[Ultrarunner2017]

Hi;
I have a GE room AC unit that is mounted through the wall. It is just a window unit with a slide-out chassis. I believe it's 8,000 BTU.
The unit needs to be replaced, and I'm wondering whether I will be able to get any brand unit to fit into the same wall cutout. I don't care if I have to change the sleeve (it will come with the new unit), but I don't want to have to modify the wall opening.

Thanks

FW

 

[Ron6519]

It's unlikely you will find one that fits the opening, but research is just a click away. Go to A/C company sites and look at each of their specs on the size you need. Pick the ones that the closest in size.
Ron
Some companies like Fedders and Freidrich have sleeve catagories. They have a number of A/C sizes that fit into the same sleeve.

 

[Ultrarunner2017]

Thanks for your info.
I found an old unit up in the attic. The sleeve is slightly shorter in width, but the height is essentially the same. The unit works.
I may try to fit that sleeve into the opening by installing a thin strip to fill the gap. The screws that hold the sleeve would go all the way through the shim, so I don't think it would fall out<g>
In the mean time I'll check out the various models. I was on GE's website earlier today, and it seems that the sleeve models start at 10,000 BTU, and are much wider than my opening.
Since 8,000 and lower units have gotten a lot lighter, I suspect I will have a difficult time finding one that small with a sleeve.
I'll keep researching, and perhaps I'll find one that will fit.

FW

 

[Scuba_Dave]

I've used just reg AC for in wall installation
This is on 2x6 wall so it has quite a bit to sit on
AC is securely attached to the frame

 

[Ron6519]

I've used just reg AC for in wall installation
This is on 2x6 wall so it has quite a bit to sit on
AC is securely attached to the frame

Dave, what's a, "reg A/C"?
Most window units and wall units have different vent setups in the sleeves. You need the vents completely exposed or the unit will be subjected to overheating and over time will shorten it's life. Some manufacturers build dual purpose installations, but most do not.
Ron

 

[Scuba_Dave]

One without a sleeve - window AC
Vents are exposed
I ran one 7 years at my last house without any problems

You do need to make sure the water will drip out
I had a friend install one without a drain plug (usually plastic)
We were over for a cookout & it started to make noise as the fan hit the water
Drilled a hole & made sure he knew to check the hole every now & then to make sure it was clear

 

[DangerMouse]

i don't know ron, i've only really seen a couple sizes for window units.... small and large, and i've interchanged them before no problem.
KE2KB: if you're going to buy a new unit, just measure the old case and see what you can find to match.

DM

 

[Scuba_Dave]

I put a 24,000 unit into a 912 sq ft 3 bedroom house
I then installed a 12k unit in the main bedroom (cathedral ceiling)
The other 2 bedrooms I never really used (doors closed)
So the 24k unit was cooling around 600 sq ft
One part had a flat roof & little insulation, then the kitchen & entry were cathedral ceilings

I think if I turned both up full blast I could ice skate
But it was only $40 more then the 18k unit at the time :rockon:

 

[Ultrarunner2017]

Hey guys;
Thanks for your support!
The unit that has just died was 10 yrs old. I used to get a lot more from a window AC unit than that, but I guess nothing's made that well anymore

This unit had a lot of junk in the back against the condenser fins, and they were pretty much rotted away, I guess from staying wet all the time.
There was also pretty much water in the pan when I removed it. There is no drain plug that I can see.
I was of the impression that the unit is supposed to be mounted with a slight downward tilt towards the outside to allow water to drain. The guys who installed this unit didn't do such a great job, as I can see from other evidence around the inside and outside of this extension, which was added 10yrs ago.

Thanks for cluing me in about the different sleeves. I was thinking I might just try to mount the old window unit in the opening. Maybe it would work, but I really don't want to spend the time and effort to install another 10+yr old unit anyway. I'll look for something that is as close to the size of my opening as possible. I know that I can always go a little smaller, but not bigger. The frame was built to fit this AC, since it was installed when the room was built.

At least the thing decided to die before the summer started, and not during the hottest days.

FW

 

[Scuba_Dave]

On my friends AC & one that I have a hole had to be drilled to allow water to drain
The slope away from the house is also very important

 

[Ultrarunner2017]

I believe that my unit was improperly installed (by the contractor). I do not think there is enough slope.
I am going to check it when I install the new unit. If there is a drain plug in the pan, I will make sure I open it.

