portable air conditioner? Window/Water issues

In the 1990s I had a window air conditioner in a room that bore the brunt of serious summer storms. This was a closed-in porch that was built poorly in the 1950s. We had serious water come in through the window with the air conditioner- soaking and rotting the drywall and insulation at least 4 times over a period of years. imagine water puddling on the window sill and streaming into my house. At one point ice formed underneath the siding.

I had the entire back of my townhouse rebuilt and 9 new windows installed. However all contractors refused to build eaves/overhang onto the house, so I still can get rain pretty hard against the glass.

Call me irrational, my wife sure does, but I have such a fear of water coming in again that I never put the air conditioner back in and keep the windows closed at night and whenever I'm out of the house. Result: no more water problems.

Now, It's clear I need to get a window unit back in there.

I want something with absolutely the smallest opening we can get and preferably something I can pull out of the window in case of severe weather. The old unit struggled at 5000 btus.

I like the idea of the portable AC unit. I know traditional AC people cringe. I saw brands like Royal Sovereign and WindChaser in the $300 range. Anyone know about reliability with these brands?

Are there other options for someone looking for the smallest possible chance for water to get in the house? I don't want to focus on one solution if others exist.

thanks,

Don

Reply to
bbcrock
Loading thread data ...

They don't work as well as regular window units and they cost 3X as much. Newer AC's are lighter and can be pulled out quickly if need be. Properly installed, you should get no water. I've had different ones in different windows for 40 years and never had a leak or drip. It must be level.

You may want to consider an awning over the window. Keeps the rain off of it and keeps the AC cooler.

Reply to
Edwin Pawlowski

According to Edwin Pawlowski :

Some should be slightly tipped down towards the outside to ensure that the condensate drips out the back instead of overflowing out the front.

1/4" should do it.

It's generally better to have a custom hole cut for the AC than trying to adapt it to a window opening, because a pre-existing window opening is usually vastly too big, you're trying to balance the thing on window jambs, and their flashing arrangements seldom work well.

Ours are openings cut thru stick/vinyl siding, fully flashed and properly vapor barriered, just like a window, with supporting brackets to ensure that they don't move, and insulation stuffed in the gaps.

One of them is screwed in place using angle iron. It ain't going nowhere, and neither of them have ever leaked moisture. But they are under eaves with too many trees around for direct wind impact.

A good idea if you're insisting on a window opening.

Reply to
Chris Lewis

Second the through wall mounting recommendation. When mounting through wall you can use proper flashing techniques to prevent water getting in that are not possible with a window mount. You also don't loose the light from and use of the window.

Pete C.

Reply to
Pete C.

thanks, yes, neither contractor I got quotes from would do the wall opening for the A/C unit, so when I had the work done, that wasn't done. They had excuses about AC units changing in size, etc. I needed the work done in a reasonable time and the one cost- under

The puddling problem was based on the shape of my window sill- water was not coming in from the AC Unit, it was coming in from the rain and sitting in the window, um, seat and then leaking into the house or streaming over the side. the new window is much better, but I have not left them open during a rain.

I talked to my realtor about this and she just said, "all houses that face that side have those problems." nice way to give up the fight.

Thanks for all these replies and I will see if there are other options available. I've investigated a LOT of different options, like new central air, but I don't believe that's an affordable option in the near future. If I had $25k I'd start my kitchen.

Don

Pete C. wrote:

Reply to
bbcrock

HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.