Return-Path: Received: from ius2.cs.cmu.edu by K.GP.CS.CMU.EDU id aa03620; 8 Apr 91 21:58:17 EDT Date: Mon, 8 Apr 91 21:54:40 EDT From: Jennifer.Kay@IUS2.CS.CMU.EDU To: bovik@CS.CMU.EDU Subject: Don't turn air conditioners sideways A helpful hint that you might be interested in. I wanted to know whether it was OK to put an air conditioner on its side. The short answer is no. Long answers follow: ----------------------- It would be very bad to put a standard AC on its side. An AC is basically a fluid loop with a pump. The pump is designed with the assumption that is gets it fluid from bottom. If you turn the AC on its side the pump will either not get enough pressure and cavitate or not get any fluid at all depending on which way to turn it. In the first case you will pit the pump rotor in the second you will burn out the pump motor. Most manufactures will invalidate the warranty if you install the AC on its side (or upside down). There are models specifically designed for casement (?) windows (the kind that are tall and skinny). ------------------------- I had the same question when I bought my A/C 3 years ago. Basically, the answer I got was that it is not a good idea to turn a standard A/C 90 degrees, because the way condensation water is collected and removed is based on gravity, and would get upset (insert visions of water leaking all over the place...). On the other hand, it may be worth trying to find out for sure, as you are almost certainly going to pay a lot more for a special A/C (mine was $450), and there are a lot fewer options available.