What should I do with this A/C unit?

[Zrsnopro97]

Wondering what I should do with this A/C unit, thoughts or opinions? I got this for free and it works good, although being a little old and slightly ugly. Would be nice to utilize it but not sure if possible. It’s an older Amana unit, have not seen a model number on it yet. It has a wall sleeve around it already. Garage is insulated 24x24 attached to the house. I will not be installing it “through the wall” as it’s intended because I am not cutting a hole through my wall for this .

Options:

1) sell it and put money toward a true window unit for ease of installation

2) build some type of support/platform and use it like a window unit

3) build a small low profile rolling “cart” and close the garage door on top of it and only use it when I will be working in the garage for extended period of time. I would build some type of plywood or foam panel to close the rest of the gap under the garage door.

 

[462867aa]

Free unit? Put in window and prop up with a couple of 2x4s just like the old days!

 

[bonneyman]

Is it a R22 or R410a unit? In either case I'd hold on to it for emergency use - especially so if it's R22. Your house A/C goes out, you can rig it up in a bedroom window or something to get you buy.
I mean you could sell it (if you were close enough to me I'd buy it!) but see what they're charging for a similar-sized unit at Home Depot and ask that price. Because an older, working unit is worth it.

 

[Zrsnopro97]

Yes it was a free unit. Unsure what refrigerant it uses as I have not been able to find a sticker or tag on the model info yet. My only concern with running it like a window unit is the weight of the unit itself, feels like a good 80lbs or so, I don’t want to cause any damage to the window frame. So I’d have to construct some type of supported platform, and then of course seal the side edges and top with some type of foam/weatherstripping .

 

[Bert_]

All you need is some light angle to mount on the top and bottom. I think I had to screw a 2x2 to the bottom of this one after I removed the accordion filler pieces. I throw away the accordion sides and use a piece of rigid foam insulation cut to fit tightly in the space.

I have hung an 18,000btu window unit out of a common crappy vinyl window. I used no extra supports except a 2x4 to spread out the weight.

I use the same 2x4 now with this 8,000btu but it has worked fine with either one.

2x4 would really look better if I painted it white!

 

[Codyboy]

Looks like a hotel unit that sits low and in a hole in the wall.

 

[fitter30]

Tag should be side of the electrical panel. Use it in your garage.

 

[PCustoms]

Delete

 

[BillK]

I cant tell how big it is from your picture but what makes you think it is not a window unit ? Find the model number and look it up.

 

[lolaetype]

I'd put it in the window and as those above have said use a 2X4 to spread the load on the window sill and fill out the sides with wood with foam tape sealing against the window frame the AC case.

How I did mine.

 

[Zrsnopro97]

I cant tell how big it is from your picture but what makes you think it is not a window unit ? Find the model number and look it up.

It’s roughly 26” wide, 22” deep, and 16” tall. The reason I didn’t think it’s a window unit is because it came with a wall sleeve around it already, and the sheer size/weight of it. I could be wrong though it’s just a guess. It would be a 2 man job just to lift it into the window frame, probably weighs at least 80 lbs.

 

[Zrsnopro97]

I'd put it in the window and as those above have said use a 2X4 to spread the load on the window sill and fill out the sides with wood with foam tape sealing against the window frame the AC case.

How I did mine.

That looks pretty good , I like that install.

 

[lolaetype]

That looks pretty good , I like that install.

Thanks, the outside. It's an 8,000 BTU unit and in this 100+ F weather it can barely hold it's own in the fully insulated brick detached garage. I checked with my IR thermometer yesterday and the bricks fully exposed to sunlight were over 140F.

 

[bonneyman]

Thanks, the outside. It's an 8,000 BTU unit and in this 100+ F weather it can barely hold it's own in the fully insulated brick detached garage. I checked with my IR thermometer yesterday and the bricks fully exposed to sunlight were over 140F.

Kinda off topic, but the best way to keep cooler inside is to prevent the heat infiltration in the first place. I used to recommend to people with large western or southern exposures to plant trees or shrubs when they move into the house. Won't cool you immediately, but over time as they grow the shade will help. For those who can't wait try a dense white lattice installed on that wall, maybe even a makeshift lean-to to shade it from the full onslaught of the sun. Both of these shouldn't be prohibitively expensive, and could help.

