# Air Conditioner Recommendations? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 12, 2011, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-conditioner-recommendations/588782 "2011-07-12T19:40:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-conditioner-recommendations/588782/1 "2011-07-12T19:40:02Z")
A couple of years ago we had most of the windows in our house replaced. The following summer we found we had a problem. Our window air conditioner for our bedroom no longer fit. The problem is that the window opens 12 inches from top to bottom. Last year we got one of these portable air conditioners with the hose that goes to a pannel that fits in the window. It worked OK, but it cost a lot more than a normal in window a/c and this year it’s leaking water all over the place. I’d love to get an a/c that fits in our window, but I’ve been unable to find one. I have seen exactly one a/c online that says it’s 12 inches in hight, but if they’re fudging that number a bit we could be screwed. If anybody has any ideas I would greatly apreciate it. ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-conditioner-recommendations/588782/2 "2011-07-13T12:30:00Z")
I’m gonna give this one bump in the hopes that somebody has something. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-conditioner-recommendations/588782/3 "2011-07-13T12:40:00Z")
The company that sold you the windows: do they have any suggestions? Or were these windows meant for a house with central A/C? BTW- I know it will work, but you may resist this idea due to cost: Hire a GC to either modify/replace that one window to one of a more standardized window A/C unit size. Or, have him/her cut a rectangular hole in the wall near your window & permanently install a year round unit there. ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-conditioner-recommendations/588782/4 "2011-07-13T13:03:05Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > The company that sold you the windows: do they have any suggestions? Or were these windows meant for a house with central A/C? I don’t really know what the windows were meant for. I did specifically ask the guy who installed them if our a/c would fit and he said yes. The guy was our neighbor’s brother who we went with after our previous handyman retired. > [@](#): > > BTW- I know it will work, but you may resist this idea due to cost: > > Hire a GC to either modify/replace that one window to one of a more standardized window A/C unit size. > Or, have him/her cut a rectangular hole in the wall near your window & permanently install a year round unit there. I have thought about replacing the window or installing a wall unit, but I was hoping to get something quickly. The portable unit died, it’s hot out and scheduling someone to come out and do that work could take a while. I might wind up doing that for a permanent solution, but I thought I throw it out to the dope to see if there’s anything I haven’t thought of our found yet. Thanks Count. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-conditioner-recommendations/588782/5 "2011-07-13T13:23:18Z")
I once bought two small window units when the central went out. They didn’t work as well as a large one, but you might consider it for a quick fix. ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-conditioner-recommendations/588782/6 "2011-07-13T13:37:26Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I once bought two small window units when the central went out. They didn’t work as well as a large one, but you might consider it for a quick fix. Even one small unit would be fine for us, we don’t need a lot of power. Just something small enough to fit in the window. Do you know the specs of the unit you had? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-conditioner-recommendations/588782/7 "2011-07-13T15:38:21Z")
> [@Trion](#): > > Even one small unit would be fine for us, we don’t need a lot of power. Just something small enough to fit in the window. Do you know the specs of the unit you had? They were 110v and half the power of a regular window unit. It was all Sears had during August in Arkansas. 🙂 [This](http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_04270051000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1)may be it. 18.5" x 12" high. ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-conditioner-recommendations/588782/8 "2011-07-13T15:46:56Z")
> [@Trion](#): > > Last year we got one of these portable air conditioners with the hose that goes to a pannel that fits in the window. It worked OK, but it cost a lot more than a normal in window a/c and **this year it’s leaking water all over the place.** Bolding mine. When’s the last time you drained the internal water collection tank? There should be a rubber stopper near/at the base, usually on the back below the vent hose connector; portable ACs need to be drained after every season of use (or more often in excessively humid locales), by pulling the plug out to let the tank drain. Sounds like it’s been a while since this has been done-- might want to haul the machine to the patio or to a tub and pull the stopper. Edit to add that I just noticed that you said your portable died. A tank overflow can cause this; definitely drain it, and you may need to reset it at the AC plug. If nothing else, if you get it running again, you can resell it on CraigsList or something even if you get a window unit. ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-conditioner-recommendations/588782/9 "2011-07-13T16:18:17Z")
