I'm facing a challenge with my air conditioner installation. The top rail of my AC unit measures 1 inch deep, but my window sash is 1.5 inches thick. I've been stuck trying to figure out how to make this work for the last couple of days. Any ideas on how I can install my AC properly? I've also included some pictures for reference.
4 Answers
I think you're right about the top rail. It usually sits on the room side of the sash, holding the unit in place. Have you thought about getting a "no drill" AC bracket? It might let you set the unit without the need for mounting it as tightly, but you'll still need to ensure it sits flush at the top too or it could be unstable.
Do you have a bottom bracket on your AC for support? If you're worried about the weight, I installed some aluminum angle pieces on my heavy unit. It involved screwing them into the window frame for stability. You could create a custom channel that way, just make sure you have that bottom support for safety!
You might try placing a piece of wood across the top of your window. My unit has a little lip with screw holes, so I avoided screwing directly into my vinyl windows. I used foam behind the accordion flaps for added insulation. That might help in your situation too!
A simple solution could be to use two pieces of wood that fit the width of your window. Just make the bottom piece about an inch thick to accommodate the AC, and the top piece can be a bit thicker, like 1.5 inches, to match up nicely with the sash.