Window air conditioner mount bracket and window trim piece

[PandaBear]

There is a very well designed window AC I want to install in my house to assist the undersized central AC. This way we can create our own 2 zone AC as well as varying the load to improve cooling efficiency and comfort. The house is 2/F with 1500 sqft and a tall living room ceiling so the actual cooling volume is likely more of a 1750 to 2000 sqft with no tall ceiling. 3 ton central AC is basically pushing it but quite efficient for our need if we keep the fan on while the compressor cycle (it is going to be constantly on for a hot day). If we add this 12000 btu 120V window unit to this window we will be able to keep the top floor cool without too much waste, or enhance the cooling on a hot day when the 3 ton unit is a bit under powered.

So the biggest concern I have is the bracket. The window has this P shape trim foam (or was it wood back in 1994) piece under it so the normal angle bracket may push against it. Will it hold up or block it? How do people support these window unit in these situations?


Installation video:



Photo of my window off Redfin.

 

[Nukeman7]

So the biggest concern I have is the bracket. The window has this P shape trim foam (or was it wood back in 1994) piece under it so the normal angle bracket may push against it. Will it hold up or block it? How do people support these window unit in these situations?

TMI in the post, but the bracket should work fine since the length and angle of both support arms can be adjusted to fit your window and trim piece. It is probably wood, not polymer, so that will be capable of taking the load without damage.

 

[The Critic]

Please consider a mini-split instead of a window shaker. The Mr. Cool units are very decent for the money.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Q: HOA approved?

 

[Rand]

your outside picture is lame. cant make out jack on it... so if you want a more informed opinion we need a better picture.

I have the 8000btu model my mount works fine even against regular vinyl siding.
should be no problem.. its adjustable.
If mine blew up tomorrow I'd buy another one tomorrow night.. so much better than standard window ac unit.

Please consider a mini-split instead of a window shaker. The Mr. Cool units are very decent for the money.

Its an inverter model cycles fast to slow etc.. not your ordinary on/off window model.
$279 vs $2000+ unless you got a hvac friend on speeddial.

 

[PandaBear]

Please consider a mini-split instead of a window shaker. The Mr. Cool units are very decent for the money.

The window shaker is only $279, takes 120V, inverter, super quiet, self install, and can be taken out during off season. I already have a central unit. I also could just keep using the central AC and overcool the house so upstair is not as hot and downstair is cooler than desired.

 

[PandaBear]

your outside picture is lame. cant make out jack on it... so if you want a more informed opinion we need a better picture.

My house is inside a back area so I can't get a good google street view on it. However this is the same molding my neighbor uses and this is how he mount his window AC. I would imagine if I use a bracket it will need to go further out and rest of the lower molding. This one in the photo is not a U shape unit and he probably didn't have the correct foam piece.

No HOA.

 

[Rand]

sound be 100% fine. bracket/mount is adjustable.

 

[zzyzzx]

If we add this 12000 btu 120V window unit to this window we will be able to keep the top floor cool without too much waste, or enhance the cooling on a hot day when the 3 ton unit is a bit under powered.

Exactly where in the house are you planning on adding this?
That might be too big, or way too big for something like an upstairs bedroom. But if you are going to put it in an upstairs loft area, that would be different. How about the electrical going to the outlet that you intend to use? I am wondering if you might be better off with the smallest window unit you can find and sticking it in a bedroom window, even if you end up doing that in two bedrooms.

 

[Rand]

Exactly where in the house are you planning on adding this?
That might be too big, or way too big for something like an upstairs bedroom. But if you are going to put it in an upstairs loft area, that would be different. How about the electrical going to the outlet that you intend to use? I am wondering if you might be better off with the smallest window unit you can find and sticking it in a bedroom window, even if you end up doing that in two bedrooms.

Fits in a 22-in window width this is an inverter compressor. It'll speed up and slow down. My 8000 BTU uses between 99 and 350 w most the time with a Max around 500w

 

[PandaBear]

Exactly where in the house are you planning on adding this?
That might be too big, or way too big for something like an upstairs bedroom. But if you are going to put it in an upstairs loft area, that would be different. How about the electrical going to the outlet that you intend to use? I am wondering if you might be better off with the smallest window unit you can find and sticking it in a bedroom window, even if you end up doing that in two bedrooms.

In my bedroom with the door open. It is to assist the upstair in general and we do have a 3 ton central AC for a house that likely can use 3.5 to 4 ton. Typically the upstair gets hot (about 5 to 10F hotter) and the downstair gets cold and if I have this on constantly it should be our baseline during the day vs our 12 seer AC downstair running about 75% duty at the peak season. Having this with all doors open would help boost and be more flexible during shoulder season. We can keep the central AC off and rely on this alone to keep the home in moderate temperature as well.

 

[PandaBear]

Moment of truth. The trim piece is too low yet too far out. The bracket either won’t reach far enough to reach the edge of the window trim or too long to reach above the trim. I guess I can only return it and get a portable one instead.

 

[Nick1994]

I’ve got one of these in my bedroom (I like to sleep cold). It’s the 8K BTU model and I couldn’t be happier. It is whisper quiet and is an inverter compressor so it just runs on low all the time unless it really needs to cool down a hot room.

I’ve got the app setup to turn on at 8:30pm-7am so I never have to touch it.