Frigidaire Window Air Conditioner Troubleshooting Guide

An air conditioner is a home appliance that uses refrigeration technology to remove heat and humidity from the air. The Frigidaire product line has become increasingly popular for its multiple comfort solutions, including cooling, heating, dehumidifying, and fan-only options.

The company service team is excellent, but often it is recommended to have a Frigidaire window air conditioner troubleshooting guide on hand so you can fix your small issues before having the team called out. This article will go over common Frigidaire Windows AC problems and their possible solution.

Safety First:

• ALWAYS unplug the Frigidaire window air conditioner when handling interior parts or open wires.
• ALWAYS Wear the right gear when dealing with electrical tasks.
• AVOID making any electrical changes to your home that require a qualified, licensed electrician.
• AVOID handling the refrigerant leaks with bear hands – wear the right gear.
• Before handling the Frigidaire window AC capacitors, ENSURE the unit is unplugged and discharge the capacitors.
• Know the basics of using a multimeter before you proceed with this troubleshooting.

1) Frigidaire Window Air Conditioner Not Turning On

When the Frigidaire window air conditioner is not turning on, users are often left scratching their heads in frustration. This could indicate a variety of different problems. Here are the possible culprits and their solutions:

a) Air Conditioner Not Plugged In: Check if the AC is plugged in. It sounds simple, but this is probably the most common reason for an air conditioner not turning on.

Solution:

• Make sure the AC is plugged in and turned on.
• If it’s plugged in but not turned on, use the remote control to activate the unit.

b) Tripped Breaker: Every appliance you have plugged in your home electrical system has a breaker there to protect it from being overloaded. When tripped, the appliance (your Frigidaire window air conditioner) won’t get power meaning it won’t start.

Solution:

• Turn off the circuit breaker and check to ensure it hasn’t accidentally been turned off.

c) Faulty Outlet: If the Frigidaire window air conditioner is plugged in and the breaker isn’t is working alright, you want to make sure the outlet is working properly. Make sure it has enough power needed by AC.

Solution:

• Use a multimeter to check for continuity. If there’s continuity, check for voltage – you want to ensure there is enough voltage.
• Frigidaire Window Air Conditioners require 120-volts of power, so ensure the outlet supplies 110-120 volts.
• If there is no continuity, check the terminals for proper connections or burnout signs. If burnout, replace the entire outlet or tighten it if it is loose.
• If there is continuity, but the voltage is low, check for a loose connection from the control panel to the outlet, a faulty breaker, or a possible electrical short. Use a stud finder to locate the short and repair it.

d) Faulty Power Cord: If you’ve confirmed the breaker and the outlet is working properly, and you’ve plugged in the AC, but still it is not power on, there might be an issue with the power cord.

Solution:

• All Frigidaire air conditioners come with an electrical cord fitted with a 3-prong grounding plug and a current leakage detection device.
• These safety features help to detect damages to the power cord. You can use them to test the power cord.
• Press the reset button, plug the power cord into the nearest power outlet and press the test button, which should pop up the reset button.
• Press the reset button for use.
• Unplug the AC and replace the power cord if the above test fails.

2) Frigidaire Window Air Conditioner Runs But Room Feels Hot

It is expected that a Frigidaire air conditioner will cool down your room or home space once it’s able to start and stay running. If it’s running but not cooling the room, here are possible causes and their solutions:

a) Clogged air filter: The air filter cleans the room air before entering the unit. When dirty and clogged, the airflow will be affected (reduced), thereby reducing the cooling effect of the window AC.

Solution:

• Clean the air filter or replace it.
• Use mild dishwasher detergent and cold water to clean them.
• You can soft brush to remove the stubborn dirt.

b) Wrong Louvers position: Louvers control the air flowing out of the window AC. If set in the wrong position, the AC might be running, but the room will still feel warm.

Solution:

• Make sure that you open the louver to distribute the air properly.
• Use the Frigidaire AC manual to position the louvers properly.

c) Blocked Air Conditioner Front: The window air conditioner front must stay clear for the airflow to work properly. If blocked by the curtain, something that happens a lot, the cold air won’t reach you.

Solution:

• Make sure nothing is blocking the airflow around the window. Get the curtain away from the AC front, including the shear.

d) Dirty evaporator coils: The evaporator coils on the back of the unit accumulate dirt and mud over time. This reduces airflow and cooling power making the air conditioner inefficiency.

