AC Window Unit Question

I don't want to make this confusing by getting too caught up in details so I'm just going to ask the question and hope you all accept that for whatever reason this *could* be an option for me in a SHED.

Would running window AC unit that faces the ceiling ruin the unit? There would be a hole in the floor and plenty of room below to suck up air and drain water let off by the unit.



Aaaaaand only slightly off topic, would venting air out through a different hole in the floor be a good option? Stealth is a factor in both of these ideas.

a window unit doesnt have to be on a window no, i dont see how that would be suspicious, where i am alot of people have them especially in babies rooms etc. not really suspicious but we get really hot. anyways itll work, but as to venting back through the floor, heat wants to rise so its far more effective to exhaust up top, into an attic or something vs under the house

my bad, as long as your shed doesnt get too hot it will work, the orientation of the ac doesnt matter

Thank you for the quick reply. That is good to know.


Fair point about heat rising. I'll have to go back to the drawing board for that. I don't want to have to change my set up once it's "done".

Actually, it does matter. Window ACs are designed to be installed in one position. You will likely burn out the compressor fairly quickly installing them any other way.

No, a window AC unit has to be in it's proper orientation or you WILL burn it up FAST if it will even cool.
That's why they tell you to let it sit level for a while before using it after it's been shipped.

Tav.

as bad as i hate to say that the troll is right, an ac unit is set up for a slight angle to the rear and the compressor is regulated to run while in that position so when fluid (freon )starts to circulate and its not going to get its full flow of freon due to the compressor being at a different angle you will burn your compressor up, BUT it will take a few seasons for it to do that if its a new unit or full full of freon.. not a good suggestion to angle it that way, just install it higher up on the wall or where ever your going to use it at. and i speak from experience from being an certified a/c tech.. air handlers are a different story.. they are made to be installed in any direction. but your base unit where all the freon and main compressor sits is as level as can be .. hope this helps..

guess I need to completely revisit the drawing board haha. No big deal, though. The solution should be easy enough. I'll make a thread when I've got a plan that will (hopefully) work.

Again, thanks for the replies.

hmmm well my bad bro, i used to do something similar with my ac though and it worked for along time. it actually never stopped working i just moved

It's all good man. I can't talk shit, I was the one asking the question, hah.

well i fix ac units for a living and im going to tell you that that unit will not run long if you run it in any position that is not horizontal. The freon inside the unit will travel to areas of the unit that it shouldn't be causing it to damage the compressor (motor) and turn it into an energy sucking fan. What i suggest is a hole in the floor the ac sits next to it, make a louver vent from the back of the ac to the floor and cover the unit with a plywood box. Drill some holes in the front of the box for airflow and use the box as a table or something, conforming to your stealth needs

No understand a A/C compressor is like a Engine it has oil in it , And if you go beyond a certain angle ,the compressor will fail because the oil will not circulate properly.This is why when you buy a refrigerator or A/C the directions tell to let the appliance sit for a period of time before you start the unit. this oil travels through the entire hermetic system keeping everything lubed , their is something called a inverted Ptrap o0n compressors witch keeps the flow of the oil constant and correct amount to lubricate the entire system..............................So this is the answer NO can not due

A window unit set higher up where the heat tends to accumulate, but a flick of a swith, exhaust fan would quickly clear out yhe hot air. A higher up unit strives to cool top of room, that does not effect temp at the desired level, the height of the plants.??? Would a 4 / 6" duct running from highest spot to lowest area with in-line fan help balance the overall temp? Just trying to learn...more.

Koenreich said:

guess I need to completely revisit the drawing board haha. No big deal, though. The solution should be easy enough. I'll make a thread when I've got a plan that will (hopefully) work.

Again, thanks for the replies.

Click to expand...

Yup you'll fry her quick. Instead of a window style why not a portable style? One hose in from the floor one out the roof line somewhere. Keep the unit inside in a corner and problem solved. Good Luck

Sir.Ganga said:

Yup you'll fry her quick. Instead of a window style why not a portable style? One hose in from the floor one out the roof line somewhere. Keep the unit inside in a corner and problem solved. Good Luck

Click to expand...

I kept reading the portable units were not as good as window units.

lol jrainman i also had a fridge in my dorm that was lying down too ah the good days. sorry not trying to antagonize chill out yall i dont know anything about ac's just said ive done it

Koenreich said:

I kept reading the portable units were not as good as window units.

Click to expand...

They aren't as efficient but they will certainly outdo one installed in the floor that quits on you .

OxDaNig said:

well i fix ac units for a living and im going to tell you that that unit will not run long if you run it in any position that is not horizontal. The freon inside the unit will travel to areas of the unit that it shouldn't be causing it to damage the compressor (motor) and turn it into an energy sucking fan. What i suggest is a hole in the floor the ac sits next to it, make a louver vent from the back of the ac to the floor and cover the unit with a plywood box. Drill some holes in the front of the box for airflow and use the box as a table or something, conforming to your stealth needs

Click to expand...

Not for nothing you fix A/c units for a living , So then explain to me please what other areas the refrigerant will travel, A/C ,refrigeration systems are fully hermetic (sealed) its the oil in the compressor that is moved as it compresses the refrigerant when the refrigerant leaves the compressor in to the high side it leaves in a gas state dragging the oil the first thing it travels through is the inverted P trap so a balanced amount of oil travels through the piping system as a gas , if the oil what is called slugging (to much oil ) get in with the gas state of the refrigerant it will clog (slug) in the metering device ,not letting the proper gas pressure to change it to a liquid state befor it hit the evaporator coil. So slugging will occur leaving the compressor with a low oil condition and burn out the compressor.

Lets play nice. I would hate for something that has potential to be useful for a lot of people to turn into some middle school shouting match. Still, the information is greatly appreciated. Lets keep that up.

Enough of that, though. Jericho, you're absolutely correct. I will not be mounting a window unit in any way other than horizontally now that I know it will burn the unit up. I have three other options. I can frame the unit into a wall that would be sectioning the shed off and pull air from the other half of the shed, or I could put the unit in a window on the shed. I'm trying to avoid using the window because I'm trying to draw as little attention as possible to the shed and this way would be both visible and audible.

Another option is to just go with a portable unit. My only problem with that is efficiency. I'm trying to affect the power bill as little as possible. On that note, I've begun to slowly leave more lights and things on as well as running the AC in my house longer (just moved into the new place). The idea is to stop doing that once I get going and hopefully the bill will not fluctuate too much.

Once again, thank you to everyone for adding to the topic. I really appreciate it.

I think the wall is a good option, as long as you make sure that the section it exhausts into has a way to pull in fresh outdoor air as well for the hot air to escape.