How to install a window air conditioner with your own hands, rules and installation methods
In summer, the presence of an air conditioner in an apartment or office space helps to create a favorable microclimate. When wondering how to properly install a window air conditioner, you should study the installation instructions in order to avoid mistakes.
Content
How not to
If the rules for installing the air conditioner are not followed, it will work poorly and its service life will be reduced. Before carrying out installation work, you should familiarize yourself with common errors and their consequences.
Hose outlet to window
When you take the pipe out of the window, you will need to hold it half open. In this case, part of the hot air will immediately return and the efficiency of using the equipment will decrease. To avoid poor-quality operation of the air conditioner, you need to build such an outlet on the street, in which there will be no gaps.
Often an exhaust pipe is placed in a window and the gaps are covered with tape and plastic wrap. This method does not allow closing the window if necessary, and also violates the aesthetics of the room.
Slotted window frames
To exhaust the hot air in the window, many make a hole and insert a pipe through it. The disadvantages of this method are the violation of the integrity of the window and insufficient tightness. If over time the need to use an air conditioner disappears, it will be necessary to change the sash of the window structure.
Correct installation methods
The effectiveness of the equipment depends on the correct installation. Portable air conditioners can be installed in several ways, depending on the capacities available and the type of window structure.
Change the design of a plastic window
In order for the air conditioner to work efficiently, it is important to maintain the integrity of the window and at the same time create an obstacle to the entry of hot air, dust and noise into the room. One of the suitable options is to change the design of the plastic window. It will be difficult to perform this procedure on your own, so it is recommended to seek help from specialists. To install the air conditioner, the following structural modifications are necessary:
- A blind shutter is dismantled or replaced by another.
- A glazing with reduced dimensions and an additional plastic profile with internal steel reinforcement are installed in the new leaf. The profile is used as a horizontal element of the frame.
- Instead of a piece of glass between the profile and the lower part of the door leaf, a sandwich panel is installed with an opening for the exit of the equipment pipe.
- For the winter period, the hole is closed with a plug or the sash of the blind is changed to a standard sash in order to preserve the effect of using insulating glazing.
The decision to change the design of the window allows efficient use of the air conditioner, but involves significant financial and labor costs. In addition, the modernization does not guarantee that the sandwich panel will retain heat with the same quality as standard glazing due to different technical characteristics.
The use of plexiglass
The temporary installation of a Plexiglas protection sheet avoids possible problems related to the change of the structure of the window. The structure is installed over the entire surface of the opening of one of the window frames. In this case, it is permissible not to disassemble the sash, to leave it open in order to create a barrier against noise and dust, and not to let hot air through the window.
Material costs when using this option are reduced by purchasing a sheet of plexiglass and fasteners for the mosquito net. Optionally, you can seal the opening with a rubber gasket.
The main thing is to carry out the measurements correctly, since the large-mass plexiglass must be exactly in place and not fall off during gusts of wind.
It is necessary to measure the window structure before installing plexiglass with an open sash in order to accurately determine the gap between the edge and the beginning of the main frame of the structure inside the opening. In this place, a plexiglass sheet of the required size will be installed with a pre-prepared hole for the size of the air conditioner pipe. When using sealing gum and standard mosquito net fasteners, the sheet will be evenly located in the free space and close the opening. With the onset of winter, it will be possible to remove the seal and close the window.
DIY Installation Rules and Features
When installing the air conditioner on your own, you need to follow the instructions exactly and take into account a number of nuances.
Observing the installation rules, it will be possible to avoid common mistakes and ensure the efficient operation of the equipment.
A set of tools and materials
The first stage of work is the preparation of the necessary inventory. It is recommended to prepare the tools in advance so as not to be distracted during installation.
To install a window air conditioner, you will need:
- hammer drill or percussion drill;
- a set of nozzles for drilling various holes, including a nozzle with a cut-off wheel;
- building level and tape measure;
- metal file;
- scissors;
- glass cutter;
- silicone sealant;
- inside corners and metal plates.
Having prepared the tools, you need to draw up a plan for the upcoming work, make accurate measurements and prepare a special frame with a hole in the central part to exhaust hot air. Frame preparation is especially important when working with reinforced plastic windows, as installation will be more difficult than installing the air conditioner in a wooden frame.
Procedure
After completing the preparatory stages, you can proceed to the direct installation of the structure. At work, you must adhere to the following order of actions:
- Find the best place to repair the air conditioner. It is best to install in places where the sides of the air conditioner fit into the holes with minimal clearance. To adjust the dimensions, you must remove the glass unit, insert a jumper and cut the glass to the specified dimensions.
- Install the bracket and the air conditioner.Modern types of air conditioners can be fixed even with a closed window, since the mechanism can be removed from the case and fixed on the bracket.
- Check the tightness. In case of insufficient tightness, precipitation and wind enter the room.
- Place the air conditioner in a prepared cabinet. Shock pads are removed from the equipment and fixed in the hole, after which they check for the presence of an angle of inclination of the back side for high-quality drainage.
- Connect the drain hose. For fastening, it is enough to tightly tighten the fasteners at the base.As a result of the installation of the pipe, the resulting moisture will drain through a separate outlet, which will extend the service life of the equipment.
- Power the air conditioner. For this purpose, a separate line can be used, equipped with a circuit breaker that operates independently of the main fuse.
After installing the equipment, you need to make sure that all actions are performed correctly and start the air conditioner to check the operation. If you have any problem with the device, you should fix it immediately.
Expert tips and tricks
The main recommendation of specialists is the need to strictly follow the instructions for installing the device. Doubting the possibility of self-installation, it is better to seek help from a specialized service.
Advantages and disadvantages
Window air conditioners have many positive features, which make them very popular. The list of main benefits includes the following:
- ease of use and daily maintenance;
- high efficiency in a compact size;
- supply of purified cold air, without impurities (if there is an integrated filter).
The disadvantages of using the equipment are associated with the additional costs of manufacturing the opening for the air conditioner, as well as a high noise level. When thinking about buying a window air conditioner, it is recommended to compare the advantages and disadvantages, depending on the type of room.