Every now and then, I have issues with my central air conditioner just like everyone does. Sometimes, it can be a day or 2 or 3 before the AC guy can come out and fix it. If I bought a small window unit, could I store it in my attic and have it work on the odd occasion that I needed it or would the heat in the attic be too much for it? I’m in Oklahoma and summer day time high temperatures regularly exceed 100 degrees so it’s safe to assume that my attic is considerably hotter than that.
It will be fine.
It would probably be best to store it someplace with less of a temperature range. There are going to be valves, rubber components, etc. that will stretch and shrink as the temperature changes. The less stress it has, the longer life it will have. The garage would be a better place since it won’t get as hot or cold as the attic. But seeing as your home air handler is likely in your attic anyway, it would probably be okay.
Have you considered getting a portable AC? They aren’t as efficient as window ACs, but they are more convenient to move from room-to-room if you need.
If you don’t need it right away, you might consider waiting until the winter and looking for a used AC on something like Craigslist.
It will be fine. They’ll last sitting in the window through very hot summers and very cold winters. Indoors in an attic is a much better environment for it. It’s probably not economical to rent space in a climate controlled storage facility to store it in.
I’m considering it but they’re more that I’d prefer to pay for something that might get used a couple of days every year or 2. I was thinking more along the lines of a $150 type that would just cool off a bedroom. The bigger ones would be difficult for me to get up my staircase ladder into the attic.
Your “wait until winter” idea (which I snipped) is a good one since I don’t need anything right now and it’s just going to sit around anyway. Hopefully.
Like others said, it won’t hurt it. You’ll likely want to clean the fins before using it again, though. Dirt is a big enemy of ACs.
The only think to worry about might be the electrical wires. But the insulation on them should be good for 20+ years in normal use. You might loose a year or two. Everything else won’t noltice the heat.
And if OP’s attic might get critters, wire insulation is a chewable.
Somehow I’ve accumulated far more window units than I need. They live in my attic and get put into use as needed. So some spend a couple years up there between uses. This is Boston, where the attic can be anywhere from 15F to 140F
I’ve yet to take one out and have it not work, and some are 20 years old.