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AC Bracket Installation

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Written by:

Lawrence Bonk
Updated May 17, 2023

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If you are new to the world of home cooling, you may wonder how to install a window air conditioner bracket like for the best 6000 BTU window air conditioner. Some of the best air conditioners, after all, are window units and require proper bracketing for a secure installation. Window support brackets help the air conditioner unit sit securely in the window. For a quick explanation, you’ll want to prepare and mark the window sill to ensure even installation. Next, screw in the stabilizing blocks and attach them to the window. Then, mount the bracket bar and screw it in. Finally, place the AC and check for even weight distribution.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Window air conditioner support brackets help support the weight of heavy AC units, which is required by law in some areas.
  • These brackets arrive in kits featuring a bolt, stabilization blocks, and the bracket itself, though not a window unit or window frames.
  • The process is not terribly difficult, though will require some screwing and marking of the window sill before installing the window AC unit. Some details need to be identified before performing the installation for stability and as a safety measure.

This is vastly different than a wall-mounted A/C, and you may not even know what a wall unit A/C is. Not all AC units need these brackets, though they are particularly useful for very heavy units. Additionally, some parts of the country, notably New York City, require the use of a window bracket by law. Also, most air conditioners don’t ship with these brackets, so you’ll have to purchase them separately. These brackets also allow for some added insulation if you are learning how to insulate around a window air conditioner.

Insider Tip

Before purchasing your bracket kit, measure your window to ensure proper integration.

How to Install Window Air Conditioner Brackets

The process here varies depending on the design of your AC and the design of your support bracket, like when you are learning how to install a portable air conditioner in a sliding door or when you’re figuring out how to install a portable air conditioner in a crank window, which can be a little difficult. Still, we have tried to keep these steps as universal as possible to suit most consumers.

STEP 1 Prepare and Mark

  1. Prepare all of your tools ahead of time and thoroughly read the instructions accompanying your bracket kit.
  2. Use a marker and mark the center of the window sill on the outside to ensure an even installation.

STEP 2 Screw in the Stabilizing Blocks

  1. Most bracket kits arrive with two blocks for stabilization. The brackets get screwed into these blocks, so the blocks attach to the window sill.
  2. Position the blocks according to the instructions and carefully screw them into the window sill.

STEP 3 Mount the Bracket Bar

  1. Next, you’ll mount the bracket bar on top of the blocks.
  2. Screw in the bracket bar via holes on the top.
  3. Now, slide in the bolt and continue screwing in the bracket bar via any remaining holes on the sides and bottom.

STEP 4 Place the AC

  1. Now that the bracket has been successfully installed, simply place the air conditioning unit on top of it, checking for an even distribution of weight.
  2. That’s it. By following these steps one by one, we can help you avoid a complicated bracket installation process. Enjoy your new window AC support bracket.

STAT: In 1758, Benjamin Franklin and John Hadley, a chemistry professor at the University of Cambridge, conducted an experiment to explore the principle of evaporation as a means to rapidly cool an object. (source)

F.A.Q.S

Who is this for?

AC support brackets are for those who own a heavy window AC unit or those with fragile window frames. They offer support to the window air conditioning unit.

How to install a window air conditioner?

It really varies depending on your model and your type of window, as hung windows (including the double-hung window) require different methods of installation and longer extension cords.

What about foam seals?

Account for a foam seal and any other form of insulation, including the window sash, and place them before hooking up the bracket and the window unit.

Lawrence Bonk Profile image
Lawrence Bonk
Lawrence Bonk is a copywriter with a decade of experience in the tech space, with columns appearing in Engadget, Huffington Post and CBS, among others. He has a cat named Cinnamon.