Q My air conditioner is sinking!
Is there a way to rescue
the pad?
Steve Rhea, St. Louis, MO
A As long as there's no strain on
the copper coolant tubes and
electrical lines, and the unit stays dry
and level, it's OK that the pad has sunk.
But if it continues to sink and pulls the
lines tight, or if water puddles around
the unit, you'll need to take action.
Try working a long board under one
end of the pad, lifting it up, then packing
sand under it. Do the same on the
other end, making the pad as level as
possible. Lift the pad slowly to avoid
cracking it. You won't need to unhook
or remove the air conditioner. However,
if the pad breaks apart, have an AC
technician disconnect the unit. Then,
break up and remove the pad, and
install a new leveled-in one. Consider
replacing it with a plastic pad. They're
available where air conditioners are sold
and online. (One company is Alpine,
800-865-5931; www.alpinehomeair.com. A 30 x 30 x 2-in. pad costs $36.)
