answer:I had a similar problem with mine, many years ago, and it turned out to be a water drainage problem. Over a period of years, the water drainage tube gets impacted with a kind of sludge that looks like mud, and is caused by impurities in the water that runs out from the unit. It builds up, and the water can no longer seep out, so the unit essentially shuts itself down, by halting the cooling process. If you still have the owner’s manual for the unit, it may describe how to clean and service the exhaust ports and drainage tubes. If not, then you might need to call a service company that specializes in repairing those units, assuming that it can be repaired. Your other option, of course, is to purchase a replacement (new) unit, as soon as possible, because there is a danger that the unit could overheat and burst into flames. August 30, 2008, 11:44 AM EDT