AC in fire esc wndw w/gate?
My kids’ bedroom contains the only access to the fire escape and also has an opening window guard on the only window in the room. I need to put an a/c in their room but can’t put in a window unit (it’ll block access to the fire escape). I’d like to get one of the…
My kids’ bedroom contains the only access to the fire escape and also has an opening window guard on the only window in the room. I need to put an a/c in their room but can’t put in a window unit (it’ll block access to the fire escape). I’d like to get one of the portable a/c units that don’t need to be mounted in the window, but they still need the exhaust tube to go out the window. Problem here is that the tube for all the units I’ve seen is simply too wide to fit through the window guard gate. If I somehow rig a reducer for the tube to narrow it so it’ll fit (not even sure if it’s possible), I’m nervous that the reduced aperture would somehow stress the a/c (think of a blocked exhaust on a car).
Any ideas out there would be appreciate, thanks!
Both of my living-room windows open up to the fire escape. Does that mean that I am not allowed to have any window a/c’s installed in my living room?
Your just going to have to get a portable AC with a smaller tube. The way it works is the tubing gets fitted into the window by a piece of plastic that is adjustable to the length of the window. If the plastic piece is not adjustable then you could cut the rid size wood for the tube that has a whole in the middle. That way the fire escape isn’t obstructed, you can have the portable AC off to the side with the tube going to the window, I think this site has one or two with small tubed portable air conditioning units: http://www.shophmac.com/soleus-ky36.html
Thanks for all the comments. Danm, thanks for the concern. Yes, the whole reason we’re doing this rather than installing the window unit is to maintain the window as an unobstructed secondary means of egress. As for installing an A/C in the masonry, the fact is that we rent and it would probably not be cost-effective to make that kind of an investment in a place we don’t own. (Or is it?)
Thanks for the feedback everybody.
Gotta agree with danm here. Maintaining safe egress is _critical_.
Perhaps you could look into installing the air conditioner in a new sleeve in the masonry below the window.
Hi,
As a retired firefighter let me say this. Anything that is in hampers the means of egress for the fire escape is illegal and MORE IMPORTANTLY dangerous for you and firefighters who may be in your apartment God forbid there is a fire and you neeed the fire escape. You may think the solution is simple to get out of the window but if there is an emergency and you are excited or there is smioke you may not find it so simple.
If you put the exhaust in the top of the window this may hamper you from opening the window fully and exiting the window as well, just something to think about.
And back to my original point anything blocking the means of egress in a fire escape window is illegal and once again most importantly dangerous.
Put the large size tube flush into a peice of wood that you have predrilled with a hole the same exact size and then close the window on top or the wood.
It’ll reduce the efficiency a bit. Probably not exactly legal either. What about mounting in the top of the window. Would that allow enough access to get out of the bottom? Somebody makes a real low profile unit also, can’t remember who.