How to install a Window Air Conditioner in a Brownstone with Security Bars?
Okay, so I am moving into a ground level unit of a Brownstone/Townhome in Bushwick, Brooklyn. The unit has security bars on all windows, which is great. These security bars are straight and flat. I.E. they are not the kind that have a bump out to accomodate an air conditioning unit. Thus causing my delima….
Okay, so I am moving into a ground level unit of a Brownstone/Townhome in Bushwick, Brooklyn. The unit has security bars on all windows, which is great. These security bars are straight and flat. I.E. they are not the kind that have a bump out to accomodate an air conditioning unit. Thus causing my delima. How do I install a traditional window air conditioning unit into the window? The space between the bars and the window is very minimal…definitly not enought to fit the window unit I currenlty own. Are there very narrow window AC units made for this purpose? Or is there a way to install a standard AC unit in such a way that the majority of the bulk of the unit would lie on the interior side of the window? I have heard about portable air conditioner units which do not sit in your window, but I have heard they are much less effective at cooling than a Window unit. Plus they are SUPER expensive by comparison. Any help or suggestions are much needed and sincerely appreciated!
i had a very similar problem in an old apartment. the LL was not cooperative w/ changing out the bars. I found a really tiny BTU GE model at walmart for $120 bucks. I had only 3″ of play from the window frame to the bars. 11:41 is correct, you only need to be concerned with where those vents are at the side, as this is where all the heat/water is expelled and you don’t want that draining back into the room. measure the clear space you have and then go to the stores and measure where the vents are on the AC units you see. who cares if the bulk of the unit is on the inside. just make sure it is stable.
Floor standing units are more expensive our experience is that they work well and do not need draining. We have had ours for 2 years, it keeps our room (19×12 ft, south facing) at a constant 72deg. The other advantage is that it blocks out little light in the light deprived garden floors.
The freestanding ACs kind of suck. They are expensive, don’t cool well, and frequently need to be drained.
I don’t recommend if it can be avoided.
my place is on eldert. and invite us all over when you get the AC, i’m falling out form the heat.
Amana has a floor 9000BTU($399+/-)or 7000BTU ($350) floor standing units which are sold at PC Richards. They work well and have resolved the same issue for our household. The other advantage is that they are very easy to move off season, and they do not drip water like the typical units.
The south end of Bushwick is around the Halsey JMZ, where both myself and Jimmy Legs live.. welcome to the neighborhood!
The thing to keep in mind is a window AC will have vents on the side of the unit that you do not want to cover up and probably won’t make it outside the building. That is why you need a thru-wall type AC- it is designed to only vent out the back. Remember to angle it slightly down and away from the building so condensate drains properly. You might have to attach a hose to direct condensate away from the foundation if it produces a lot of water.
I also would be wary of using just styrofoam to fill the open window space because you are so close to trash cans. At least plywood will give you some warning of a rat incursion. You could even wrap the outside face of the plywood in a sheet of the galvanized tin used to fireproof cellar ceilings for better rat proofing.
Jimmy Legs,
I am not sure where the sound end is? The apartment is located near the J,M,Z Halsey stop. Where is your building? My landlord’s name is not Jimmy so I am guessing its not you.
Jimmy Legs,
I am not sure where the sound end is? The apartment is located near the J,M,Z Halsey stop. Where is your building? My landlord’s name is not Jimmy so I am guessing its not you.