Can You Put an Air Conditioner on Its Side?

Nothing keeps a residence cool and pleasant quite like an air conditioner. They generate chilled, comfortable air and push it through your ductwork that distributes it throughout your interior. However, many Ocala, FL, homeowners wonder if they can install an air conditioner sideways to save space. 

Can you put an air conditioner on its side? Fast Air Repair is here to answer that question.

Fast Air Repair is one of Ocala, FL’s most trusted heating and cooling companies. If you need a reliable air conditioning company in Ocala, FL, contact the experts at Fast Air Repair.

Installing an Air Conditioner On Its Side: Is It Possible?

AC units consist of several internal mechanisms that work together to create cool air for your home. Most air conditioning manufacturers design their systems to stay in the upright position. This ensures optimal operation and prevents the unit from overheating or becoming overly stressed. 

However, sometimes windows are too small to hold window AC units unless you flip them sideways. So, can you put an air conditioner on its side?

Almost all HVAC specialists advise against placing air conditioners on their side, even during transport and storage. Even the slightest tilt or incline can drastically reduce the system’s performance and even cause severe internal damage.

For example, most AC units feature built-in dehumidifiers that rely on gravity to function. Gravity pushes excess water towards the bottom of the air conditioner so it can drain it. If the unit is on its side, it can’t drain the water correctly, reducing its efficiency while leaving it susceptible to damage.

Three Reasons to Avoid Placing an Air Conditioner On Its Side

Air conditioners must remain upright to operate at their highest efficiency level and avoid damage. Below are a few reasons why you shouldn’t place air conditioners on their side. 

1. Damages the Compressor

Your air conditioner’s compressor plays a crucial role in the cooling process. It helps move refrigerant through your unit, dissipating heat so the system can generate cool air. Compressors need lubrication oil to function and can’t operate efficiently without it.

Flipping an AC unit on its side prevents the oil from reaching specific parts of the compressor, hindering its efficiency while putting unnecessary stress on some of the compressor’s components. Some of these components can even collide with each other without the oil, permanently damaging the compressor. 

Placing an air conditioner on its side when it’s not running can also adversely affect the compressor mounting, the most expensive aspect of an air conditioner.

2. Poor Condensation Drainage

As air conditioning systems pull air from inside homes and push it across chilled coils, condensation forms along the coils. Properly installed AC units allow condensation to drip into a condensation pan directly under the coils. 

However, installing an air conditioner sideways completely changes the unit’s internal layout, preventing the condensation drain from catching moisture. Instead, the condensation drips into the unit’s case, causing significant system damage and leaks. 

3.  Allows Rain to Collect in the Unit’s Ventilation Grate

Most air conditioners feature ventilation grates (commonly called fins) along their sides and bottom. These grates ensure ample airflow within the hot side of the air conditioner, helping decrease the internal temperature while dispersing heat the unit pulled out of your home. 

Placing the air conditioning system on its side will allow rainwater to accumulate within the ventilation grates, potentially destroying delicate parts within the AC unit. It will also restrict airflow, causing the system to overheat rather quickly. 

What to Do If You Receive an Air Conditioner On Its Side

Sometimes home improvement stores and shipping companies store or transport air conditioners on their sides to conserve space. Although storing AC systems on their side can displace lubricants, oils, and other important internal elements, most units won’t suffer damage until you turn them on.

If you purchase an air conditioner that’s been stored on its side, place it on a flat surface and in the upright position for at least 24 hours. This helps the oils and liquids resettle their levels, ensuring the gears and other moving parts receive proper lubrication before installation.

Using your air conditioner before the liquids settle can cause serious problems that will permanently damage the unit or cause it to break down entirely. 

The Best Air Conditioner for Narrow Windows

Most window AC units are relatively wide since their internal components run from side to side. The condensation coils, fan, and evaporator coils all run horizontally, making them less ideal for narrow windows. However, casement window air conditioning systems feature vertical internal parts, making them perfect for rooms with slender windows.

Casement window AC units have an internal layout that runs up and down instead of side to side. For example, the system’s fan motor rests below the fan instead of next to it, making it much slimmer. 

That said, it's still important to measure your window before purchasing a casement window AC system. They aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution, so keep that in mind when shopping for one.

Although you can install window units yourself, it's best to hire a professional technician to ensure optimal results. Fast Air Repair offers first-rate AC installation in the greater Ocala, FL, area and will equip your home with a new unit at a price that you can afford.

Contact Fast Air Repair for All Your AC Installation Needs in Ocala, FL

If you want to upgrade your Ocala, FL, property with a new AC system but wonder, “Can you put an air conditioner on its side?” contact Fast Air Repair. Our technicians will equip your home with the latest and greatest air conditioner that will keep your home nice and cool during Florida’s hot summer months. Whether you need an AC tune-up or air conditioner replacement services, Fast Air Repair is always here for you.

Give Fast Air Repair a call at 352-290-7968 and schedule your appointment in Ocala, FL, today, and learn more!