Best Placement for Window Air Conditioners

If you only have one air conditioner then we usually suggest the bedroom. This is because most people find that if they can sleep comfortably during a hot summer night then their next days work will be a lot easier. Even getting through your regular work day routine becomes a lot easier knowing there is an air conditioner at home. You know you will be able to go home after work, relax and unwind in the comfort of a cool air environment. It certainly becomes something to look forward to, all day long.

Not everyone will want to install the air conditioner in the bedroom. Some people do not like a cool sleeping environment. For these people we suggest placement in a living room or family room. The elderly or handicapped may prefer the air conditioner in the living room because they spend most of their time there either entertaining friends or watching television. During the hottest days of summer they may not leave their homes for days.  Therefore being able to enjoy the day in a cool environment during the day becomes more important to them than being cool at night. 

For others the best placement of the window air conditioner will be the family room. It's often the center of most family activity, for both children and adults. Plus, being one of the larger rooms in the home the whole family can sleep here, if high summer heat dictates. Most other rooms would be too confining. It certainly is better than installing it in the master bedroom and then waking up in the morning to find a dog, cat, and four kids in the bed with you.

Another placement consideration is noise level. A window air conditioner can be noisy, which may disturb your sleep. If you are a light sleeper the bedroom might not be the best place to install it.  Alternately, other people find the drone of the fan actually promotes sleep. In fact, once most people become used to the sound of the air conditioner they begin to find it soothing.  This is because all the neighbourhood noises are drowned out. Some people say the air conditioner works as well as a sleeping pill.

Whichever room you eventually pick don’t expect the impossible from you’re air conditioner. The blower in a window air conditioner is not very powerful. It's meant to cool one room, not a number of interconnected rooms. Therefore a couple of smaller units may be better for your home than one large unit. If more than one air conditioner is to be installed it's generally most efficient to place them at opposite ends of the home on the same floor while placing one on each floor will only give localized cooling. Also remember that placement on the upper floors generally allows the air conditioners to work harder because warm air rises within the home. Alternately cool air will fall therefore upper floor placement may have the bonus of having some cool air fall to a lower level if located near a stairway.

Wherever the air conditioner is placed it will need direct access (5 or 6 feet) to an electric wall receptacle. Often overlooked by the homeowner, it's an important factor that will limit where an air conditioner can be placed. Don't be tempted to resolve this requirement by using a household extension cord, or a power bar. Running an air conditioner on a household extension cord can cause it to overheat, allowing the cord can become a fire hazard. Plus, the voltage drop within an average cord is too high. This will force the air conditioner to start at a reduced voltage. The air conditioner may initially operate on a household cord but it will eventually damage the compressor. If an extension cord is your only option then purchase one made specifically for appliances. Even though an appliance extension cord can be expensive ($20 is typical)  they are worth the investment by making the air conditioner operate more efficiently and safely. 

Lastly, remember to place and install the air conditioner so that it maintains your homes security. Its placement should include some means of securing the window from being lifted. The simple addition of a piece of wood to stop the window from being lifted up is a good idea. If you have wooden windows the addition of a small metal bracket at the top of the raised window will only take a minute. If not secured an intruder could gain access to your house by simply lifting the window and letting the air conditioner fall out. This could result in the loss of both your valuables and the air conditioner. Something to consider during placement of the air conditioner is that a lower level floor gives less security since an intruder would have easier access than on an upper level. A final consideration affecting placement is if your home has a security system. Contact your security company before installing. You may require a security cable be added to the window to stop the alarm from going off because the window is in a raised position.  Or they may attach a special security cable between the air conditioner body and the alarm sensor. In this way if either the air conditioner or window is tampered with the alarm will sound.

  By Donald Grummett 

Copyright © 2005 Donald Grummett. All rights reserved

top of page