Can I mount an A/C Sideways?

[ckkoba]

The Bay Area is so hot! Grrr, but I have this problem where I have a window opening that is 15.5 inches wide. There aren't that many A/C units that will fit such a narrow space so is there anything preventing me from mounting an A/C unit sideways?

 

[T3C]

no, cause the condinsation needs to drip out, if you do that it will drip in the a/c and on your floor and you will have a mess

 

[FoBoT]

no
sorry, see rossman's thread about a floor standing model with a small vent tube

 

[ckkoba]

Thanks much. I'll post the link to Rossman's thread as soon as I find it

 

[Eli]

Huh, I don't really see any problem with mounting it sideways.. The condensation will still be able to drip out.

It might not be good for the compressor... but that's the only thing I can think of.

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: Eli
Huh, I don't really see any problem with mounting it sideways.. The condensation will still be able to drip out.

It might not be good for the compressor... but that's the only thing I can think of.

But the external part blows hot air....it would be like trying to cool your house by leaving your fridge open....

 

[Hector13]

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: Eli
Huh, I don't really see any problem with mounting it sideways.. The condensation will still be able to drip out.

It might not be good for the compressor... but that's the only thing I can think of.

But the external part blows hot air....it would be like trying to cool your house by leaving your fridge open....

I thought he meant just putting it in the window "sideways" (ie at a 90 degree angle to normal, but with the back still sticking out the back).

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: Hector13

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: Eli
Huh, I don't really see any problem with mounting it sideways.. The condensation will still be able to drip out.

It might not be good for the compressor... but that's the only thing I can think of.

But the external part blows hot air....it would be like trying to cool your house by leaving your fridge open....

I thought he meant just putting it in the window "sideways" (ie at a 90 degree angle to normal, but with the back still sticking out the back).

Oh like vertically? I'm thinking he rotates it horizontally haha

 

[Christof]

Absolutely do not mount an A/C unit sideways. The refrigeration oil will get up into the valves and seize the compressor up. The compressor is hermetically sealed with the oil in the bottom where it is supposed to remain.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Christof
Absolutely do not mount an A/C unit sideways. The refrigeration oil will get up into the valves and seize the compressor up. The compressor is hermetically sealed with the oil in the bottom where it is supposed to remain.

That's what I was afraid of, but I wasn't sure if it would actually cause any problems or not.

How does the oil get circulated around the compressor?

 

[Christof]

There is an oil pump that mixes a small amount of oil with the refrigerant to keep everything lubed. When it mixes it is in mist form. Liquid oil will lock the compressor up just like liquid refrigerant will.

I was working in an ammonia refrigeration plant years ago when a 16 cylinder ammonia compressor took a slug of liquid. It blew 6 heads right off the compressor, broke 14 rods and broke the crank shaft (not to mention the ammonia leak it caused). What a mess that was!

 

[XMan]

They make narrow A/C units for casement windows (that slide open sideways). That might work for you.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Christof
There is an oil pump that mixes a small amount of oil with the refrigerant to keep everything lubed. When it mixes it is in mist form. Liquid oil will lock the compressor up just like liquid refrigerant will.

I was working in an ammonia refrigeration plant years ago when a 16 cylinder ammonia compressor took a slug of liquid. It blew 6 heads right off the compressor, broke 14 rods and broke the crank shaft (not to mention the ammonia leak it caused). What a mess that was!

Damn. :Q

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: Christof
There is an oil pump that mixes a small amount of oil with the refrigerant to keep everything lubed. When it mixes it is in mist form. Liquid oil will lock the compressor up just like liquid refrigerant will.

I was working in an ammonia refrigeration plant years ago when a 16 cylinder ammonia compressor took a slug of liquid. It blew 6 heads right off the compressor, broke 14 rods and broke the crank shaft (not to mention the ammonia leak it caused). What a mess that was!

Damn. :Q

Each cylinder has its own head? Is this a plunger-type compressor?

 

[Anubis]

ive seen them mounted sideways in allot of places. is it really that bad? because the apartment complex across from where i live the windows open from right to left and only open up big enough to put one in sideways. and 90% of them have done this

 

[ultimatebob]

They make Air Conditioners that are designed to fit in narrow windows.

Here's an example

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: ultimatebob
They make Air Conditioners that are designed to fit in narrow windows.

Here's an example

i did not know that. thanks for educateing me. thats most likely what they use across the street then

 

[rectifire]

Yes, definitely follow what the others are saying here.

DO NOT ever mount an air conditioner sideways (with the part that's supposed to be on the bottom being vertical) Like the others said, there is lubricating oil in the compressor that needs to stay on the bottom of the compressor, If you turn the A/C sideways, the oil will spill out from the bottom of the compressor and get into the refrigeration system. As anyone familiar with the principle of hydraulics knows.........liquids (in this case compressor lubricating oil) do not compress. You would destroy your A/C compressor very quickly.

The best thing I can compare this to is if the engine in your car got turned sideways or upside down. Large quantities of oil would then leak into the cylinders. When the pistons in your engine tried to compress the oil, the oil of course will not compress (unlike the regular air and fuel mixture.) The force of the moving piston will then be transferred to the engine itself, almost like if the piston hit the engine itself. Of course this means engine destruction.

In fact, many refrigerator and even A/C manufacturers recommend that you let your new refrigerator or A/C sit for one hour before you plug it in for the first time. This is because when you move an A/C or a refrigerator, you often must tip it at an extreme angle while moving it into position. The manufacturers are afraid of oil spilling out of the the compressor while you are tipping it. They recommend the 1 hour wait after installation and before power up in order to give the oil time to drain back into the compressor. This helps them avoid repair calls for blown compressors.

🙂