Solution:

• The evaporator coils should be clean, and make sure they don’t need to be cleaned with vinegar solution.
• Use compressed air and a soft brush to clean the coils.

e) Faulty control board: The control board gives you the power to set the ideal temperature you need the AC to cool the room. The settings might be too high that the unit monitors the temperature ideal and prevents the compressor from kicking in when needed. If the AC is resetting after a power outage or the temperature control fails, there might be a problem with the control board.

Solution:

• Turn off the circuit breaker and remove the cover of the AC.
• Check for burning or burnt smell signs and inspect all components and wiring.
• Replace any burnt components and test the AC.
• If it doesn’t work, replace the control board.

e) Faulty thermistor or thermostat: The thermistor measures the room’s temperature while the thermostat reads the desired temperature that you set on the control board. If either fails, the AC won’t work because it will not know how hot (or cold) your room is.

Solution:

• Check for continuity using a multimeter if the thermistor or thermostat has failed.
• If there is no continuity in the thermistor, replace it and check if the AC is working.

f) Faulty Compressor: In all the ACs, the compressor moves the refrigerant and changes its state from liquid to gas. The change in form causes the refrigerant to cool down the condenser fins, thus helping cool down the room air. If burnout, the fan will run, but the compressor will be late. The AC will seem to be running like normal, but no cooling will be happening.

Solution:

• The best way to pinpoint that the compressor is faulty is by running a load test.
• Turn off the circuit breaker and use a multimeter to test the compressor terminals’ continuity.
• You can also check if power gets to the compressor terminals by unplugging it and checking for voltage at its wire terminals.
• If there is no power coming to it, replace the capacitor. If there is enough power going to the compressor, but there is no continuity, replace it.
• If possible, do this before replacing the AC unit completely; if not, contact an AC technician.

3) Frigidaire Window Air Conditioner but Shuts Off

If your Frigidaire window AC starts fine but doesn’t stay running – shutting off in a few minutes, there might be a problem with the circuit board or unit sensors. Here are the common causes and their solutions:

a) Wrong Thermostat Settings: Before you can decide that your air conditioner is broken, the settings might be wrong – too high. If the thermostat settings are set too close to the room (warm) temperature, the AC will cool down to the set temperature range and then shut off.

Solution:

• You may want to double-check the thermostat settings.
• Make sure you set your AC temperature lower than the room temperature.

b) Faulty Thermistor: The AC will not cool the room down if the thermistor is faulty. The AC controller relies on data sent to the thermostat by the thermostat. When faulty, the unit might shut down abnormally or stay running forever.

Solution:

• Use a multimeter to check the thermostat for continuity.
• Use the Frigidaire window AC manual to locate the components.
• If there’s no continuity, get a replacement.

c) Blocked Airflow: The airflow has to stay consistent enough for the Frigidaire window air conditioner to work properly. The evaporator coils can freeze up and force the compressor to stop if blocked. And depending on how effective the blocking is, the freezing could repeat itself and cause the unit to keep shutting off. The airflow blocking could be caused by curtains or objects placed in front of the window air conditioner, clogged air filter, or dirty evaporator coil.

Solution:

• Ensure nothing is in front of the air conditioner – there shouldn’t be anything blocking the airflow.
• Take out the air filter and check if it’s dirty – if dirty clean it, or if too dirty, replace it.
• If there isn’t anything in front of the unit and the air filter is clean, check the evaporator coil to make sure they are clean. If not, clean it.

d) Refrigerant is Leaking: The refrigerant is responsible for transferring heat from the room to the outside. A leak can lower the compressor pressure causing the coils to freeze, leading to the unit turning on and off repeatedly. Some of the leaking refrigerant signs include:

• Strange noises come out of the refrigerant pipe.
• Warm air comes out of the unit’s vents.
• Higher energy bills

Solution:

• Since refrigerant is toxic, I would recommend hiring an HVAC professional to repair the refrigerant tube and refill the refrigerant.

e) Frigidaire window AC is short cycling: If your Frigidaire window AC is too big for your rooms, it will be cooling it speedily and then shut off. The ‘off/on’ cycle will repeat until you shut it off. The idea might not sound as bad, but this process increases wear and tear, increases humidity levels, and raises energy bills.

