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How to Install a Window Air Conditioner in a Mobile Home

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Updated February 11, 2023

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Difficulty Medium

Steps 4

Time Required 30 minutes

Sections

Things to Know

Table of Contents_

How to Setup a Window Air Conditioner in a Mobile Home
STEP 1 Gather Your Tools
STEP 2 Begin Prep
STEP 3 Begin the Installation
STEP 4 Seal and Test

If you are traveling around in a camper and looking to beat the heat, you may wonder how to install a window air conditioner in a mobile home. Some of the best compact air conditioners, after all, can be used in mobile homes, though with some caveats. This also includes installing a portable A/C and installing a portable air conditioner in a crank window. Though, this all depends on the size of your camper to know how many tons of A/C you need. So how to get this done? Keep reading to find out.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Standard window air conditioners will work in a mobile home, but you may want to choose a compact unit or some other type of air conditioner unit.
Make sure the window sill can handle the weight of the window units before beginning.
Drill in mounting brackets around the sill and use a level to ensure an even installation of your portable air conditioners or air handler.

How to Setup a Window Air Conditioner in a Mobile Home

This can be a fairly difficult process, depending on the design of your mobile home and which AC unit you own, though it is not as tough as, for instance, learning how to install a slide-out chassis air conditioner or how to install a portable air conditioner in a sliding door. In the spirit of universal compatibility, we have kept these instructions as universal as possible.

Insider Tip

If you invest in an AC with smart features, you’ll be able to turn it on and off, as well as program it, with your phone or tablet.

STEP 1 Gather Your Tools

Double-check that your air conditioner unit is suited for window installation. Some are more suited for wall sleeves instead of windows like the unit in this LG LT1037 HNR review.
Make sure you gather your tools beforehand and ensure that your air conditioner is ready to go.
In other words, learn how to install an air filter in an air conditioner, if it needs one, and perform a quick cleaning.
You may also want to quickly plug the AC in just to make sure it is in proper working order.

STEP 2 Begin Prep

Measure the size of your window to ensure that AC will fit using a measuring tape.
Choose a window that is close to a power outlet and one with a sill that can handle the weight of the AC.

STEP 3 Begin the Installation

Now you are ready to get started. Use a screwdriver or power drill to mount the brackets along the window sill.
Use a level to ensure that these brackets are even.
Fit the AC inside of the open window and open up the accordion panels so that it fits snugly.
Closer the window on top of the AC.

STEP 4 Seal and Test

You may have some gaps in the window that the accordion seals could not adequately cover. Spray foam insulation or use another type of insulation to fill these gaps.
Once properly sealed, plug the ACA into the nearest power outlet and power it on.
Leave it running for 10 or 20 minutes to ensure that it is indeed blowing cool air into the camper.
That’s it! Enjoy your cooled-off RV.

F.A.Q.S

Why can’t you install a regular air conditioning system in your mobile home?

A regular indoor unit or outdoor unit may not work with a standard mobile home, due to the reduction in duct size. They make mobile home air conditioners for just this reason.

How loud are air conditioners?

They are fairly loud, even energy-efficient models. Generally speaking, the cheaper the AC, the louder it is, in case you are shopping for an affordable price.

How to buy an RV air conditioner?

Buy an RV AC unit by shopping around, looking for must-have features, and purchasing accordingly.

STAT: Unlike site-built homes, manufactured homes have distinctive features, which make it inefficient to operate regular air conditioning systems. The duct size in mobile homes tends to be smaller compared to ducts used in regular homes, consequently, the output by the HVAC unit would be dangerous, hence mobile home air conditioning units have to be utilized. (source)

REFERENCES:

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.