Can I install a window a/c inside a room?

Question

I live in a rented apartment and the landlord doesn't allow window acs. Can I install a window ac inside a room and create a plywood shell to cover the back and sides of the ac to vent the air out. Will this work? Anyone have better ideas? Have looked at portable a/cs but have read that they are not as effective and are expensive.

What I am trying to do is to make a plywood shell and take the open end to the egde of the window and seal it wil duct tape. This way the hot air goes outside instead of coming back in?

Answer 1

Yes, but it would be too ugly and too complicated to work properly and your landlord would know because he will be able to see your contraption from the outside.

Your best bet is to check with your tenant's association to install a window unit properly.

Next best is to use the portable A/C's; they are designed for this purpose. They are more expensive and only slightly less effective.

If you are to build a contraption, look at your A/C carefully. Window A/C's are designed with a division between inside and outside. The outside needs to draw fresh air through top and/or side vents and expel it through the back. These two air streams must be kept separate otherwise your efficiency will drop dramatically. And A/C's generate a considerable amount of condensation that usually drips harmlessly outside. Some of the newer models even use this condensation to increase efficiency and spew a fine spray with the hot air out the back. You will have to collect and dispose of this condensation without making a mess or damaging the floor and walls. I really don't recommend this.

Answer 2

I live in a rented apartment and the windows open at the top half with a crank that raises them out and upward. No real way of putting in any AC unit at all. Also the screens are on the inside. So here is what i'm thinking. Build a plywood box that will elevate the AC unit up in front of the top window the back will not stick out through the window at all but sit just in front of it in this boxed in shelf. where the shelf unit meets the window i'll use split pipe insulation so it's snug against the window frame all around. Drill a hole in the shelf under the AC unit where the water drains out ( most AC units can be fitted for a short piece of garden hose ) run the drain into a five gallon bucket which should take a few days to get anywhere near full and empty it now and then. So it's not out side the window at all but just in front of it and only the face of the AC unit is exposed to the room. It should work just as good as being half outside as it would be if it could be installed as it should. The window is plenty tall enough so the vents on the top and sides that take in air can get plenty while the very back where the hot air comes out can go directly out the window. Hate to run on but i think this could work. The window is two panels high the bottoms are shorter than the top ones and do not open. The inside window ledge is two feet deep to the windows so build a shelf that brings the AC unit up in front of the one that cranks out build the side to go all the way to the top of the window and cover it. Measure out a piece of plywood and cut it to fit around the front of the AC unit. Use the split pipe insulation to make a gasket type seal all around the back side of the shelf unit. Drill your drain hole set it up in the window, place the AC unit inside, put the front on around the unit, put the drain hose on and into a bucket. Now let her rip. If you think to much heat is building up behind the unit place a small fan back there to give it a little positive ventilation and all should be well. Mind you i have not done this yet myself but can think of no reason why it should not work. as long as the vents on the top and sides have plenty of room to draw in air it should not harm anything. I am going to start working on this this Saturday. Parts needed: one sheet and a half of 1/2 inch plywood, large box of sheet rock screw 1 1/2 inch long, 4-5 pieces of split pipe insulation, maybe a drain adaptor( check your hardware store and use your imagination if need be. One heavy duty power strip(the cord on the AC is not long enough to make it to the wall plug now. Get some ducked tape and of course you need an AC unit. (walmart's)?

Answer 3

You could but you would defeat your purpose. The tail end that you normally put to the outside takes the hot air and blows it outside while blowing the cool inside so you would be negating any benefit you may have had by doing it that way. Those portable units do not really do that good a job so best bet is to either go the room A/C in the window or get a fan or if you are in a place that is not real humid, you could go with what they call a swamp cooler. That is a unit that goes into your window like a normal A/C but it works by pumping water over some pads that are outside in the unit to cool the air that way. It does make for more humidity in the room but is really cool and can do a whole house with just one medium size unit. They used to use this type of thing for cooling things that now go to the refrigerator so it is very effective.

Answer 4

You have an interesting challenge. I think the answer is probably not. A window AC unit relies on the ambient air temperature to cool the refrigeration coils. If you create a short duct connected to the window, it will quickly heat the small space between the coils and the window and reduce the heat transfer dramatically. If you can get some airflow across the coils it would help.

Another problem will be the noise level inside the apartment. You will have the motor and compressor noice inside the apartment.

Answer 5

Richard is right. The back of the AC needs to be outside or it will not work properly.

Creative solution, but it will not work. If the unit you are renting is not air conditioned, You need to talk to the local rental commission about what is allowed. The place must be habitable, and lately, an AC is needed.

Good luck.

Answer 6

The problem would be that you will be sending hot air back into a room you are trying to cool. The condensate also needs to go somewhere. When a unit is installed in the window, hot air is expelled on the outside.

Answer 7

This is a good idea, but unfortunately not a practical one. I have a portable ac that worked great. Just make sure its high enough in BTU's to cool the area properly. Most of the time that people complain about them not cooling enough is because they have one thats too small for the room.

Answer 8

you can put one in your apt but you will need some where for the condinsation to drip. The law would be the landlord needs to make sure you have a/c with these hot temps we will be having in the up coming months. You can call the tenants association and they will make them take care of it. hope this helps you

Answer 9

they sell self contained unit that you can buy that go on the inside of the house and collect all the condensation in a bottle and you just have to empty it every now and then. try you local hardware store to see if they sell them.

Answer 10

Call the city, if the landlord doesn't provide an A/C, he can't keep you from installing one.