Solution:

• Contact an HVAC expert to help you calculate the cooling load of your room and help you identify the suitable Frigidaire window AC size.

f) Faulty overload protector: This is an additional safety feature that protects the AC from damage. At times it can fail and cause the compressor to shut off momentarily.

Solution:

• Turn off the circuit breaker inspect the wiring and components of the AC.
• Replace any burnt components and test if it works.
• Check for overload protector continuity.
• If there isn’t any, it has failed and needs replacing.

4) Frigidaire Window Air Conditioner Running But Fan Not Working

The fan is an important component of the Frigidaire window AC unit. The motor is responsible for pulling the room air into the air conditioner and blowing out cooled-down air back to the room. It’s also responsible for circulating the outdoor air inside the unit to dissipate the heat collected from the air indoors. If faulty, the airflow would cease to exist, and the air conditioner won’t cool down your room. Here are some problems that can cause the fan to stop working and their solutions:

a) Faulty Capacitor: Air conditioner, not just the Frigidaire window AC unit multiple capacitors and is used with components that need a lot of power during startup. The motor is one of these components. And when the capacitor is faulty, the fan motor won’t get enough power to start up. That means the unit will start, but the fan won’t be running.

Solution:

• Test for continuity using a multimeter if the capacitor fails and your AC stops running.
• If there is no continuity, replace the capacitor.
• Remember to discharge the capacitor before handling it, as it stores a lot of energy enough to cause severe injuries.

b) Burnout Motor: The motor is the drive that rotates the fan blade. It’s responsible for ensuring the fan blade rotates at the desired speed. As an electrical component, it’s susceptible to electrical problems, which can burn it out.

Solution:

• If the capacitor is oaky, test the motor for continuity.
• If there is no continuity, the motor is dead and requires replacing.

c) Faulty Motor Dual Shaft: The dual-shaft fan motor (also known as the circulation fan motor) may be broken. There are two fan blades on each side of the circulation fan motor. On the other side, the fan blade draws in fresh air from the outside to dissipate the heat from the condensing coil. The condenser coil is located on the other side of the fan blade. Some bearings in the dual-shaft fan motor are susceptible to loosening or binding over time.

Solution:

• Wiggle the motor shaft to see if the bearings are defective.
• Replace the fan motor if the shaft is loose or will not turn at all.

d) Faulty or Miscalibrated Relay Board: The relay board controls the voltage supply to most of the electrical components inside the air conditioner, including the fan motor. When it’s not working right, a lot of the components won’t work properly.

Solution:

• The best solution is to replace the faulty relays.
• But before you go replacing the relay board(s), check to confirm they aren’t miscalibrated, as this happens a lot.
• Use the multimeter to check for resistance when the air conditioner is disconnected, and you should be getting zero ohms.
• If you get infinite or the multimeter says it’s open, the relay is faulty, and you need to replace it.

e) Faulty Rotary Switch: The rotary switch activates the fan motor. However, its electrical contacts might get pitted over time and prevent electrical conductivity.

Solution:

• According to the AC’s wiring diagram, use the multimeter to check for continuity between the contacts.
• If there is no continuity, you will have to replace it.

f) Faulty Selector Switch: The selector switch activates the fan by directing the voltage. If faulty, the fan won’t get enough voltage to get it started.

Solution:

• Check if it’s faulty by making selections on the control board.
• If the fans intermittently press the button, it’s time to replace the selector switch.
• Replace it also if there is arcing or smoke coming out of it.

5) Frigidaire window air conditioner compressor won’t run

When you power on the Frigidaire window air conditioner, the fan starts to run, and in about 3-minutes, the compressor kicks in. However, the compressor might sometimes be late to the party, or it doesn’t run at all. What might be the cause of the problem? Here are possible culprits and their best solutions:

a) Faulty Temperature Control Board: With it responsible for providing voltage to the motor and the compressor, these two components might not run when defective.

Solution:

• At times, the control board might be misdiagnosed. So, before replacing it, you might want to check the commonly defective parts such as the capacitor, compressor overload, or the compressor itself.
• When certain all these components run fine, your only option is to replace the entire temperature control board.

b) Faulty Thermostat: As you well know, the thermostat tells the controller how hot or cold the air temperature is as communicated by the thermistor. When the air temperature rises above a certain point, the thermostat activates a switch and allows voltage to flow to the compressor and the fan. When defective, the compressor might not run.

