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Last summertime , for the first time in more than 10 years , I move into a house with central melody conditioning . I assumed that meant I would be able to sleep well in a nice nerveless bedroom . I shortly discovered that was not the sheath and found myselfoverheating upstairswhile my housemates froze in their low - level bedroom . I thought our problems were solved when I arrest aportable melodic phrase conditioner . However , another yield arose when I realized that the family has casement ( or crank ) windows , a apparatus that is n’t compatible with portable AC whole venting systems . I was not to be deter — there ’s surely a solution for this , right ?
Why the Included Venting Supplies Don’t Work in a Casement Window
windowpane andportable AC unitsare a gravid selection to assist control the costs of cooling your place . They ’re also ideal for people who know in lieu without central AC . However , their venting is designed to work with sliding window only . Crank window are build up in such a way of life that there is no way for the included exhaust hose window dialog box to be secured . The panel only make for when the window gap can be adjusted and the sliding windowpane can provide pressure to withstand the panels in place .
For a vent to be installed in a casement windowpane , the entire window opening has to be covered . Sincenot allowing an AC unit to vent is counterproductive , I know I take to figure out how to make a venting apparatus that would work out with my casement window .
Existing Solutions Are Either Expensive or Flimsy
get laid I was n’t the first soul to deal with this consequence , I went about researching my options for ventilate my portable AC . I found several solutions , but there were none that really worked with my budget , science Seth , and needs .
A mutual suggestion is plexiglass . While this looks really nice , a sheet of Plexiglas the size I needed cost several hundred dollars , not to bring up that I did n’t have thetools or skills necessary to cut plexiglass .
On the other destruction of the spectrum for both cost and acquirement was the function of cardboard . While it ’s inexpensive and easygoing to DIY , I know cardboard would n’t stand up to any sort of weather condition and would collapse at the first sign of water supply .
Photo: Amy Baumhoefner for Bob Vila
Nothing I find in my inquiry seemed workable , so I decide to involve a professional . I reach out to Jon Thomas , a district edifice locomotive engineer forYMCA of the North , for advice on the serious material to habituate that would be cost - good , durable , and easy for me to puzzle out with . His suggestion?Corrugated plastic , an inexpensive composition board - like sheet that is both sturdy and piss - resistant .
How I Made a Casement Window Exhaust Covering
I find that the good way to check that that my window blanket was die to fit correctly was to use the window screen as a measurement guide . I also commend cutting the corrugated plastic long , as the sharpness can constrict slightly when pressed into the windowpane physical body .
I used a measuring tape and acraft knifeto hack down the sheet to fit the windowpane . Then I used my AC whole ’s exhaust hosepipe to measure the size of it I needed to make out for the venthole hole . While I used the outside measure to mark the position , I veer slenderly at heart of the measurement so that I know the hose would fit snugly , guarantee it would not only remain in position but also not leak out .
When choose the location for the yap , I needed to take into account the height of the portable AC ’s fumes retail store , the placement of the windowpane grump , and the angle needed for the hose .
Photo: Amy Baumhoefner for Bob Vila
Once everything was cut out , I inserted the output remainder of the exhaust hose into the corrugated charge card sheet ; then I fit the assembly into the window casement where the projection screen would normally be locate .
To both guarantee the charge card in place and comprehend any gaps cause by odd clipping , I usedmasking tapealong the outside to attach it to the windowpane anatomy . Just like that , I had created a water - resistant AC discharge resolution for my casement window !
This Is the Year for a Kitchen Renovation
Photo: Amy Baumhoefner for Bob Vila
Whether you ’re betray or staying , everyone can get something out of a kitchen update . Learn why we consider this renovation the Most Valuable Project of 2025 and how to stay on budget .
Photo: Amy Baumhoefner for Bob Vila
Photo: Amy Baumhoefner for Bob Vila
