Almost every house or office has an air conditioner. It is with its help it is possible to create the most favorable conditions for life and work. But have you ever wondered how to tilt an air conditioner? After all, it is required not only to provide the right tilt angle, but also not to spoil the equipment. In the modern realities the second point is the first-priority to pay attention, because the cost of the device is rather high, as well as the cost of spare parts for its repair.
There is a theory that window conditioner requires some tilting, so water from condensate should be removed outside the building.
This means that it needs to be tilted slightly outward to direct the flow of water outward rather than through the wall into the building.
With that said, many people begin to wonder what angle to implement the tilt so as not to damage the unit, but also to do it right. While the question of whether you need to tilt your air conditioner at all is still debatable. This article gathers a few assumptions about how much tilting is required.
Some suggest that there should be a height difference between the inside and outside.
Others suggest keeping the angle as low as possible so that there is some liquid left over to run the fan. But is this even necessary?
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Should the air conditioner be angled or aligned?
The answer depends on the type and model of your air conditioner. New window air conditioners are designed in such a way that they can function comfortably and drain outward even if they are aligned.
These models should be leveled because they already have the required slope inside. The unit has certain internal components that trap condensation when it forms, allowing water to flow through the well-designed system and out of the house.
This is where most of the complaints of users lie, especially those who have tilted the air conditioner to one side or the other on their own.
Tilting these models will even do more harm than good by disrupting the flow of water from the direction it’s designed for to the other direction, which can cause some damage.
However, if you have an older model that lacks this internal drainage system, you can accept the formula prescribed earlier, or just tilt it an inch for best results.
So, if you answered both questions positively, you should consult an expert and read the instructions for the equipment before proceeding with tilting the air conditioner, regardless of the angle.
What exactly happens when you tilt air conditioner?
- Aside from the obvious result for air conditioners that require a tilt to drain condensate from the back, tilting (if done too much) can flip the compressor on its side and cause oil to settle in its lower half.
The moment you tilt the air conditioner, a situation occurs in which the oil from the compressor begins to gradually leak or drain into one place. This can cause it to malfunction if you leave it in that state for a long time. So, if you need to tilt the air conditioner, make sure that the angle is really minimal to avoid this kind of damage.
Another factor to consider is that most modern models do not require tilting because they are designed properly to drain condensation from the back of the unit. Tilting such a unit will only lead to damage because it will distort the intended water outlet mechanism.
What happens if you don’t tilt your air conditioner?
If you have an air conditioner installed that requires tilting and you don’t do it, especially when you don’t know how to tilt the unit properly, then the best solution is to enlist the help of a professional.
With special parts, materials, he will be able to:
- Create conditions in which the house will not drip water that spoils everything around it. If you have furniture or electronics lying on the floor, the damage will be quite significant.
- Make sure that the water doesn’t negatively affect the strength and integrity of the equipment so that it doesn’t ruin it.
- In other cases, water can simply accumulate in parts of the unit and cause some damage to the air conditioner.
But there are other options as well:
- There are air conditioners that don’t drip. They are called drip-free units. Some manufacturers also call them self-dripping AC units because of the way they work.
- There are no water droplets during their operation. Instead, the condensate that forms in the evaporator is used as a coolant.
Here, at least half of the condensate collected by the unit is recirculated, used as a refrigerant to cool the internal coils and increase unit efficiency.
But that’s not the end of the unit. What’s left of the water doesn’t drain and drip into a bucket in the back.
Instead, it simply evaporates into the outside air along with the warm air that exits through the back of the air conditioner. With this unit, there is no need to tilt or pour out the buckets (tray) that are outside.
What’s the right angle for an air conditioner?
As far back as 25 years ago, manufacturers began designing their units to have a built-in slope that allows water to easily drain outside the building.
Some others, such as Carrier, designed their units so that condensed water would serve as a coolant, spraying it onto a hot coil (condenser) to increase efficiency.
Several other products designed in this way exist today. With these modern products, the unit should be aligned from side to side and front to back. No tilting is required.
For most other units, a slight tilt downward outward will help drain condensation.
The main thing you should pay attention to is that the back of the unit is at a slightly lower angle than the front.
How do you tilt the air conditioner?
So, you have decided to tilt conditioner, and you do not want to wait for a master? Then you have to push a window unit down a little bit. Then the fasteners can be cut and attached to make your work easier.
In a situation where the front part inside lowers (which can cause water to enter your home), you’ll need to push it back out a bit and see if that works.
If it doesn’t, you can add some padding to the front to raise it up a bit and create the right slope.
If you are going to use brackets, make sure they are properly attached to prevent the front from tilting down.
However, brackets are not required for most window units, unless you are in New York City, where it is punishable by law, regardless of the weight of your unit. There are serious requirements in the city regarding the positioning of air conditioners in the window and the angle of their tilt. The ZHOUWHJJ universal window air conditioner bracket is a good example of these.
In the end, it all depends on the model of air conditioner you buy and what the manual says. If you need to tilt the air conditioner, be sure to be careful not to tilt it excessively sideways. Use a minimum tilt angle.
Try to keep the air conditioner level. Note that improper installation can cause things to go wrong, and you will lose a significant amount of money. Only then can you not worry about the safety of the equipment and the ability of the unit to function properly in your particular case.
If you don’t know anything about installation, be sure to ask for help from tech support. In case your finances don’t allow you to invite a professional to help you tilt your air conditioner, then ask your friends for help. Believe me, an extra “pair” of hands never hurts in the job. Especially it is required in a situation when you are dealing with moving or tilting large-sized equipment, so that you do not spoil the device and do not spend more, for example, to buy additional equipment or spare parts for repair.
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