Spaceship_small
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Do window style air conditioners have to remain level to work properly?

Since central air is not an option, we're forced to deal with a couple of window air conditioners. Bought two within five years, and use them each summer...removing them each fall and re-installing in late spring.

The wife insists she can set her 8000 BTU unit in the window on the sill and that it doesn't matter if it's tipped back. She says it helps it drain.

I've never seen any water dripping from either unit. I installed mine in a more permanent wall opening that was framed in tightly.

Is it correct that window airconditioners must remain level to work properly?

O my captain asked in Home Fix & Maintain 10 months ago | Report

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  • 3-phase_flow_small
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    No it's not required for it to sit level. In fact it helps to have it tip backward somewhat so the humidity that collects in the condensate pan as water can run to the back of the unit can be picked up by the condensor fan slinger ring is splashed onto the condensor coil helping to cool it by evaporating that water!

    It should be thoroughly cleaned after each season though to keep it operating properly. This includes the evaporator section (cold air side) as well as the condensor section (hot air side).

    Oreilly7 answered in Home Fix & Maintain 10 months ago | Report
    3 comments by O my captain, Oreilly7, and Oreilly7…
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  • Qlandav2ex_small
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    Russ Campbell, NWEBS

    They do use basic orientation to gravity for flow of water that condenses on the expansion coils from air being cooled. This moisture is either drained to a drip pan or may be used to help cool the heat producing side of the machine when coolant is compressed or simply allowed to evaporate from a shallow pan (your refrigerator does the same thing with moisture drained from condensation inside where the food is stored).

    These units may also use gravity force passive flow of the coolant from the expansion area back to the compressor to some degree and getting it off of level might make the unit work that much harder or less efficient. Installation instructions with the unit should give you basic parameters for what is acceptable for placement. My guess is that you wouldn't want to vary more than 10° from horizontal for best results.

    The other point in consideration in being off of full horizontal is balancing that unit on the sill. It would not be a good day if the whole unit slid out the window and went into free fall.

    Russ Campbell, NWEBS answered in Home Fix & Maintain 10 months ago | Report
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