> [@Student\_Driver](#): > > Bolding mine. > > When’s the last time you drained the internal water collection tank? There should be a rubber stopper near/at the base, usually on the back below the vent hose connector; portable ACs need to be drained after every season of use (or more often in excessively humid locales), by pulling the plug out to let the tank drain. Sounds like it’s been a while since this has been done-- might want to haul the machine to the patio or to a tub and pull the stopper. > > Edit to add that I just noticed that you said your portable died. A tank overflow can cause this; definitely drain it, and you may need to reset it at the AC plug. If nothing else, if you get it running again, you can resell it on CraigsList or something even if you get a window unit. Well, when I say it died, I meant it was leaking a lot of water. I mean a LOT. I know how to drain the thing and have done so, but it doesn’t seem to make any difference. According to the manual (or I may have looked this up online?) if it’s still leaking it means that something is cracked and I need to ship it back to the manufacturer for fixing or replacement. ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-conditioner-recommendations/588782/10 "2011-07-13T16:19:48Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > They were 110v and half the power of a regular window unit. It was all Sears had during August in Arkansas. 🙂 [This](http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_04270051000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1)may be it. 18.5" x 12" high. Damn, it says it’s 12.5 inches high. That half an inch is killing me. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-conditioner-recommendations/588782/11 "2011-07-13T16:37:28Z")
> [@Trion](#): > > Damn, it says it’s 12.5 inches high. That half an inch is killing me. Could you remove some trim from around the window? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-conditioner-recommendations/588782/12 "2011-07-13T17:32:29Z")
I’m sure one of the window units we gotten at something like Lowes or the BJs would fit in a 12" window. If you can’t find that, look for mobile home suppliers and the like. ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-conditioner-recommendations/588782/13 "2011-07-13T17:40:32Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Could you remove some trim from around the window? Now there’s an idea. There is a small plastic lip on the bottom of the window that I might be able to cut off without doing any harm. I’ll have to look at it more closely when I get home. Thanks. [QUOTE=TriPolar] I’m sure one of the window units we gotten at something like Lowes or the BJs would fit in a 12" window. If you can’t find that, look for mobile home suppliers and the like. [/QUOTE] I’ve been to both places and they didn’t have anything like that in stock. Like I said, I did see one unit online that measures 12 inches top to bottom, but with something that close I fear the measurement may not be exact. If I was getting if from a store I could just drive it back if it doesn’t fit - an online purchase gets to be a pain if it’s not right. If only I could look at it in person first. I have seen the a/cs for mobile homes, but I don’t know anything about them. Could they work in a house window? Or what? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-conditioner-recommendations/588782/14 "2011-07-13T18:10:10Z")
Frigidaire FAX050P7A. Fits in an 11.5 " opening. That’s the smallest unit I have right now. Don’t know if it’s still made, but[this page](http://www.frigidaire.com/products/air-conditioners-dehumidifiers/window-air-conditioners)shows 2 models that fit in a 12" opening. A mobile home unit that runs off of 120AC should work just like any other AC. ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-conditioner-recommendations/588782/15 "2011-07-13T18:25:00Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Frigidaire FAX050P7A. Fits in an 11.5 " opening. That’s the smallest unit I have right now. Don’t know if it’s still made, but[this page](http://www.frigidaire.com/products/air-conditioners-dehumidifiers/window-air-conditioners)shows 2 models that fit in a 12" opening. > > A mobile home unit that runs off of 120AC should work just like any other AC. That’s perfect! There’s even one of the Frigidaire in stock on Amazon. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-conditioner-recommendations/588782/16 "2011-07-14T07:12:23Z")
> [@Trion](#): > > I don’t really know what the windows were meant for. I did specifically ask the guy who installed them if our a/c would fit and he said yes. The guy was our neighbor’s brother who we went with after our previous handyman retired. So call him, and hire him to install the A/C that he said would work. then it’s his problem.