I live in a rented apartment (small) and it has a window AC unit. It's
turned super hot (heat index 100+) and the unit didn't seem like it was
cooling as well as usual.

I've lived here just over a year, and hadn't yet cleaned the filter...I
went to do so and no filter! The metal fin things that easily bend were
totally clotted with crud. I did the best I could cleaning it up,
between a toothbrush and vacuum cleaner. (I probably bent some in the
process) Should there have been a filter???

But I've been noticing the cooling goes on and off much more than (I
think) it should in such hot weather. I've been timing it this
afternoon, and it seems to be pretty precise:

every six minutes, the compressor kicks on and it cools...for six
minutes. Then it goes off and the fan runs out regular (warmish and
stinky) air for...six minutes.

So exactly every six minutes it cools six minutes, then fan but no cool
for six minutes and so on.

Is this normal and something I just never noticed before, or is this
wrong? The cooling seems okay, though I was thinking I should call the
rental company and have them come over and do a good cleaning of the
unit. Unfortunately (I've gone through this with a different apt. they
managed before) their procedure is this: two handymen guys come by early
morning and remove the unit, then set it in the yard. At some point
during the day, an AC repair guy comes by, picks it up and takes it off
for cleaning/repair. He returns it the next day, setting it in the yard,
and then some time that day the handymen guys come back and put it back
in the window. So I have to go without any AC for about a day and a half.

It's supposed to cool down (to the 80s) tomorrow, Wed and Thurs, so if
y'all think it sounds like it needs a repair, I was thinking I'd call
Wed and hopefully schedule pickup Thurs morning. I could live through
80s for a day with no AC, but I'd like to have it done and running right
before the heat comes back this next weekend.

So...if this six minute on/off thing doesn't sound right, what do I tell
the person at the rental office who is semi stupid? I need to clearly
communicate the problem, or they'll just tell the AC repair guy to hose
it off and call it done. I need some expert talk to say, or they'll tell
me the six minute cycle is perfectly normal, and I really do not think
it is. I think during 100 degree heat, that sucker ought to be running
24/7, not every other six minutes.

Am I wrong?

Thanks for listening while I sweat!
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