Long term storage of portable A/C unit

[ssbtech]

Hello,

Long story short, we're considering purchasing a spare portable A/C unit as a backup in the event the active one packs it in.

What's the risk to seals within the unit from sitting unused for possibly 2-3 years? I asked the manufacturer and they said it's not something they'd recommend.

Thanks.

 

[nh_yota]

I don't think it will hurt it. I have window air conditioners that are 15+ years old and they work just fine. Some of them only get used every few years. Portable air conditioners are just a cross between a dehumidifier and a window a/c so I can't imagine their lifespan would be any different.

Granted the stuff made today is **** compared to the stuff made 20 years ago, but I digress...

 

[ssbtech]

Just a quick check to see if anyone has any more thoughts on this?
Thanks.

 

[dsimatt]

I wouldn't bother paying that money and having it just sit and hoping everything will work fine when you need it, also there wasn't anytime this summer I couldn't drive to any store and pick up one if needed.

 

[krcoomer]

I see that you are in BC which is a much different climate than we have in the South. I have central air, but also keep a window unit in my bedroom so we don't have to cool the entire house all night. I would look at your needs and make the decision about buying one. Do you have central AC? Is this for your primary cooling or just supplemental? Does someone in your household have a medical reason to need cold air or could you make it a day or two without? These are the type questions I would use to base this decision on. My uncle kept a motorhome fully gassed up when he lived in California for the purpose of being able to run the generator and AC to keep my aunt with COPD in cold air in case of power failure.

If your needs dictate that you have a second unit, I do not see a problem with storing one as long as it is stored in the proper position to keep compressor oil where it belongs and not in an extreme environment away from any source of UV light which would degrade the plastic components. If you use one every year like many folks (out in the fall and in in the spring) and want to have two units, rotate their usage from year to year. That would serve your purpose of having a backup unit and not letting one sit and rot while never being used.

 

[ssbtech]

I should clarify it's to be used as a backup in an equipment room. So having quick access to a spare is pretty important year-round.

The manufacturer stated that they wouldn't recommend this scenario, but that could just be a case of CYA.

 

[ishiboo]

I would rotate it in to use sometimes... seems there would be many ways to do this.

 

[firebirdparts]

Based on everything refrigerated I have ever owned, I would think you could store it for 40 or 50 years and it wouldn't hurt it at all.

 

[jgromada]

During my college days I was an AC technician. Where are you planning on storing these spare units? If its moderate and doesn't see temperature extremes it shouldn't have any impact on the unit's longevity. These are sealed systems using Freon (previously R-22 now it is frequently R410A) and should not need any attention.

 

[Tdbo]

I probably wouldn't bother buying one in advance, unless I got a deal on it.
I bought one about 5 years ago for that purpose. It was an 8K window unit and I bought it at the end of the season new in the box for $42. and change.
It has been pressed into service once after sitting for a couple of years and was fine.

 

[JerryC]

20 years ago we bought a window unit to cool our garage. Used it for a couple of years and then set it down on the garage floor for storage for more than ten years. Hooked it up during an ac unit failure and it worked fine and it went back in storage. Three years ago I used it test a portable generator and it still worked fine.