How to Install Home Air Conditioning Systems

Install a home air conditioning system

A home air conditioning system can help protect against the summer heat, making it tolerable to sit inside or sleep at night. Installing a home air conditioning unit yourself can save money and should take no more than an hour if you have an assistant.

Things You'll Need

• Window A/C unit (brackets come with the unit or are not necessary)
• Shims or scrap wood equivalent
• Fastening tools (screws/nails/staples; screwdriver/hammer/stapler)
• Weather strips
• Adhesive
• Measuring tape
• Level

Instructions

1. Choose a unit with the highest available efficiency rating and the British thermal unit (BTU) count necessary for the room. Estimate the BTU needed by multiplying the room's square footage by 35. Account for additional heat in the room. The kitchen, for example, needs about 4,000 extra BTUs. For rooms occupied by more than two people, add 600 BTUs for each occupant beyond the initial two occupants.

2. Measure the window before going to the appliance store to make sure the A/C unit will fit the bottom section of the glass. The window glass covering the unit should slide up and down; otherwise the unit will not fit properly.

3. Choose the best window in the room for the unit. The ideal place is a window frame close to the center of the room, with outside shade for hot summer days and without obstructions like a bed or television nearby.

4. Prepare the frame for the unit. Slide the bottom glass up. Arrange a leveling piece - a shim or a scrap wood piece cut to size - on the sill, so that it provides a slight tilt for the unit's water drain. Attach the unit to the frame with screws, nails or staples.

5. Move the unit onto the sill. If the unit includes an accordion flap, fit the flap to the frame. Install any metal brackets included as well. Fasten the flap and/or brackets to the frame with screws, nails or staples. Close the window onto the unit.

6. Fill or cover any sections that do not have an airtight seal with weather strips.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not level or otherwise support the unit with loose objects such as books, cans, wood pieces and bricks. Any additional supporting pieces deemed necessary must attach to the frame or wall.

• Make sure the A/C does not move when the window opens. Occasionally check that it has not loosened from its installed position. At each step of the installation process, use a level to make sure that the unit stays perfectly parallel to the sill.

• Have a friend help you. Window units weigh more than they appear and are unwieldy.

References

• NYC Buildings: Window Air Conditioner Installation Tips
• Rustic Girls: Installing a Window Air Conditioner
• Bob Villa: Installing a Room Air Conditioner