Installing AC in crankout window?

[NLAlston]

Hi everyone,

It was just a few hours ago that I purchased a window/wall mountable AC. I didn't know this, beforehand, but learned from the installation instruction booklet that the unit is for a single/double-hung window. The windows in our living room (save for the huge picture window) are those of the crankout type. Has anyone attempted mounting such a unit in one of these type windows? and if so, how did you fare?

Though I have never really dealt with air conditioning units before, I am not afraid to get my hands involved in some work. I would just like to know what would be the best way to go about such an undertaking. Thanks in advance.

[NLAlston]

Well, I have given greater thought to the situation - since posting my query - and have decided (since I am pretty handy in the woodworking arena) to build a casement by which to house this AC unit. This would be an exact-sized housing, which would lend toward increased stability. I'll read over the installation instruction manual later this morning (it has been repacked) to make sure that I am not looking over anything. I don't ever remember it being THIS hot, here, and can't wait to get this AC set up in a functioning mode :) .

By the way, the unit that I purchased is a HEC (Haier) CR12DC5. This 12,000 BTU unit only has a 9.8 EER classification, and I would have liked to have gotten one with a higher number, but AC units are going like hotcakes and I wanted to make sure that we had one. There is a 5yr parts/labor in-home warranty on this baby, so that - in and of itself - isn't bad at all. Just curious to know if anyone had/has any experience with this particular unit (I wasn't successful at finding any user reviews for it online).

[mattison]

I don't have any 1st hand with that brand but as long as you do not block any of the intake or exaust vents on the sides or back you should be fine with your plan. They do sell units specifically for those windows.

[brlewis]

I have some older air conditioners that I had to install in crank-out windows. Some are from the former homeowner, and he had already cut plexiglass to screw into the window frame and help hold the unit. I had to take the window completely off before the units would fit. If you just bought the unit and can exchange it for one made for this kind of window, do it. I hate to think about taking the windows off every spring and re-mounting them every fall.

[NLAlston]

Brlewis & Mattison ~ thanks for your replies.

You know, I was thinking of a (more or less) permanent type installation through this crankout window, and treating it much the same way as those who have opted for a 'through-the-wall' type installation. I know that it would mean the added expenditure for a winter jacket, of some type, for the unit - and maybe a few other things which would need to be taken into consideration. But there is really no other place, in the family room, which would be well suited enough for a 'thru-wall' placement. I did learn, just yesterday, that they do manufacture AC units for crankout windows, but it is very difficult to find AC units in the stores at all - much less one for my type of window. They can be ordered online, but the availability factor plays in there, also. This heat extreme is being experienced by many, but our home seems to hold TOO MUCH heat in it, and something is going to have to be done about it - like yesterday :).

I really do appreciate the input from both of you.

[NLAlston]

Oh well, things just did not work out with that AC. I had spent a little while constructing a wooden housing for that unit, and had moved considerably closer (or so I had thought) toward gaining some cooling relief. This was the type of AC which afforded its innards to be slid out from the casing, which I thought was a pretty nifty little feature - as it would seem to aid in the installation process. The front grill had to be removed and, in doing so, I found that the frontal fins (I believe that's what they are called) were damaged. In addition to this was the fact that the three holes on top of the unit - which were supposed to accept the screws for the window bracing bar - were not milled correctly. There also was mention, in the installation instruction booklet, as to a bottom such bar which was supposed to sit behind the sill. But that wasn't there. I boxed everything back up, in preparation for taking it back to Home Depot. I then had to make a trip out to Walmart for something else, and happened to find three AC units there (surprisingly). One was a Fedders window/wall mount unit, and the the other two were portables (9000 BTU Walmart brand for about $330 or $340, and a 10,000 BTU Windchaser Aire for $400). I selected the Windchaser due to the additional BTU capacity, and the fact that it could be utilized as a dedicated dehumidifier. I set it up with a makeshift conversion for my crankout window, and have been running now for about 2-3/4 hrs. I set it off on high (still at that setting) and the unit showed an initial room temperature of 84 degrees. Now it is reading an RT of 79 (I have set a cooling temp of 65). Are my expectations that this RT reading should be lower than that, by this time, realistic?

Also, a question to the experts here: I took my mother-in-law to ROSA's, yesterday evening, for the purpose of her getting an AC. They didn't have much of a selection, and nothing over 6500 BTU's. But I did notice something on every unit's tag: the square foot coverage had been crossed out (at the store) and a lower number had been written in. They also had a 9000 BTU portable unit there, which listed 400 sq/ft coverage on the tag - and 425 sq/ft coverage on its box. When I questioned this the salesman stated that the BTU ratings are misleading; that none of them are based in truth. He went on to state that a 9000 BTU conditioner - whether portable or mountable - will effectively do about a 300 sq/ft area, and that a 10,000 BTU unit would offer just 50-75 sq/ft of additional coverage. If that is true, then I am about 45-50 sq/ft shy of coverage capacity with this 10,000 BTU portable that I have. I bought it, really, for lack of having anything else that I could get to using without to much ado - but will keep it if it proves to be enough for us. I do know that a certain number of variables come into play when one gets right down into the effective handling of an AC's coverage area, but what could one expect (as a ballpark number) a 10,000 BTU AC to cover?

Thanks in advance.