It's that time again, getting out the ladder and installing the in-window air conditioner. The accordion thingies that come with the unit are completely useless of course, unless you don't mind hot air, flies, mosquitoes, squirrels and anything else coming into the house through the gaps. Therefore, I have the problem of how to install the thing.
My normal method is the following:
Hold the thing in by screwing it to a wood lintel that is closely fitted to the window, so it is solidly held in.
Cut pieces of lexan or plexiglass to exactly fit the gaps on both sides.
Climb up the side of the house on a ladder and install the lexan panels using duct tape. Make sure there are no gaps at all (very important).
Cut insulation that fits the gaps. Go inside house and insert insulation pads on both sides.
Cut more lexan to fit gaps in window on inside.
Duct tape the inner panels to the window. Phew, finally done.
What a pain in the butt, and when October rolls around I have take the Jerry rig all apart again.
Anybody got an easier way of doing this?