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On the back deck of our rental there's an AC unit that's the type that goes into a window.

My question is: can it be used without going into a window?

None, I mean NONE of the main level windows open. They were all nailed shut and then painted over. Only the small window in the laundry room opens but I'm not sure it'll fit and that's where my dryer vents.

I've never used an AC unit so I don't know if it has to be installed in a window or not. We did place it on top of the dryer and plugged it in to see if it worked (which it does).

I think it should be in a window because it needs to discharge water and warm air.

Even the free standing units have to be vented to the outdoors - you could get one of those and put the vent out your laundry room window.

[This message edited by Williesmom at 7:41 AM, July 16th (Tuesday)]

Yes, it has to be mounted thru a window or a hole in the wall.

My question is... how in the hell is it considered legal/code to have all your windows nailed shut??? How in the hell would you get out in case of a fire - besides breaking the windows.

I'd ask your landlord to put the unit in for you...

Absolutely it has to be in a window or hole in the wall. They discharge the heat and humidity on the outside portion.

You need to get your self a chisel, putty knife, razor knife, and hammer, and unseal those windows. Then send your landlord an invoice and copy of reciept for the tools, and deduct it off your rent. You take the razor knife, and run it in the cracks where the seams are, if that doesn't loosen the window enough then you use the putty knife, and chisel expand the seam a bit. Use the claw part of the hammer to remove the nails.
Wow great job landlord.

We have been trying to figure out where the old tenants had the AC unit. It might have been upstairs. Those windows open. The bedrooms have screens. The two hallway windows don't have screens.

To address your concern about the nailed windows.

On the main floor there's four doors leading out. One out the kitchen (leads to a "breezeway" then out a screen door).
Two doors out the front to the front porch. One from the living room and one at the stairway leading upstairs. There's a door that separates the living room from the stairway. I think the door outside was originally the main door to the house before it was split into two units.

Straight across the living room from the kitchen along the back of the house leads to the laundry room which has a door to the basement and another to the back sunroom which leads to the back door.

The only windows that don't open are the two in the kitchen and the front and back livingroom windows. Those are the ones that are nailed and painted.

Wh said he'd take his knife and break the paint seal then remove the nails.

I think this all might have been done because there's no locks on the windows and anyone could open the three accessible from the front porch. There's also no screens.

I was wondering. The window that opens in the laundry room is large enough and has a ledge. The AC unit can be put there. The only issue then is the screen. The AC unit would butt up against the screen. (it's a deep ledge). Is that ok?

The other thing to think about is where they might have had it plugged in. It's a grounded plug and the only three prong sockets are on the main floor. The bedroom plugs are all two prong. There's a three prong plug in the hall upstairs with the hall light but it's not near a window.

I wouldn't be even thinking of using the AC except it's now over 80 degrees on the main level and even hotter upstairs. We have a fan on top of one of the floor vents to the basement where it's nice and cool but it's not helping upstairs.

We have fans going but I just want to cool it off for sleeping. The kids are soaking their beds with sweat at night and not sleeping well which leads to crabby kids during the day lol.

No... you've got to take the screen out. And then seal up any open areas around the unit after it's installed and secure.

I've seen people use plywood to seal the area/gaps around the unit. My HVAC guru, AKA FWSO says they sell newer units with things to put around them to seal. Some people use foam and caulk... Check your local home supply store, they may have something.

I watched a you tube video on how to install them.

Now to convince wh to carry it from the back sunroom upstairs lol. Found a plug. We have the boards and stuff to fill in around the AC unit. Can't wait to do it now :)

I was downstairs with the handymen who came to fix our hot water tank (we had smelly hot water). They were going to just replace the rod inside then decided to replace the tank instead. Woohoo!!!!!! No more smelly water.

Now that that's complete I am off to "bug" wh about the AC lol. Wish me luck

I know that money is tight but there are too things to consider. First, cold air sinks so putting the unit upstairs may be best. But if this is an old unit it will be very expensive to run. See if you can save so you can get a newer energy efficient unit or two for bedrooms for next year.
They can be very cheap and run very inexpensively.

How old is old?

It looks newer. Has energy saver mode and lots of buttons lol Mind you we only plugged it in once to see if it worked. We didn't spend much time with it.

My afternoon plans got changed So we haven't tackled the AC unit yet.

Wh decided that around 9pm was the time to install the AC unit. We carried it upstairs and installed it into the window without any trouble. I put it on energy saver mode and left it on while we watched a movie. It has the side panel parts that help seal off the space so that was an easy install.

It cooled the hallway and the bedrooms were cooler. When we went to bed we shut it off. We always sleep with our door closed which was a mistake, even with the fan going.

Owell. It's going to be 33 degrees but feel like 46 today. It's a play in the kiddie pool day lol.

Dragn, it's already 27-28 here depending on which news agency you watch. And sauna-like in its humidity. Grrrrr....hate weather like this.

Lynnm,

Yep. 28 here now with a "feels like 38"

It's tempting to put the AC into our bedroom and have all of us camp out there lol.

I saw there's a 70% chance of thunderstorms where I am this afternoon. Usually that would help cool things down but I think it'll just create more humidity.

You people and your metric temps.

You people and your metric temps.

Lol. Actually I always understood Fahrenheit better. Saying its 81 but feels like 99 because of the humidity makes more sense to me than 27 feels like 37.

It's almost 90 degrees now on the mail level. I am sweating (drops falling off my forehead) while sitting in the kitchen. The thunderstorms turned out to be ten minutes of a sun shower. Ugh!

I wouldn't mind if we had a pool. Landlord isn't sure how it will affect her insurance etc. it's frustrating. I just saw my FIL post that they are putting up the 30 ft pool (the one wh got). Oh how I hope it leaks bad!!!

I will be turning on the AC after 7pm upstairs. Hopefully we'll sleep better tonight.