air-conditioning
we would like to install a window air conditioner in our living room window.
The window is quite narrow (18.5" wide). The room is fairly big, ~400sqft. We would like to install a 10000 BTU window AC unit.
I am looking at this Frigidaire AC, but I would like to know if this can be installed in this space.
This page from Energy Star gives some good basic guidelines.
- If the room is heavily shaded, reduce capacity by 10 percent.
- If the room is very sunny, increase capacity by 10 percent.
- If more than two people regularly occupy the room, add 600 BTUs for each additional person.
- If the unit is used in a kitchen, increase capacity by 4,000 BTUs.
- Consider where you install the unit. If you are mounting an air conditioner near the corner of a room, look for a unit that can send the airflow in the right direction.
I'd say your room fits the "very sunny" definition.
Since it sounds like it might be difficult for you to get to a lumberyard to build your own solution, you might be better off using a pre-made product. AC-Safe, makes Universal Air Conditioner Supports that might be useful in your situation.
The system requires you to screw the platform into the window sill (which may or may not be possible in your situation), then simply rests against the outside of the building to support the A\C unit.
I've also seen brackets that mount to the bottom of A\C unit itself, and offer support against the outside of the building (but I was unable to find an example online. I think Thermwell makes them).
Best Answer
The specs on the AC unit say it's 14.2" wide, so it will certainly fit in the opening. You don't say how high the window is, but if it's a double hung, two pane, slide-up window like the ones on the building across the way, you might have to remove the window to make this work then fit a glass or plexiglass pane into the space above the air conditioner after it's mounted. And be sure not to drop that thing in the street... ;-)
EDIT: Typically, units like this rely on the top sliding pane of the window to hold them in the opening. The AC unit is heavy, and it will want to tip backwards out of the window. You can see the tab/rail along the top of the AC unit in the picture just below. If you drop the sash down behind that, it will hold the AC unit in place, as it can't topple out of the window.
So; typically, you would pop the front cover off the AC unit, then screw the bottom of the unit to the window sill so it can't slide forward out of the opening. Then drop the sash behind that rail and screw it to the sash. Otherwise, it would be possible for the sash to move up and allow the air conditioner to topple out of the window, which would ruin the air conditioner and could also maim or kill somebody below.
In your case, if the unit won't fit in the bottom pane and you have to remove the window, you'll need to secure (and secure it well) some kind of support across the window opening to replace the window sash you removed, so the AC unit can rest against it. And you'll still screw that rail to the cross support to ensure that everything stays in place.