safe installation of a window unit in a highrise building

parksloper24

Hey all

looking for some advice. I recently moved into a highrise building in park slope, I'm on the 14th floor to be exact and as some of you have noticed its VERY hot. I'd love to put in my window units asap but I'm a bit afraid of it falling 14 stories and landing on someones head/car etc. The street my unit faces is a busy one. My super offered no help and from staring at other peoples windows it doesnt look like anyone has done anything special. DOes anyone have any suggestions for bracing a window unit as a "just in case" measure

Any help is appreciated

Thanks!

armchair_warrior

http://www.amazon.com/Window-Support-Heavy-Conditioner-Bracket/dp/B000274SEU

get something like that. i always offer to help my tenants. alot of them don't take the help and put them up without these things sadly.

armchair_warrior

ps there are cheaper ones at the local hardware stores .

parksloper24

reading the reviews it sounds like its not the greatest for brick facades like my buildings... have you used it on brick before? of course the hardware store guy says yes it does, but i'd hate to get it home and have it not work and be stuck with a $40 paperweight

pragmaticguy

This is what I do....I drill a few small holes around the a/c frame into the window and then screw the a/c frame into the window frame where it rests on the top of the a/c and the sides. This way...you can't open the window because you'd have to lift the whole a/c and of course the sides are fastened into the side of the window. I use the same holes every year so it doesn't look like swiss cheese and you can always fill them in when you move.

pmca

I bought the AC bracket and it could not be installed because of the sill/building configuration. So I install the same as PragmaticGuy which identically how the guys from the appliance store install.

boygabriel

I've used one of those on a brick wall before, but it was only up for a year. Seemed to work fine though.

I'm always worried about the 'screwed into the frame' method b/c the AC shell is so flimsy, if it's a big AC I feel like it could just rip off and fall out.

tateinbk

I am planning to try my father's method and if that doesn't work I'm contacting the super. I have a beast of an AC and refuse to have the whole thing supported by a flimsy window. I don't even think I can put it far enough out the window to be placed properly without it dropping below.

So, my father's method:

Take some wood boards the length of the width of the unit and as high as would be needed to rest the AC on. (I got my selection of wood from a hardware store scrap pile.)

Then screw two screws into the top of the wood pallet you have made.

Put two screws on the Inside either in the window molding or outside of it.

Using wire, wrap from one interior screw to the two on the wood pallet resting on the window ledge and back in and around the other interior screw.

You should now be able to slide your AC into the window with more comfort that it won't just go crashing down on some poor shmuck's head. (I once missed getting beaned on the head by one by just a few steps. That was scary.)

When it's time to leave you just remove the screws in the walls/moldings, putty the holes, and you're set to go.

Now that I've talked a big game, I have to go see if I can manage it. It has worked for me in the past though, so I have high hopes. If it doesn't, I'll be back offering to pay other people big bucks to come and do the scary part for me.

armchair_warrior

have you guys thought of getting a "portable" ac I finally got one this year. I'm a worry wort . so i decided not to worry this year. cost is slightly more.

tateinbk

Last time I bought a unit I got suckered into the whole "get lots of BTUs" nonsense. And now I'm stubbornly stuck on this massive piece of seasonal hassle.

armchair_warrior

most modern small cheapest ac work as fine as those big massive btu monsters.

talk about monsters , one of my tenants didn't want the monster i put into their windows last year, they ask if i had a smaller one, which i had cause i just got my portable ac. put the small unit in and everyone was happy. the monster is too heavy to get rid off. plus i don't really want to strain my back trying to get the sucker out of the basement to recycle it.

tateinbk

With the help of some muscle to lift the thing I installed it like an expert.

Just wait until a few really hot days pass and the AC's in stores are running low, the prices run high, and post on Craigslist for $50 and they have to do all the carting and you might find people quite willing to take it off your hands. Or not, and it will simply be there as a relic that people far far in the future will stare and wonder at.

scarlett

My roomie and I put in a huge unit 3 years ago into metal frame windows with minimal support (I had this idea to put a 2x4 but it wasn't tall enough) and it has stayed there ever since with zero issue. I think if it's gonna fall, one story or 14 are the same, except for the person on the ground.

anthonycm

armchair_warrior said:

have you guys thought of getting a "portable" ac I finally got one this year.

Did the one you get actually work well? I bought one a couple of years ago and it was pretty useless. Which model did you get, if you don't mind me asking?

owler

Ah, you know it's summer when you start hearing about the falling AC's of death.

armchair_warrior

i got the sharp cv p10rc its same as cv p10pc and few other models. lol i can't tell you how good it is cause my room is tiny.

its around 7x9. so it can cool that room . and its a monster around 90+ lbs lol.

mines is reconditioned its like 200+ only reason i got it cause its cheaper than any other "portable" unit.