![]() ![]() ![]() Installing a window AC on your own is an easy way to injure yourself, or accidentally drop the unit out the window. Window air conditioners typically weigh between 50 and 100 pounds, so maneuvering the appliance into the window and then holding it in place while it’s being secured with screws requires an assistant. DON’T attempt installation without a helper. Generally, a window unit’s BTU rating will match the manufacturer’s recommended room size, but to calculate it yourself, try the online BTU calculators here. Too powerful, and the unit will tend to cycle on and off too quickly, which won’t allow enough time to reduce room humidity effectively and leads to uneven temperature throughout the space. If the air conditioner isn’t powerful enough for the space, it will run continuously without reaching your desired temperature. The larger the room, the higher the required BTUs to cool it. Department of Energy recommends an EER of 10 or more for the best efficiency and savings on your electric bill. You’ll need two other numbers, typically indicated on an air conditioner’s packaging, to purchase the right unit: energy efficiency rating (EER) and British thermal units (BTUs), which is a measurement of the appliance’s cooling ability.ĮERs can range from 8 to 12: The higher the number, the more energy-efficient the air conditioner. DO choose appropriate power for your space. For example, if your room is 11 feet wide and 12 feet long, it is 132 square feet. Then multiply the two numbers to obtain the square footage. If you don’t already know the square footage of the room you hope to cool, have a helper hold the tip of the tape measure against the wall as you extend the tape to the opposite side to get the length then repeat on the other side of the room for the width. To measure the window, open it as far as it goes, and then use a tape measure to determine the inches both from side-to-side and from top to bottom. Normally, the air conditioner’s packaging will specify both the size range of acceptable windows and the maximum square footage the unit can cool, so make sure your measurements are within the guidelines for the unit you’re considering. There are two sets of measurements you’ll need to choose the right window air conditioner: the height and width of the window opening and the square footage of the room the unit will cool. Photo: DON’T neglect to check your measurements. Also, remember that the air conditioner requires sufficient clearance for unimpeded air flow, so choose a window free of furniture, trees, shrubs, walls, or other obstructions within 20 inches of the unit on the inside or the outside of the window. An air conditioner should be in a shady or partially shaded window, because direct, intense sunlight can decrease the unit’s efficiency by as much as 10 percent as it struggles to handle all that hot air. This could void the warranty on many air conditioners and present a fire hazard if the extension cord isn’t rated for appliances.įinally, for best performance, consider the area directly inside and outside the window. Never use an extension cord for window ACs. You’ll also need an electrical outlet that accepts three-prong plugs fairly close to the window most window units have a cord only about six feet long. Sliding windows that move from side to side, and casement windows that tilt outwards to open, aren’t options for these air conditioners. Almost all such appliances are designed for a double-hung window, meaning there is a fixed upper pane and a lower pane that slides up and down. Not every window is suited for an air conditioner. ![]() ![]() Some complexes don’t allow window ACs for aesthetic reasons (they’re not the most attractive additions to a building’s exterior) or because an improperly installed unit could fall from the window, creating a safety hazard. While most single-family homeowners are free to install a window AC, if you live in an apartment, condo complex, or a neighborhood with a homeowners’ association, check with management or the HOA board before investing in a unit. DON’T assume you’re permitted to install a window unit. ![]()
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