Argh. Stupid #$%&*@# old-ass mobile home.

[Lyric]

Our air conditioner died its final death about a month ago, and we've been too financially strapped to replace it until now. ThinkBlue1966 gets her first full paycheck on Friday, though, and we're trying to figure out how to get air conditioning again. This wouldn't be such a big deal, but there are...complications.

A. We live in a mobile home that was built sometime around 1974...B.C. None of the windows open. At all. Not even an inch. Period. Not that it matters, because the windows are all that horrid 70's mobile-home-type that has two crank-out windows stacked atop one another in the frame. Not terribly conducive to installing window ACs.

B. There is ONE window that will accept an air conditioner--the one the "dud" AC is currently still residing in. However, the person who originally installed the old AC basically had to tear the entire window out in order to do it, and the AC that is currently sitting in the window is held there by a makeshift frame of solid chunks of lumber, tailored specifically to the size and contours of this specific air conditioner, and fastened to the wall inside. Said lumber also functions to provide a closure against the massive open space left around the AC after tearing out the window in order to install it. To get it out, we have to figure out how to yank all of these heavy, solid chunks of lumber out, while keeping them intact enough for re-use, and without utterly destroying the window and wall around it. THEN we have to figure out how to get a NEW air conditioner back in, and somehow play Lumber Tetris with the boards in order to cover up the gaping open spaces that will exist around the circumference of said new AC.

C. A portable AC is not possible, because the windows of the mobile home Do Not Open. At all. Ever. Therefore, there's nowhere to put the vent thingy. Forcing a window open probably won't work either, because these windows don't shut like normal windows, so there's no way to shut them around the vent, even if we did manage to get one open. Also, a portable AC would pretty much eat up every penny of ThinkBlue's paycheck, which is not a Good Thing right now.

Living an entire West Virginia summer in an old mobile home without functioning windows and without air conditioning is absolutely out of the question. If it's 85 outside, it's 110 in the house, and leaving the doors open doesn't help much with cooling, and invites every stinging insect in the neighborhood to come on in and harass us at will.

So...I'm trying to figure out my options. We have a hammer...somewhere. No nails, but I'm sure they can be procured. Should we use said hammer and nails to try and rip out the old AC and play Lumber Tetris, or should we just use the hammer to beat large dents in the side of this roasting oven on wheels and pray for Fall Semester and a new apartment?

[backwoodsbob]

1. where do you live?

I can box in an ac if within reasonable distance

[Lyric]

2. Morgantown, WV

Pretty far away from anywhere in Virginia. But I very much appreciate the thought. :hug:

[backwoodsbob]

4. morgantown is only a 4 hour drive from here...

not like I have anything to do here in bluefield.

[Lyric]

6. Seriously?

'Cause if you're willing to put it in, buying a new window unit would be Awesome. Do you happen to know what the procedure is for getting rid of old window units? That's something else we have to consider--what to do with the old one.

PM me, and we can talk a bit more directly. :)

[Oeditpus Rex]

3. One solution:

A portable swamp cooler.

http://www.air-n-water.com/swamp-coolers-evaporative.htm

They don't need an outside air inlet. You put cold water or ice in 'em, et viola!

They don't cool as well as an air conditioner, but they also don't cost nearly as much.

[Lyric]

5. That would be a good idea, except

Evaporative swamp coolers use less energy than an air conditioner and humidify the air at the same time. For most of our customers, this is a win win situation. If you live in a hot dry climate, this might be the perfect product for your spot cooling needs

More humidity is definitely a Bad Idea--not just for comfort's sake, but also because it's already so humid here that we have mold issues. :(

But I appreciate the thought on our behalf. :hug: :loveya:

[Oeditpus Rex]

8. Dint thinka that

Out Here, see, it's a dry heat. :D



:hug: :loveya:

[Lyric]

11. Living here is like living in a garden, when it's good.

And when it's not, it's like living in a wet boot, lol.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

10. Its a too humid around here for a swamp cooler..........

to work effectively. A/C is our only solace, unless you get the right mix of shade on your home and a good cross-breeze blowing through.

edit: Oops! late reply

[CreekDog]

28. too much humidity out there and you need to open a window with a swamp cooler

:shrug:

[LeftyMom]

7. Are you anyplace near Weston?

I have a friend there I could probably ask to swing by and help out if it's not too far.

