On the covered Kenmore window air conditioner, with or without heater, ES means a failed evaporator temperature sensor, the sensor that reads the indoor coil. First, unplug the air conditioner before opening anything. Then: look at the harness connections on the electronic control board and the board itself for damage, and check the evaporator sensor's wires for a pinch or a break. A defective sensor is replaced.
Differential
Likely causes of “Kenmore window air conditioner, with or without heater code ES”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The sensor on the indoor coil has failed (ES)
What separates it ES appears and the unit shuts off or cools poorly
How to confirm Switch the unit off and look at the sensor behind the front grille
- 2
Ice on the evaporator coil
What separates it A frosted coil and weak airflow come with the code
How to confirm Thaw the coil fully before you test
- 3
A clogged filter that chokes the airflow
What separates it The filter is gray and the air feels weak
How to confirm Wash the filter and refit it
- 4
A fan that runs slowly
What separates it The coil freezes because too little air crosses it
How to confirm Check that the fan turns freely
- 5
A sensor that has slipped off the coil
What separates it The clip is loose
How to confirm Refit the sensor in its clip
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- That ES appears with ice on the coil or without any
- Whether the filter is clean and the fan runs freely
- Whether the room is cool or very humid
- The model number and date of manufacture from the label
Try in this order
0 of 8 completedWhat to do first
ReversibleUnplug the air conditioner before opening anything.
Correct only the documented fault domain
ReversibleLook at the harness connections on the electronic control board and the board itself for damage, and check the evaporator sensor's wires for a pinch or a break. A defective sensor is replaced.
Switch the unit to fan only
ReversibleLet the fan run for an hour with the compressor off to melt any ice on the coil.
Wash the filter
ReversibleSlide the filter out, wash it in warm soapy water, let it dry and refit it.
Look at the coil behind the grille
ReversibleWith the unit unplugged and the grille off, look for frost, dust or a bent fin.
Find the evaporator sensor
ReversibleIt is a small probe clipped against the indoor coil, with a thin wire running to the control board.
Check the clip and the wire
ReversibleA sensor that has slipped off the coil reads the room air, and a damaged wire gives an open circuit.
Replace the sensor if the checks pass
ReversibleWith a free fan, a clean filter and a firm clip, a new sensor is the repair.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- The code on this page
- ES, a failed evaporator temperature sensor, the sensor that reads the indoor coil.
- Parts involved
- The evaporator sensor, its wires and the control board.
- Source
- Sears PartsDirect's table for Kenmore window air conditioners.
- What the evaporator sensor does
- The evaporator is the indoor coil that cools the room air, and its sensor tells the control when the coil is near freezing. The control uses that reading to stop ice forming, so a failed sensor can cause the unit to run oddly, freeze over or shut down.
- Clues from the indoor side
- An evaporator sensor code often goes with a unit that has been frosting, short-cycling or blowing weak air. Check that the filter is clean and the fan runs freely before you replace the sensor, because poor airflow can make the coil freeze and upset the reading.
- Why the evaporator sensor guards against ice
- The evaporator is the indoor coil that cools your room. The control uses its sensor to prevent ice forming, since a frozen coil blocks airflow and starves the compressor. A failed sensor can therefore lead to a frozen coil, and a dirty filter can cause the same on its own.
- Thaw before you test
- If ES appears with ice on the coil, switch to fan only and leave the unit for an hour, or switch it off and let it thaw with a towel under the front to catch the water. Run it again only when the coil is clear, since a frozen coil gives misleading readings.
- A sensor that has slipped
- The evaporator sensor is clipped to the coil, and a clip that has loosened lets it read the air instead. Ask the technician to check the clip, since that is a free fix compared with a new sensor.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !Thaw the coil and clean the filter before you order a sensor, since a frozen coil gives a false reading
- !If ES returns with a clean filter and a free fan, replace the sensor
- !Do not chip ice from the coil with a tool
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
What does ES mean on a Kenmore window air conditioner, with or without heater?+
a failed evaporator temperature sensor, the sensor that reads the indoor coil.
Can a dirty filter cause ES?+
Yes, because it lets the coil freeze, which upsets the reading.
How long does the coil take to thaw?+
About an hour with the fan running.
Is it the same as CS?+
No, CS is the outdoor coil sensor, and ES is the indoor coil sensor.
Is the sensor expensive?+
It is an inexpensive part.