How to "break" a window AC

[Beev]

I'm moving in a couple days and the new place looks great, except for the god awful AC from the 1970's. Will it be an electricity hog? If so how can I make it break itself so they put in a newer one?

 

[sswingle]

Vent the freon. Although they might check that before just giving you a new unit...

 

[IronWing]

Are you seriously thinking that a landlord is going to replace your air conditioner? Before October? With a new one? SNORT.

 

[Steve]

Tell them a mouse popped out of it.

 

[Beev]

They would if they wanted their rent check... If they took me to court over it all I would have to do is point out the section of my lease that says to "report malfunctions immediately to ensure repairs."

 

[Cristatus]

Try talking to them about it being an electricity hog? Maybe you guys can split the costs 25/75 or something.

 

[coolred]

Thats why I like my apartment complex. My AC actually worked fine, cold as ice, and not too bad on electicity. One day they come knocking on my door saying that my AC unit hasn't been upgraded in a while and asked if I wanted a new one put it. The new one is still ice cold and a little cheaper to run.

Sorry don't know how to break it and make it look like it broke on its own.

 

[Scarpozzi]

The problem with trying to break it is that the only way to REALLY do it in is getting access to the coils. You'll have to find some way to make a very small hole in the copper in a place that no one will notice. The problem is when you do this freon will leak out everywhere.

I recommend asking management to take your AC unit and replace it because your electric bill is too high. If they say no, then have them remove it and you can go out and buy a new one. The advantage here is that you can find a deal on one and a few years down the road unload it on someone else. There is always someone looking for an AC unit for the right price. Just figure in depreciation on it and don't try to sell it too high and it will go fast.

 

[Scouzer]

Yes it will be an absolute electricity pig.

 

[TitanDiddly]

Step 1: Make absolutely sure that you will have a replacement promptly if it breaks.
Stpe 2: Mix a tablespoon of salt into a cup of water. Pour it into where the controls are. Warning: Will cause electrical shorting, and possibly fire. Don't do this. I'm not responsible for when your landlord figures out that you did it and kicks you the hell out for destroying his property.

 

[waggy]

yes it will be a electricity pig. how about instead of breaking it (which i hope you get caught doing) you ask him to replace it. if he refuses purchase one yourself that way you know you get a efficient one.

not to mention just because it is broken does not mean he will purchase a new one. odds are he has a few and will just swap it out with another older one. so then what? you going to break the 2nd one also?

its assholes like you that made my parents sale their old house and stop renting.

 

[flot]

Don't be an ass.

If it is really a "window" AC then just go buy a new one, the small ones are under $150 and the biggest ones are only in the $300 neighborhood.

If you're renting from an apt complex or something like that they will almost certainly replace your "broken" one with one just as old and crappy. If you are renting from a private owner, they would probably split the price of a new one with you.

Or, duh, just buy the new one and take it with you when you leave. I'm pretty sure they didn't do a bait and switch on your AC unit when you signed the lease.

 

[mugs]

Just buy a new one yourself, you can get a window A/C for as little as $150

 

[mercanucaribe]

A few months after I moved in mine stopped heating, so they replaced it. The new one made like half as much noise.

 

[ta8689]

Alrite, hook it up to a 220 outlet and wait for the motor (and everything else) to burn up. Then you can say it must have shorted out or there was a major power spike or something.

 

[RossMAN]

Wouldn't it be funny if you sabotaged it and they didn't replace it?