 

[Zrsnopro97]

Kinda off topic, but the best way to keep cooler inside is to prevent the heat infiltration in the first place. I used to recommend to people with large western or southern exposures to plant trees or shrubs when they move into the house. Won't cool you immediately, but over time as they grow the shade will help. For those who can't wait try a dense white lattice installed on that wall, maybe even a makeshift lean-to to shade it from the full onslaught of the sun. Both of these shouldn't be prohibitively expensive, and could help.

I will fully agree with this. The majority of my yard (at least around the house) is covered with huge oak trees. The shade is awesome in the summer time and definitely helps .

 

[KenC]

About the sleeve, a lot of older/larger/heavier window units where designed that way. You mount the case without dealing with all that weight, then slide the unit into the sleeve.

 

[PoorUB]

About the sleeve, a lot of older/larger/heavier window units where designed that way. You mount the case without dealing with all that weight, then slide the unit into the sleeve.

In the wall units are pretty much all that way. You mount the wall sleeve (case) in the wall and slide the unit into the wall sleeve.

Years ago the big wall unit manufacturer was GE and many manufacturers still built their units to fit in the old GE wall sleeve. We used to sell a lot of AC units to people with older all electric homes for that reason. They would have electric baseboard and a wall unit for AC.

 

[The Cobbler]

2) build some type of support/platform and use it like a window unit

this
I was given ( actually the volunteer group I am involved with) was donated a decent AC Unit that was missing the flexible drapes or whatever you call them. I was inserting it into an interior wall so it didn't matter . I made the opening of the wall a few inches
larger than the unit itself , mounted the unit & filled the opening with 1/4" ply. It lives in there permanently . It's purpose is to cool the kitchen , the hot air blows into the warehouse which has doors open wide.

 

[KenC]

In the wall units are pretty much all that way. You mount the wall sleeve (case) in the wall and slide the unit into the wall sleeve.

Years ago the big wall unit manufacturer was GE and many manufacturers still built their units to fit in the old GE wall sleeve. We used to sell a lot of AC units to people with older all electric homes for that reason. They would have electric baseboard and a wall unit for AC.

My first A/C was a big window unit made by Fedders. It was made that way. IME, the window units were all supplied with a cord and plug. The ones intended for wall mount, like most motels use, did not have a factory cord but were intended to be hardwired.

Several years back we bought a commercial business building built in 1920 on our town's main street. In it's original form it had steam heat and no A/C of course. The street level was air conditioned in 50s with Chrysler Air Temp units. Huge 3 phase monsters as they cooled about 10000 sqft with 16 ft high ceilings. the upstairs offices had been cooled with similar vintage window units, 6 of them.

None had been used for 25 years when we bought it. What was amazing to me was the fact they all of them, even the big Air Temp units worked when I got the power hooked up. Well, the big ones ran, but the wooden cooling towers had been completely rotted away.

Old stuff may not be as efficient as the newer products, but they surely last!

 

[PoorUB]

The ones intended for wall mount, like most motels use, did not have a factory cord but were intended to be hardwired.

I have never seen a hard wired wall unit. All I have seen had an outlet right next to the sleeve to plug in the unit. Now if you are talking about the 42" wide PTAC units, I have seen a few of them that were hard wired, but again, usually just plugged in so they can be swapped out easily. I managed apartment buildings for a few years and also got involved in motels later on, all the 26" wide units were plugged in.

 

[KenC]

I have never seen a hard wired wall unit. All I have seen had an outlet right next to the sleeve to plug in the unit. Now if you are talking about the 42" wide PTAC units, I have seen a few of them that were hard wired, but again, usually just plugged in so they can be swapped out easily. I managed apartment buildings for a few years and also got involved in motels later on, all the 26" wide units were plugged in.

Yeah, I was referring to PTACs. Maybe it is regional or contractor preference but all I've seen are hardwired. Most building owners avoid having units that occupants can disable.