Solution:

• Ensure the desired temperature set on the thermostat is lower than the normal room temperature.
• Replace the thermostat if faulty – nothing changes when you set the values.
• But make sure the thermistor is working properly as a problem with it would affect the thermostat too.

c) Defective Compressor: The compressor is prone to wear and tear as time goes by. A time might come when it’s not able to operate anymore. However, this is not always the case as it’s one of the most durable components in a Frigidaire window air conditioner. So, before you can check the compressor for defects, you want to make sure all the other closely related components are working properly.

Solution:

• Use a multimeter to check for continuity.
• If there isn’t any, you can find the ideal replacement and fit it in.

d) Burnout Compressor Overload: The overload feature protects the compressor from burning out during operations. It’s designed to auto-shutoff the compressor when it draws too much current. The problem is it does burn out, and when it does, the compressor stops working.

Solution:

• Use a multimeter to check for continuity.
• If there isn’t any, replace the overload.

e) Faulty or Misconfigured Relay Board: The compressor relies on the relay board to get the ideal voltage for the load. When the relay board is misconfigured or faulty so that it doesn’t supply enough voltage to the compressor, it won’t start.

Solution:

• Use the Frigidaire window air conditioner user manual to configure the relay board.
• Configured right, check for continuity using a multimeter.
• No continuity? Replace the relay board.

f) Defective Thermistor: The thermistor is the sensor that captures the air temperature before it gets cooled and sends the data to the control board’s thermostat. The thermistor has to signal that the room air is warmer than your ideal temperature for the compressor to start. If faulty, the compressor won’t know when to kick in, keeping it off.

Solution:

• Use a multimeter to check for continuity.
• If there is no continuity, replace the thermistor.

g) Burnout Capacitor: Air conditioners come with several capacitors designed to store energy and release it on demand when starting high-power components such as the compressor. Typically, the main capacitor and a sub for the fan motor and the compressor. If either of these were to fail, the components connected to it wouldn’t start. So, if your Frigidaire window air conditioner compressor isn’t running, the main capacitor or the compressor capacitor might be burnout.

Solution:

• Discharge the capacitor by holding a screwdriver over the two terminals.
• Use a multimeter to check for continuity between the terminals.
• If there isn’t any continuity, you will have to replace the dead capacitor.

6) Frigidaire window air conditioner won’t turn off

Frigidaire window ACs have a control panel to shut down automatically when the ideal temperature is reached. At times, interference in this system, which comprises multiple components, can cause the AC not to turn off. Here are the possible causes and the fixes:

a) Dirty Condensor Coil: The condenser coil is located on the outer side of the air conditioner. It dissipates the heat collected from the room outdoors. When dirty, the air conditioner will work harder to try and push the heat outside. That means it will stay running so long as the interior temperatures are high.

Solution:

• Open the back cover and access the condenser coil.
• Clean the fins using compressed air and a soft brush.

b) Wrong thermostat or Faulty Thermistor: The thermistor inside Frigidaire window air conditioners tells the thermostat when to start and stop. The unit might run forever trying to match the temperature when you’ve set the thermostat settings too low. Also, if the thermistor is faulty, the AC might run without stopping since there is no sensor to tell it when to stop.

Solution:

• Confirm you have set the temperature settings on the thermostat properly.
• Check the thermistor for continuity using a multimeter if the settings are fine.
• If there is no continuity, replace it.

c) Faulty or Misconfigured Relay Board: The relay board controls how much voltage reaches the electrical components inside the air conditioner. A problem here can cause a continuous supply of voltage to the fan and the compressor forcing them not to shut off when needed.

Solution:

• Use your Frigidaire window air conditioner user manual to make sure the relay board is configured correctly.
• If it is, use your multimeter to check for continuity.
• If there is no continuity, you have to replace the relay board.

7) Frigidaire window air conditioner loud or noisy

Are you hearing unfamiliar sounds from your Frigidaire window air conditioner? Well! Don’t worry; some of these sounds are a part of the normal AC’s operations, and they might be useful, especially in determining when the unit is running normally. Some of the normal Frigidaire window air conditioners sounds include:

• Rushing air: It’s produced by the fan when pulling the air into the unit and when pushing the cold air back to the room.
• Gurgle or hissing: It’s produced by the refrigerant when passing through the evaporator tube:
• High-pitched chatter: It’s produced by today’s high-efficiency compressors during the cooling cycle.
• Pinging or swishing: It’s produced by water droplets hitting the condenser tray.

