You've had enough of the heat and
have finally gone and bought that window air conditioner unit that
you hope will provide some relief against summer heat waves. Now
you have to install it. How long will that take? How complicated
is it? Well, depending on your experience, it could take anywhere
from a half an hour to an hour. Having someone to help hold and
lift the unit would be nice, but is not mandatory, making this a
true do-it-yourself job.
Window a/c maintenance tips are here.
Before installing your window air
conditioner, you need to know a few things. Usually, an air unit
is hung in a double-hung window, which means one that slides up
and down. It is more difficult to install a window air conditioner
in a window that slides shut from side to side, as you will have
to board up the area not filled in by the A/C unit. In addition,
the window and its sash should be in good condition.
If possible, place the window unit
in a window closest to the center of your room, and in one
that receives some shade in the afternoon. In addition, try to place
your unit close to an electrical outlet, as efficiency will drop
the further away you are from your electrical source.
Your window air conditioner may come
with mounting brackets, if necessary. If not, the unit may be lightweight
enough to hang without mounts. Install the brackets according to
manufacturer's instructions.
Place the air conditioner into the
open window. Most window air units come with an accordion-style
flap attached to one or both sides, for proper fitting into various
size windows. Close the window to ensure a firm fit.
Secure the mounting frame and the
accordion flap firmly to the window sash with screws. Check several
times with a bubble level to make sure that your air conditioner
is level. This will not only ensure proper working conditions,
but also maintain a good, tight seal in the window area. If necessary,
shim, using store-bought shims or those you can make yourself from
stiff cardboard or wood scraps.
Some window air conditioning units
also come with angled brackets to hold the window sash in place
above the A/C unit. Screw them to the upper sash of the window.
If your window air conditioner didn't come with angled brackets,
you can purchase them at your local hardware store for less than
a dollar. These will ensure that your window won't slip open.
For a good, weatherproof seal, place
foam weather stripping between the glass of the upper sash
and the top of the window now resting on top of the A/C unit to
ensure an airtight seal. Since newer models of window air conditioners
are very lightweight, this is definitely a job anyone can do himself
or herself. However, use due caution when installing any type of
air conditioning unit in an upstairs window!
You Can Cut The Air Conditioning Portion Of Your Electric Bill By As Much As 50%
I went to Lowles but they have already packed up their summer stuff and can not find them. So I am looking on-line with not success. HELP!
Barbara Russ
It also cleans the air and controls themoisture level.
Air Conditioning Contractors Directory for Cincinnati,
Prescreened Home Improvement Professionals for Cincinnati.
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