Learn How to Pack an Air Conditioner

Supplies

• A large, sturdy moving box or other large electronics box
• Packing paper or newspaper
• Packing tape
• A permanent marker

The cleaning process

• Unplug the air conditioner. The easiest and safest way to clean your air conditioner before packing will be to shut it off and unplug it from its power source.
• Remove it from the window. If you are cleaning a window air conditioning unit, remove it from the window after unplugging it. For obvious reasons.
• Clean the outside. Wipe down the outside of the air conditioner with a wet cloth to make sure that no other dirt and debris gets inside the unit.
• Take off the front cover. In order to get to the filter (the part that requires the most TLC), carefully remove the cover, being cautious of sharp edges and taking care not to lose any screws you may have to remove.
• Deep clean or replace the filter. Clean reusable filters with soapy warm water, using a soft brush to remove any particularly stuck on dirt. Allow it to dry completely before placing it back inside the air conditioner. A wet filter may result in the growth of mold and mildew. If you have a filter that requires replacement or the reusable filter is beyond repair, replace it with a new one.
• Vacuum the inside. To snag any stray particles, go over the interior of the unit with the hose attachment of your vacuum.
• Reassemble the unit. Once everything has been thoroughly cleaned and the pieces have dried, you can reassemble the air conditioner.
• Give it a test run. To ensure that the cleaning process did not damage anything/you reassembled the air conditioner properly, plug it back in and do a quick test run.

The packing process

• Shut it off. If you skipped the cleaning process, the first thing you will need to do is shut off your air conditioner so the coils have time to dry off and cool down before it gets packed.
• Tape the cord down. Tape the cord to the side of the air conditioning unit. DO NOT tape it to the back on top of the coils.
• Box it up. Have the original air conditioning box on hand? Box it up in the original packaging. Don't have it in your possession? It's okay, pack your air conditioner in a large moving box or other appliance box that you've padded with packing paper or newspaper.
• Seal and label. The final step in the packing process is to seal the air conditioner box with packing tape and label it with a permanent marker, noting on the top and two of the sides what is inside and what room in your new home it should be moved to.

TIP: Avoid using packing peanuts to cushion your air conditioner as they could possibly get inside the air conditioning unit during your move.

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