Can we run our window unit AC indoors, as long as the vent points out at the screen?

May 31, 2007 6:47 PM

Our homeowner's association doesn't allow window air conditioning units to be mounted outside of dwellings. But with our built-in inside window ledge, we can put our AC window unit right against the screen, keeping it fully indoors while still venting outside. Are there any health or safety reasons why we shouldn't do this?
posted by croutonsupafreak to home & garden (15 comments total)

They usually produce a fair amount of condensation. Where are you planning on having it go? Other than that, I don't see any problem.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 6:52 PM on May 31, 2007

I do this. Did it all last summer. No problems.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:58 PM on May 31, 2007 [1 favorite]

Along with the condensation issue.. Window units are more efficient than most portables, and you will be losing that efficiency gain.
Window units use outside air to cool the compressor. Most portable units run inside (cool) air across the compressor, and then vent that air outside.
posted by Chuckles at 7:04 PM on May 31, 2007

The point of that being.. Follow the air flow so that you can make sure you aren't blocking anything up that should be getting air, and that you are getting the best cooling performance you can.

Also, take a close look at what that 'best cooling performance' is. It might work very well, but it might also be terribly wasteful. Just because you are able to make it work, doesn't mean you should :P
posted by Chuckles at 7:08 PM on May 31, 2007

It sounds like it's horribly inefficient, but not dangerous, then? We'll put towels under it to collect condensation and in the next few days we'll get some plexiglass cut to put above the unit to make it a little more efficient. As to whether we should: without a little cooling, half of our home becomes unlivable on hot days.
posted by croutonsupafreak at 7:17 PM on May 31, 2007

Towels might not be enough for the condensation. Consider putting some kind of drip pan under it draining to something more substantial.
posted by Opposite George at 7:29 PM on May 31, 2007

It'll be loud.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 7:35 PM on May 31, 2007

Towels will only be enough for an hour or two of testing, if that. The 6,000BTU portable I use produces a liter every few hours (more than 2 gallons a day).

If you do it well, it may be quite efficient (just not as efficient as it could be). Done wrong, it could get real bad.. So, you really have to put thought and effort into doing it well, or forget it. And remember, portable aren't that expensive anymore.
posted by Chuckles at 7:55 PM on May 31, 2007

You do know they make stand alone, upright AC units, right?
posted by TomMelee at 8:07 PM on May 31, 2007

I just bought a 5200BTU window unit last week, and put it up against the screen. There's some condensation (quite humid already in the Midwest), but that's getting caught by the built in pan and evaporating.

It's cooling my living room really well, but I also took the extra step of hanging heavy curtains at the entry to the kitchen and the bedroom.
posted by Liosliath at 8:20 PM on May 31, 2007

Also, it's not really that loud, but I specifically looked for a model that mentioned "quiet operation."
posted by Liosliath at 8:23 PM on May 31, 2007

It sounds like you already have the window AC unit, but TomMelee is talking about this sort of thing, I believe. As soon as our unit dies, I'm getting a portable. I really feel that in Portland, you only need the AC for about 15 days out of every year. I hate having that ugly ass thing in my window all summer.
posted by peep at 8:41 PM on May 31, 2007

BTW, you still vent the portables out a window, in case anyone's interested. It's a fairly fat tube (about 3/4 of an inch in diameter?), and you stick the tube out the window.
posted by peep at 8:42 PM on May 31, 2007

For those floorstanding units, it's best to get the dual hose variety. The second hose allows them to pull outside air to cool the condenser.
posted by Good Brain at 9:31 PM on May 31, 2007

Looks like you've already been answered well enough, but I just thought I'd chime in...

I do this very thing with my Japanese monolingual A/C unit. Thank goodness for AskMeFi, now I know what all the funny Kanji means.
posted by SlyBevel at 11:38 PM on May 31, 2007