How To Insulate Window Air Conditioner

Installing window air conditioner insulation is a prerequisite for saving on heating costs during winters or cold weather. It helps to go on cold air outside and warm air inside a room. Thankfully, insulating your window Air conditioning is less costly and less time-consuming.

If y'all neglect to insulate the window air conditioner, the warm air in your room will leak around the unit's perimeter. As well, precipitation from the exterior will get indoors and reduce the Ac's efficiency. You lot'll end up spending a lot of money on heating bills.

The first and best fashion to insulate a window air conditioner is to follow installation instructions. That's why nosotros will first expect at how to install a window Air conditioning. Afterward, you lot'll learn how to insulate a window air conditioner to maximize its efficiency.

Things to Consider Earlier Installing a Window Air Conditioner

A window air conditioner used to represent the concept of how to install window air conditioner insulation.

At that place are many things to know earlier ownership or installing a window AC in your home, including the following factors.

Size of Your Room

Since window air conditioners are of unlike sizes, the size of your room volition influence the cooling capacity of an AC needed. If your room is huge, you'll need an air conditioner with a higher cooling capacity.

Nevertheless, if the room is more than extensive, but the air conditioner has a lower cooling capacity, it will piece of work harder to cool the unabridged space. That will reduce the efficiency and lifespan of the window AC and increase your heating bills.

The BTU (British Thermal Units) is the standard unit for measuring an air conditioner's cooling capacity, and information technology ranges from 5,000 BTU to 25,000 BTU. Generally, y'all demand 20 BTUs to cool every square foot of your living infinite.

For instance, if your room is 500 square feet large, you lot'll demand a window AC with a cooling chapters of 10,000 BTUs. Hither are the other recommended cooling capacities for diverse room sizes.

Room Size (Sq. ft.)	Cooling Capacity (BTU)
150 – 300	5,000 – 7,000
300 – 450	seven,000 – 10,000
450 – 1,000	ten,000 – eighteen,000
1,000 – one,600	18,000 – 25,000

Learn more about how to size an air conditioner in this post.

Design of Your Window

Not every window Air-conditioning fits any blazon of window. You should first effigy out your window's style, whether it's a double-hung, slider, or a casement design. As well, you need to measure out the height and width of the window to decide if the AC will fit.

Notably, nigh air conditioner units fit perfectly in double-hung windows that have a lower sash. You tin lower or raise the lower sash, making it easier to install an Air conditioning. Then, I'll hash out the installation of the window AC on double-hung windows.

Energy Efficiency of the Ac

It'due south no doubt that all air conditioners consume a lot of free energy. However, you tin save on energy costs by choosing an AC with a low Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER). That's why you need to check the SEER number before buying a window AC.

Simply put, the SEER rating is the ratio of an AC's cooling chapters to the corporeality of power consumed. For case, if an Ac'southward cooling capacity is 10,000 BTU and uses ane,000 watts of power, its SEER number will exist 10. Read more than nearly SEER ratings here.

Window ACs with higher energy efficiency ratings tin can help yous save electricity and lower your utility bills. An first-class example is an Free energy Star certified window Air conditioning.

How to Install a Window Air Conditioner for Maximum Efficiency

Installing a window air conditioner seems daunting, and that'southward why well-nigh homeowners in Phoenix opt for our ac services. Ideally, seeking professional guidance is the best style to go. Simply if you lot insist on installing your window Air conditioning by yourself, hither are some tips.

Hither are the tools and materials you will need to install a window air conditioner.

Window AC unit
Screwdriver bit
Pair of scissors
Tape measure
Drill with bits
Insulating foam

Now that you have all the tools and materials needed allow's await at how you can install a window AC for easy insulation. Hither are the steps to follow.

Step i: Inspect the Window

Yous need to inspect the window to bank check if it'due south in good condition. Check if there's any obstruction on your window, including storm window screens that tin damage the AC'south overhanging part on the outside. You can remove or raise the screen to protect the AC.

Equally you audit the window, you should too wash the glass both within and out. That's because you'll probably exit information technology closed for a few months until when y'all remove the AC unit. Besides, yous should clear the ataxia around the window to create more working infinite.

