[TrailerParadise]

This weekend we will be installing a window AC Unit in the wall of my bedroom. If we put the face framing against the studs, it barely comes out of the wall far enough to get sufficient air. But people have told me i need to install drywall first, in the event i need to replace the air conditioner. But if i install drywall first, it will block some of the side vents. So can i install the ac unit before drywall, and just butt the drywall up to the sides? Leave the screws exposed for easy removal, or even just put trim over the face frame like a picture frame?

 

[TrailerParadise]

someone out there has surely installed one in a wall before, havent they?

 

[joecaption]

Not a great plan to try and use a window mount A/C unit for a wall mount.
Need one like this.
http://www.ajmadison.com/guides/air_conditioner/wall/
If not there's no good way to trim it out on the outside.

Your also going to have to beef up the studs in that area or it's going to twist and lean toward the ground on the outside which will cause it to leak on the outside.

 

[TrailerParadise]

i had one like that but my dad took it to put in one of his rentals. So all i have now is two little 110 units. I dont want to lose the use of one of my windows though.

 

[joecaption]

Look at the bottom of the unit you have now, is it flat?
Most are not so there's no way to get a wind and water tight seal.
The vents are also in a differant place in a wall mounted unit. There on the back not the sides.

 

[TrailerParadise]

the bottom is flat except for the face frame that you are supposed to shut the window in. there are two vents on the sides and one on the top and the grill on the back. there is about 3" of space between the face frame and the start of the side vents, and the stud plus the outside siding leaves about 6" of vent open on each side. i will lose another 1/2" - 3/4" with the vinyl siding. Maybe its not long enough, we might just have to bite the bullet and buy a wall mount ac unit.theyre definitely necessary in texas, you die in the summer without them.

 

[joecaption]

If you have never lived in a mobile home before you will soon find out that there so under insulated and with a metal roof transfuring the heat and cold it will be a real challage for a small A/C unit to do much good.
Sorry to sound so negitive but I've lived in three of them and worked on plenty of them and have been there done that.

 

[TrailerParadise]

ive lived in them during my whole childhood until my parents had the new house built 13 yrs ago. I know its hard to keep them cool but if you keep doors shut, use energy efficient windows, and replace the old crap insulation with new higher rated insulation, it does help tremendously. Plus sealing all of those cracks and gaps in the walls that these things are known for plus coating a metal roof with something like Koolseal will help keep it cool as well. Its not a real big deal, if it gets that hot i can always go to my mom's for a while. i dont expect it to come to that though. The only place i expect to experience heat loss or cold loss is through the floor since there is no insulation underneath. if someone would tell me what type to use i could fix that too but everyone ive asked has said they dont know.