# Please help me install my window airconditioner

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-install-my-window-airconditioner/181737>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 14, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-install-my-window-airconditioner/181737 "2003-06-14T03:16:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![tramp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@tramp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tramp)\
**Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-install-my-window-airconditioner/181737/1 "2003-06-14T03:16:16Z")

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Ok, so I bought a little window air conditioner at Home Depot today because even though my townhouse has central air, it still gets _so_ hot on the third floor where my bed room is.

The air conditioner is all ready to go in the window but I cannot screw the brackets in. I have storm windows and there are metal frames around the window. The windowsill is wooden but the sash (?) is brick! So I am all confused and desperately afraid of dropping my brand new air conditioner three stories and into the backyard.

Please help! I am so hot these days I am forced to sleep in the nude… 🙂

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-install-my-window-airconditioner/181737/2 "2003-06-14T03:20:13Z")

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Stop back at Home Depot and ask someone there. It’s been my experience those guys mostly know what they’re talking about, and I’d bet they can recommend a good solution for you. I’m thinking a masonry drill bit and some lead anchors will do for fixing the bracket to the brick portion.

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**Author:** ![tramp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@tramp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tramp)\
**Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-install-my-window-airconditioner/181737/3 "2003-06-14T03:26:57Z")

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Can you please elaborate on what a masonry drill bit is and what the aforementioned lead anchors are?

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-install-my-window-airconditioner/181737/4 "2003-06-14T03:32:07Z")

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A masonry bit is a drill bit used to drill holes in bricks, concrete., cinder blocks and the like. Lead anchors are the masonry equivalent of drywall anchors, and are used to hold screws in masonry. Baically you drill out a hole just a hair larger than the anchor, tap the lead anchor in flush with the wall, and drive the screw through the bracket holes into the anchor.

You’ll obviously need a power drrill, if you don’t already have one. Drilling masonry with a hand drill is a bitch and three-quarters.

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**Author:** ![tramp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@tramp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tramp)\
**Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-install-my-window-airconditioner/181737/5 "2003-06-14T03:44:08Z")

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Yeah I have a power drill. It is is most ghettoest of all drills but it was all I thought a girl like me would ever need.

I think I need someone to come to my house and show me how this is done!!!