I read an article on WikiHow that states the opening must be 1/4" higher than the height of the sleeve to allow it to slope.
The one that is currently installed is nailed in. I can see nails on the top and both sides. I'm not sure about how the bottom is fastened to the frame.
I just hope that removing the sleeve doesn't open up a can of worms. This is going to be a DIY job, where Y=I <g>

FW

 

[Ultrarunner2017]

Update

Here's what I've got. Can anyone tell me whether this opening is OK for the AC unit, or if it needs modification.
Note that the old AC unit sleeve was nailed into the frame. It looks like a standard window unit with the window mounting hardware removed.

Thanks

FW

 

[Ron6519]

Other than the bottom metal flashing not going all the way to the edges, it looks fine.
But as you've already found out, the new A/c units of the same btu size have smaller sleeves. You can either, find the correct btu size for the room that's an exact fit. Possible, not likely. Get a bigger btu unit and waste energy. Stupid. Or you can get the correct unit from the company you want and modify the opening.
It's your house, do what you want.
Ron

 

[COLDIRON]

Drain plug

One without a sleeve - window AC
Vents are exposed
I ran one 7 years at my last house without any problems

You do need to make sure the water will drip out
I had a friend install one without a drain plug (usually plastic)
We were over for a cookout & it started to make noise as the fan hit the water
Drilled a hole & made sure he knew to check the hole every now & then to
make sure it was clear

For several years now manufacturer's have been making window shakers with slinger rings on the condenser fan it picks up water draining from the evap and slings it on the condenser coil and evaporates and it helps keep the head pressures lower. Maybe your friends unit wasn't designed to have a drain plug.

 

[Ultrarunner2017]

Actually, I haven't installed any window AC with a drain plug in a very long time. At least, not with one that the installer had to open up. There might be pre-drilled/opened drain plugs on units that didn't require attention during install.

I am concerned too about the flashing that is on the outside of the house around the opening. It was installed to fit around the old sleeve, but don't know how well it will fit/work around the new one.
There was caulking on it when I pulled the old sleeve out.
The problem I face, is that I do not have access to the outside of the opening, as I do not have a ladder that will reach the spot.

It would be nice if there were such a device, rubber, poly, etc; something soft and conforming that could be installed around the opening (by reaching out through the opening) prior to installing the sleeve, which would then be pushed out and seal around the sleeve as it is pushed through the opening
I guess such a thing does not exist, unless I want to fabricate it myself.
Maybe I could use some kind of weather stripping on the edges of the flashing before installing the sleeve. If I could get it to stick, it might work well enough to keep the rain from dripping in.


FW

 

[COLDIRON]

Foam

Try that spray foam it conforms to anything and sticks to anything.
You can even trim and paint it and it is strong as hell.

 

[Ultrarunner2017]

Try that spray foam it conforms to anything and sticks to anything.
You can even trim and paint it and it is strong as hell.

Are you talking about spray foam insulation, or something else?
Any specific brand you recommend?

Thanks

FW

 

[COLDIRON]

Spray foam

Are you talking about spray foam insulation, or something else?
Any specific brand you recommend?

Thanks


FW

Spray foam insulation, it is really strong stuff people do not realize that.

Any type, Wal Mart has it " Tuff Stuff " I had a shower stall with a fiberglass bottom that started cracking and was flexible I sprayed a can under neath from the basement and wa la tightened right up.

I seen them lift houses on TV with that stuff to level them.

I'm telling you if you install that A/C case and foam around it forget about it, it's in to stay.

 

[Ultrarunner2017]

Spray foam insulation, it is really strong stuff people do not realize that.

Any type, Wal Mart has it " Tuff Stuff " I had a shower stall with a fiberglass bottom that started cracking and was flexible I sprayed a can under neath from the basement and wa la tightened right up.

I seen them lift houses on TV with that stuff to level them.

I'm telling you if you install that A/C case and foam around it forget about it, it's in to stay.

It may be worth a try.
I have researched the AC units, and found only one (Friedrich) that will fit into the opening I have. All of the others are smaller, and will require a lot of filling on the sides.
I can use 1x2 pieces on the sides, but need the foam or other material to seal up the extra spaces on the outside so that rain does not get in.

Problem is this:
Once i install the 1x2's on the sides, I won't have access to the outside spaces around the sleeve, so I'm not sure how I would get even spray foam into the space, as I do not have a ladder to reach the outside of the unit.
Of course, I suppose that I could spray the foam before pushing the sleeve through the opening, and it would harden around the sleeve?
I don't think this would produce an acceptable finish on the outside though.

So, I'll probably just bite the bullet and go for the Friedrich unit that will cost me $550 for an 8,000 BTU. Yes, a lot more expensive, but it's a better built unit, and would eliminate the extra work, and probably another expense to have the flashing fixed up.

FW

 

[Scuba_Dave]

Wow, I bought a 14k unit for $225