Step 2: Mount the Window Air conditioning Unit of measurement

To position the air conditioner on your window, y'all should follow all the manufacturer's instructions. You'll raise the window'due south lower sash and position the Air-conditioning at the center of the window. Note that yous need some other person to aid you mount the unit.

While keeping the window AC unit balanced, slide the flange at the bottom of the air conditioner until it leans on the windowsill. And then, lower the lower sash of the window until it rests on the Ac's peak flange. Allow your helper hold it for subsequent steps.

Step three: Spiral the Ac Unit of measurement on the Window

Once you lot've lowered the window sash, you demand to brand sure that information technology holds the Ac unit. Otherwise, the Ac unit might fall when the sash gets raised accidentally. You can insert two or three screws through the AC's upper flange into the window sash.

Nonetheless, y'all need to drill the holes first before inserting the screws to prevent the forest from splitting. Also, y'all should spiral two small L-shaped brackets on the top of the lower sash to hold and prevent it from slipping.

Stride 4: Prepare the Air-conditioning's Side Curtains

Most window air conditioners come with ii side curtains and frames. You need to fix the side curtains on the Ac unit of measurement and pull them out to the window's edges on both sides. Yous should then screw the defunction on the window frame to hold them firmly.

Notably, the side defunction are perfect insulation around a window air conditioner as it prevents hot air from inbound the house. It too helps to forbid bugs from entering the room. Check the manufacturer'due south instructions for fixing the side defunction.

How to Insulate Around a Window Air Conditioner

Now that you've installed the unit, you need to add more insulation around the window air conditioner. That volition prevent the warm air in your room from escaping, especially during wintertime. So, you won't spend a lot of money on heating costs.

Here are the steps of window air conditioner insulation to follow.

Footstep 1: Identify Air Leaks around the Air-conditioning Unit of measurement

After installing the window air conditioner, you need to find the gaps around the unit that could exist problematic. Check if yous tin see daylight around the unit's perimeter and add more insulation around information technology. Also, check if there are gaps behind the AC'due south accordion flaps.

Withal, the gaps effectually the window AC unit may non be visible sometimes. To find the leak points, you lot should low-cal a candle lighter and hold information technology indoors near the window AC unit of measurement. You should then move the called-for lighter around the Air-conditioning's perimeter.

If at that place is an air leak around the AC unit of measurement, the flame volition flicker. The testing method works best when you programme to leave the air conditioner installed throughout the year.

Pace 2: Insulate effectually the AC Unit

In one case you've identified all the gaps and holes around the window air conditioner, you need to insulate it using a flexible foam insulation material. Measure out and cut the foam insulating strip using a abrupt knife and fit it in the gaps and openings discovered.

Some of the gaps that crave insulation are the spaces between the glass panes of the upper sash and the lower sash. Y'all too need to insert the insulating foam into the gap between the window frame and the window AC unit of measurement body.

Thankfully, most new window air conditioners come with insulating strips/foams. Merely if the unit has not insulating material, you need to buy one to salve on heating costs.

Step 3: Weatherize and Cover the Unit

Weatherizing a window Ac unit helps extend its lifespan by protecting information technology against the damaging effects of pelting. Remove the AC'south outer cover to expose all the inner components. Tape a plastic bag effectually the unit and return the outer cover.

Alternatively, you can buy a cloth cover designed to fit a window Ac. Place the comprehend right over the unit of measurement'due south exterior cover to protect it from atmospheric precipitation similar heavy rains and snow. Thankfully, the fabric covers are bachelor in most hardware stores.

Final Words

Installing an Air conditioning is never difficult, especially when you know how to insulate around a window air conditioner. All y'all have to practice is advisedly read and follow the window air conditioner insulation guidelines highlighted by the manufacturer.

However, if installing insulation around the window air conditioner seems tedious to you, you tin can hire an air workout specialist in Phoenix to help you. We provide HVAC and plumbing services (including multi stage water filters) in all of Phoenix. The good news is that air conditioner installation and insulation services are affordable.

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