There is a problem if you hear anything other than these fours sounds. Here are the possible reasons why your Frigidaire window air conditioner might be louder than normal.

a) Loose Installation: If your Frigidaire window air conditioner weren’t installed correctly, the unit would vibrate during operation. It might also be that the AC was installed correctly, but because of age, the installation mount points might have loosened up, causing the AC to vibrate.

Solution:

• Ensure the Frigidaire window air conditioner unit is installed firmly.
• You can even call an HVAC professional to do it for you.
• If it’s an old installation, make sure the mount points aren’t loose either.
• Tighten them up; try adding a supportive window AC bracket if they are.

b) Damaged Fan Blade: Frigidaire window air conditioners come with front and rear fan blades. When damaged or rubbing against the fan housing, they can start to produce disturbing, alarming noise.

Solution:

• Open up the air conditioner and inspect the fan blade for damages.
• If there are any signs of damage, replace the broken blade.
• If rubbing against the fan housing, check the mounting to ensure it’s not out of place.
• If it’s, open the assembly and reinstall it the right way.

c) Wobbly Blower Wheel: AC blower sits on the motor shaft, and during operation, it rotates to create enough blowing power. At times it can wobble as it becomes loose, producing funny noise.

Solution:

• Tighten or replace the loose screw.
• If it doesn’t stay stable, replace the blower wheel.

d) Worn Out Motor Bearings: If the fan blades don’t touch the housing, the fan and blower motors’ bearings might be worn out. With the unit disassembled, try pushing the fan blade. Does it rotate freely? If it doesn’t, the bearings are worn out.

Solution:

• Replace the bearings and make sure you grease them to prevent early wear and tear.

e) Defective Compressor: If none of the above are the cause of the strange noise, there is one more thing that might be the source, the compressor. It might be a sign that your Frigidaire window air conditioner compressor is wearing out. Try listening closer to the compressor to try and pinpoint the noise source.

Solution:

• If the noise is coming from the compressor, the best option is to replace the Frigidaire window air conditioner.
• You do also have the option of using it that way, or
• Get a licensed professional to replace the compressor.

8) Frigidaire window air conditioner remote control not working

Frigidaire window air conditioner comes with a remote control to offer the convenience of operating the unit from a distance. However, most of the time, the remote tends to misbehave. Here are the common issues that can cause the remote not to work as you want it to:

a) Too Far From the Unit: If your Frigidaire window AC remote is not responding, you might be too far from the unit’s control board. Remotes work by sending light signals to the main board on the AC. The signal won’t reach the air conditioner controller when you’re too far.

Solution:

• Ensure you’re using the remove 20 feet from the unit and 120-degree in radius from the unit’s front.

b) Worn Out Batteries: Frigidaire window AC remote requires batteries to operate. Over time, these batteries will wear out and require replacement. If your AC remove isn’t responding as you need it to and you’re at a safe distance, the batteries might be worn out.

Solution:

• Try replacing the batteries with newer ones and see if the remote will respond better.

c) Dead Remote: If none of the above solutions restored the remote performance, it might be dead. The mainboard inside the remote is also prone to faultiness, especially when it comes into contact with moisture or water.

Solution:

• You can test for a dead remote using your smartphone camera. But first, make sure you’re using new pair of batteries.
• With the batteries in, open the camera app in your phone and point the remote toward the camera at a slanting angle, not direct.
• You should see a pinkish light every time you press a key.
• If you don’t see any light, the remote is dead, and it’s time to replace it.

Related Questions:

a) How to clean a Frigidaire window AC unit?

If you don’t feel like tinkering with the inner components of your AC unit, you can clean it using a wet cloth and mild soap. Remember to wipe it dry afterward, especially when dealing with an electronic device.

b) Will Frigidaire window air conditioner work in cold weather?

Dual-hose window air conditioners such as Frigidaire work well in cold weather because they add heat to the already cold room.

c) Will my Frigidaire window ac unit work without the remote control?

You can power on your AC unit without the remote control, but it will only function to its desired level of comfort. Frigidaire window AC remote control is usually paired with the unit when you’re buying it. There are instances where the dealer will replace a defective remote to get a working one.