Portable Air Conditioner Beeping at You? Find Out Why Here

It’s an unfortunate truth that no matter how old we are, we often need to be reminded of things we’re supposed to do. 

So if your portable air conditioner is beeping at you, don’t be surprised. It’s probably because you neglected to do something you should have done. 

A portable AC will beep for a variety of reasons: error or fault codes, filter issues, a full water tank, overheating, power issues, malfunctions with the remote control or other components such as the fan, motor, sensors, or more. Typically, all you need to do to stop the beeping is address the issue.

Keep reading, and I’ll point out everything you need to do.

What You’ll Need

There’s a good chance you’re not going to need anything to get your silence back, but there’s also the chance you may need one or more of the following:

• Vacuum cleaner
• Soft brush or cloth
• Warm water and soap
• Multimeter

Why Is Your Portable Air Conditioner Beeping at You?

Since not all makes and models of portable air conditioners are built the same, you’ll need to refer to your user’s manual for specifics. However, find your filter or filters and remove them from the unit.

Below is a list of the most common reasons for your air conditioner to beep and what you need to do to fix it. Note that in some cases, you may also need to reset your air conditioner after you fixed the problem.

#1 Error or Fault Codes

Many — if not all — portable air conditioners have built-in error or fault codes to let you know about specific issues. If there’s a problem, the unit can start beeping along with a corresponding error showing on the display panel. 

The codes will often vary depending on the manufacturer and model of your air conditioner, so be 100% certain about what your code means. You’ll need to either check your user’s manual or research it online based on your manufacturer and model number.

Having said that, the following is a selection of common error codes broken down by manufacturer.

Haier (Models 2017 and newer)

LG

These codes depend on your model, so further research will be necessary. Additionally, these codes can have different meanings, depending on your settings. 

#2 Filter Issues

Whatever type of air conditioner is in use, there’s a filter somewhere in the system that needs to be cleaned or replaced. If your portable AC filter is clogged or dirty, the unit may start beeping to alert you to either clean or change it.

Step 1

Step 2

Depending on how dirty they are you can tackle them first with a vacuum cleaner and a soft brush.

Step 3

Next, use soapy water — mild soap such as dish detergent or hand soap — to completely wash the filter.

Step 4

Allow your filters to completely air dry before reinstalling them. This is critical since even a damp filter will introduce mold to your unit.

If you want to get any replacement part – or see how much one would cost – click to enter your model number in the search bar below. Our partners at AppliancePartsPros stock almost every part with free guides on how to install them.

#3 Full Water Tank

Since portable air conditioners also function as dehumidifiers, they’re extracting moisture from the air. They either have a water reservoir or tray to collect the condensate. But if the water tank becomes full the unit may start to beep to notify you that it needs to be emptied. 

Step 1 

If your unit has one or more tanks that need to be emptied manually, do so.

Step 2

Instead of a reservoir, some models may use a drain hose. Inspect to make sure yours is draining properly.

#4 Overheating

Any appliance that’s overheating is dangerous. If your conditioners components or the compressor become overheated due to excessive usage or poor ventilation, it can trigger a beep as a warning.

Some portable air conditioners will also automatically shut down to prevent damage. Also, if you hear a lot of clicking, that’s often a problem associated with the compressor.

Step 1

One of the most common parts of an air conditioner to overheat is the compressor.

Check your exhaust hose and confirm that it’s venting properly. If it isn’t the heat will build up inside the unit and eventually cause the compressor to shut down.

Step 2

Make sure the exhaust hose is running in a straight line. Straighten out any kinks or sharp bends.

Step 3

Make sure there’s sufficient room between the air conditioner and the window — enough to keep the hose from sagging — as that can restrict airflow as well.

#5 Power Issues

Beeping sounds can also occur if you have power-related issues. For example, if the power supply to your AC is surging or fluctuating, the unit may beep as an indication of a power interruption.

Step 1

Check the power cord for any visible damage, such as scorch marks or bite marks from pets. If you see any damage, replace the cord.

Step 2

Make sure there are no problems with the outlet and or the circuit. You can test the outlet with a multimeter to ensure it’s working properly.

#6 Malfunctioning Remote Control

If your portable AC has a remote control, the beeping may be a result of a malfunction. This could include dead or dying batteries or issues with the remote’s infrared signal transmission.

Step 1

Confirm that the remotes batteries are in good condition. The only way to effectively test the DC voltage of a battery is by using a battery tester, such as a multimeter.

Step 2

Your unit may also beep if the infrared signal from the remote can’t communicate with the sensor in the unit.

Make sure your remote and the unit are within a line of sight, with no obstructions between them. Additionally, most sensors have a range that maxes out between 25 and 30 feet.

#7 General Malfunctions

Finally, there are a variety of malfunctions that can trigger your air conditioner to start beeping. This could include problems with the motor, fan, sensors, control board, or other internal components.

Step 1

If you have installed the beeping using the steps found in sections 1 through 6, refer to your user’s manual or contact the manufacturer’s customer service.

As indicated in section 1, your user’s manual will have information on error codes and what they mean. They’ll also have the troubleshooting section. In both cases the information is obviously specific to your unit and may be more helpful than what you find here.

Conclusion

As you can see from above, there are multiple reasons why your air conditioner may start beeping at you. However, in most cases, getting it to stop is nothing more than a little bit of simple maintenance. Unfortunately, though, some cases may require a little bit more investigation.

To recap, here are the issues we got with.

• Understanding error or fault codes
• Dirty filters
• Full water tanks
• Overheating
• Power issues
• Malfunctioning remote control
• General malfunctions

Hopefully, the information provided above helped you address the issue with your portable air conditioner and fix it.

While you’re here, why not check out our related posts below? Perhaps we can help you with something else.