Undersized air conditioner?

[koloratur.livejournal.com]

Although this isn't a strictly Davis-oriented question, I would expect that others are in the same boat as I...the tiny window boat. Has anyone ever purchased an air conditioner for a window that's only 19 or so inches wide? The smallest air conditioner that I can find is 17 inches wide, but requires at least 21 inches of window. If anyone can steer me in the right direction, I'd be most grateful. If there is a local place to buy said air conditioner, that's even better!

**ETA Thank you, everyone!

Comments

[nonnihil.livejournal.com]

I just did exactly this. Get the 17" A/C. The thing that makes its minimum window size 21" is that the plastic guides for its side baffle thingies are too long. Cut them down with any sort of heavy cutters (I used tinsnips; garden shears would have been fine) and it will fit just fine.

[secretlyironic.livejournal.com]

You can also get A/Cs that sit on the floor and have a tube for the hot-air exhaust.

[hakamadare.livejournal.com]

sounds like what you need is a casement air conditioner (http://www.nextag.com/casement-air-conditioner/search-html). would one of these work for you?

-steve

[rufinia.livejournal.com]

I have one of those, and it works great. They're exspensive, but I got mine off of Craigs List for over $150 below the retail price.

[xjustquietx.livejournal.com]

I have a 16" Frigidaire in my tiny window. You would think they would print the model number somewhere, but I am looking at both the unit itself and the manual and nothing. I got it at Best Buy in Cambridge. Not so local but it works for me.

Anyway, like nonnihil said there are the plastic guides. I think when I tried to install them for the first time a few years ago, they ended up taking up too much space (they wouldn't slide in all the way or some such thing). So I just shoved the A/C to one side and filled in the other couple of inches with cardboard and then sealed it all with window tape. If the 17" comes with plenty of foam insulation you might use that as well.

[attackpenguin.livejournal.com]

I have one but it is a huge eye sore and takes up a lot of room. Just another opinion.