A couple months ago, I decided that I didn't want to face another summer without air conditioning, so I bought a Haier brand air conditioning window unit from Rite Aid on impulse. It was only $100, so I thought it would be a good alternative to the portable models that I had drooled over at Lowe's that run in the neighborhood of $500. However, this particular unit was for a vertical sliding window, and we have horizontal sliding windows. I did a bit of research on "the net", as my Dad calls it, and found that all I needed were some support brackets and a piece of plexiglass to cover the open space where the window would need to remain open to accommodate the a/c unit. Piece of cake, right?
Well, Aaron and my Dad worked on installing that sucker for about three hours to no avail. Even with the support brackets, it looked like a slight nudge might send the whole shootin' match toppling out the window down the four floors to street level. That sounded like a lawsuit waiting to happen, so I aborted the mission and returned the Haier a/c to Rite Aid. (I mean, who buys their a/c unit at Rite Aid anyway, right? What was I thinking?)
Meanwhile, the next day, we thought about dropping some serious coin on a portable a/c model at Costco that just has a hose that sticks into the window, but the unit istelf sits on the floor. However, we were both, ah, a teeny bit infirmed (hung over) that day, so we skipped the trip to Costco to stay home and watch "Entourage" all day.
And thank goodness we did, because we were home when my Mom called us to tell me that there was a portable a/c unit on sale on QVC for $329 and "some change". (They always say "some change" on QVC instead of the actual coin amount. I'm not sure why. It must appeal to the tv shopper set.) Anyway, I got on the horn, my Q Card at the ready and ordered that bad boy.
It arrived a couple weeks ago at our front door, we hooked it up and it has been blowing icy cold air in my face ever since. (Bye, bye wet towels and wet t-shirts that I used to wear to keep cool. No more wet t-shirts contests for Kittykat.) It is an Amcor model like this, except the one we got was $380 all together with tax and shipping - and worth every penny I might add. (Especially when it's 96 frickin' degrees outside, like today!) So, it's a happy ending to my a/c conundrum. (Now I just need to figure out what to do with that plexiglass...any takers?)
2 comments:
I actually bought that Haier unit from Rite Aid also. I had a platform installed to carry the thing. The I painted a piece of wood for the opening. Then I Modge Podged a lovely poster over all of it. It works lovely. I then take it out of the window during the winter so I can have the window back when it get's cold again. It was kind of a project, but I have no floor space so the window option was all that I really have. I'm thinking of getting another small one for the living room.
You are more crafty than I am! :-) I'm glad it worked out! The one we ended up with is working quite well, but I'm a little afraid to get the electric bill...but it is worth it not to melt into a pile of sweat. Last summer I had to go sit in my car and turn on the car a/c just so that I could put on my make-up.
Post a Comment