[Lyric]

9. We're about 2 hours from Weston, I think.

I'll have to consult MapQuest to be sure, but we've driven through Weston a hundred times on our way to Virginia, and I don't remember it being too terribly far.

[LeftyMom]

12. I'll ask her if she and her husband have any spare time coming up.

[Lyric]

14. Just checked MapQuest--one hour from here to Weston

Not a bad drive at all. :)

[LeftyMom]

17. I'll check with her.

She's a sweetheart, so if they can spare the time you're set.

[Redstone]

13. We have two window AC units you can have free, if you can come to

Connecticut to pick them up.

Redstone

[Lyric]

15. If I was gonna drive to Connecticut, I'd be coming to see you

and the Missus. :hug:

Glad you're feeling better, sweetness.

[flvegan]

16. Renter or owner?

[Lyric]

18. We own the mobile home, but rent the lot.

We thought it would be Smart to buy a cheap mobile home instead of paying insane amounts of rent while we're here at college.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH@!!1111

*sigh*

[flvegan]

19. Cripes.

I'd probably yank the whole a/c and lumber frame thing, then build a new frame to match the "hole" and the new a/c. Support it from outside with a buttress, just in case. Doesn't have to be pretty since it looks like you're considering leaving soon (from your OP).

Or, if I really didn't care, I might just leave the old a/c in, smash one of the remaining windows and board that up leaving a vent for one of the portable units.

[Lyric]

20. Times like this are when I miss my Dad the most.

Save for my stepfather (who is unreliable at best and generally impossible to get in touch with), I have no relatives within 100 miles who know how to DO stuff like that, and neither Deb nor I have the backs to handle the weight of hauling around an AC.

If Dad was still around, this problem would've been fixed four weeks ago. Hell, he'd have probably been able to fix the old AC instead of us having to buy a new one. :(

[flvegan]

21. Wish I lived near you.

I've got a window a/c in storage, and I could do the install for you.

[Lyric]

23. I wish you did too!

But mostly 'cause I wanna snuggle your puppies soooooo much! lol

:hug:

[dropkickpa]

22. Check the morgantown craiglist for AC's

I know the Pittsburgh one is always chock full of acs for sale pretty cheap

[Lyric]

24. Not a bad idea. We're also gonna check the Bulletin Board

for similarly-cheap ones. We just don't have a vehicle to go get it, so we'll be relying on the kindness of someone else who *does*, lol.

[GreenPartyVoter]

25. We own a somewhat newer mobile home and although the windows open

we still had to cram the AC and limber into the window just so to get the balance right.

B is an option but it'll be some work.

[leftyclimber]

26. lefty and Betaben are fairly wide-open this summer

Seeing as we're only a couple of miles from you, it seems like a good opportunity for a bar-bee-quee and maybe kicking a soccer ball around or something...

Just sayin'...

;)

[Lyric]

27. Hey sweetie! I wanted to call you, but

our cell phone has like 10 minutes left. Ugh. You guys maybe wanna do something this weekend? PM me or e-mail me. :hug: Brendan misses Ben, lol.

[Midlodemocrat]

29. Before you dismiss the idea of a portable, let me add my $.02

We have three. All three are vented through the wall, so they are as permanent as portables can be. They've come down a great deal in price as well.

And, the bonus is, the one in my office which is 12,000 BTUs does an absolutely fanfricking-tastic job of cooling my third floor office which gets the afternoon sun. It's always very pleasant in here.

Just a thought. If I can help in anyway, you know how to reach me. :hug:

[Lyric]

30. Yeah, I know. But for the same price as a 12,000 BTU portable

we can get a 25,000 BTU window unit that cools twice the space, and we already have a place for the window unit. I'm not sure how we'd manage to vent a portable. Thankfully, a couple of DU'ers have offered to come up and help us get the old one out and put a new one in, so now we just need to hope that Lowe's still has them on sale.

:hug: Is your portable the kind that self-evaporates, or do you empty a water pan?

[Midlodemocrat]

31. Self evaporates. Cost was $299 last summer for the one in Mr.'s office.