knowledge to do this but the cost of the equipment would make it not feasible if only working on your own households appliances . No doubt this is why repair services charge what most consider excessive . Again , well done and thank you .

Very informative detailed video, would like to see more diy videos from you.

learnt heaps, thanks mate!

Thank you for this great tutorial. I am preparing myself to try and refill my portable AC unit. One question, can I seal the system with some of the commercial stuff like the "Leak Saver: Direct Inject" or do you suggest something else? Thank you!

Brilliant video! I really appreciate your attention to detail 😊. I shall take on board your guidance when it comes to my AC fixes! Subscribed as well!

I feel like I could be HVAC certified after watching this. Very detailed nice job . I learned a lot

Great video, I learnt so much. A big thank You ! ! !

Love the helpful people who contribute to RU-vid. Hate the censorship & commercials. 😔 you have to take the good with the bad.

The braze looks great I’m not used to doing it this way I do it differently at work so I don’t feel confident enough even tackle this I thought I scored this a/c but I’m bummed because they didn’t know how complicated of a repair it would be. Your amazing I’m luckily only out 50 bucks but I’m disappointed I won’t be .able to repair my a/c.

I applaud you for fixing!

Soon as nitrogen got mentioned I realised I won’t be doing this myself

Nice detail of the repair process. But still maybe worth doing if you're in the business and doing your personal unit: a manufacturing process problem resulted in the pin hole at the bend so it's likely other pin holes are going to occur.

26:36 " . . .Simple . . ." Not for a beginner, but it's very interesting and very good video.

Very informative. If I had all the gauges and tools I would attempt it.

Oh yes, the classic coil repair. I've done this many times.

That was very interesting and incitefull thank .

Great now I want all these new interesting tools!

Lmaooo hahahah nice one boss, love how he wiggles the hose to make it change sound,

You're absolutely great in your explanation on everything. What brand is the vacuum pump?

Nice video. I have a magnovox portable unit that I only used one season and now doesn't cool. Unfortunately I don't have the equipment to properly service the unit so I am looking for someone to fix it. Most people I've spoken to don't work on these types of air conditioners. Any recommendations?. Thanks for the excellent video.

Hey! Working on this thing and everything was going great. I took it apart and I was going to put it up in my attic and then I was going to run some longer wiring for the receiver and for the control panel. I was going to run it down into my bedroom and I was going to connect the AC to the ventilation for my bedroom and then exhaust the hot air outside of the attic through an insulated tube or duct. Long story short I have plenty of experience and I know what I'm doing. However I made the mistake of cutting into the wiring for the control panel. The jacket says 26 AWG but when I look at the wiring it kind of looks like it could be aluminum or it could be something else like could it possibly be fiber optic?

.............. Simple huh!? Amazing video!

Nice vid. Do you have a link were i can get all you're braze fitting and tools?

I really enjoyed the video.

Thanks for the well explained video. I have had a Commercial Cool 10000BTU portable air conditioner for 5 years. It served me for those summer periods. But the problem now is that it doesn't cool again. It only blows fan. Could the issue be that the Freon is low? Or it has reached the end of its life cycle? Thanks.

Great video. I just wish I had the brains to do what you did!

Nice work!

Awesome video. I don't have the training or certification. Are you in Vermont?

Very good explaination..

Thank you for this. Now I know why I can't find anyone to fix mine! Bloody annoying as it cost over $1,000.

Question. Would any hvac place be able to fix mine ? I think mine has a leak somewhere as i cleaned the filters out well and i drained the water but its just not as cold anymore . I dont wanto to throw it away either

Excellent job and video. What are your feeling on the fact these units have to allow outside air in as it exhausts? Wonder why they are not concentric hoses. Perhaps another hose to an input to condenser air in? Still not bad for a basement in summer. Bet your deltaT is 25-30 degrees F now.

Very well described, but I can't do that myself, don't have the tool. Is it true that it would be cheaper to buy a new one vs getting someone to come and repair it?

would have liked to see it put back together and give it a thermal test

Like I'm really going to do this at home. Not practical for the common home owner cause how many have this setup stowed away. Interesting? Yes!... Can I do it? I know I could... But if I need this done, I'm sure I could take it somewhere and have them do it. Thanks for a very interesting and educational video....

do you know of any portable ac brands that have service ports from factory already built in, under the covers ? thanks.

Mine have the suction the compressor and accumulator are something straight to the evaporator , can I add my access value in between like a tee. Since it didn't ave any ports?

What was the final pressure of the Freon? Thanks.

Classic...not getting cold 👍

I have one that is blowing cold air from only one side. I have cleaned the coils and filter on the back. I would appreciate any ides for troubleshooting.

Unfortunately the only person doing this fix is the one already with the equipment. But it still was good info.

great video ...iv just subbed 💪💪

Also, I wouldn't use the recovered refrigerant since the sealed system was exposed to the atmosphere causing possible contamination. Use the fresh. I'd also add a drier.

A decay test might have been interesting with the leak.

Do you offer this repair service to the public?

Nice video I know in this case it won’t make to much of difference but r410a it’s a zeotropic blend and shall not be reused form the system that had leak in it also it should be charged as liquid other wise you will get different composition as one gas will evaporate early and other will stay as a liquid

Awesome video 📹

Great video and your explanation but I don't have most of the equipment to do this. Thanks

Where do you get the service port and those vice grip pliers?

Good Stuff from You Sir. Yea it helps having a second Wrist and elbow some times. Nitrogen is your friend. LOTS and Lots of Nitrogen. Dries things out most well. A little jewelers torch would have been handy. Micro Torch.

Can you come fix mine?