Cheap Frigidaire EA108T 18 In. Sleeve Kit for Through-the-Wall Air

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List Price: $89.99
Sale Price: $76.26
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Be forewarned!!!. Cutting into your wall is not a simple task.

This is NOT a window box it IS a kit to install a window unit through a wall you Will need to create a hole in the wall to put this through.

I've installed kits like this a few times it's a wonderful idea for a pertinent installation of what is normally considered a tacky yet important appliance.

Things you should know before starting this project.

Location of studs. (you will need to put this box in between studs never cut through a stud to install this device. If the stud spacing is to small consult a professional before you attempt an install. or risk you whole wall collapsing with half your roof.) if you must cut through a support you will need a double header and footer around the box.

Location of outlets and wires inside the wall

(You don't want to cut through any wire/pipe in your wall so don't put this OVER a plug as most plugs are dropped in from the attic or above(even if you live in a trailer.)

Ok dangerous part over with. :)

These last few items and hints are just for looks.

1. Get some molding to go around the exposed edge.

2. Have some foam or flashing to put on the outside of the box or risk water inside the wall in storms (basic stuff)

3. Have all the tools you'll need BEFOR you punch that hole in the wall.

4. Have a friend on standby just in case.

Not all kits will have molding or (make pretty) bits a bobs so expect to go to a home supply outlet of some-sort

Installing these isnt all that hard a proficient carpinder can do it in under an hour. But expect to spend most of the day on it. think weekend project take it slow.

Oh ya almost forgot.

run the AC on a flat surface for a while BEFORE you start in on the box and figure out how much of an angle you will need to insure the blasted thing drains OUTSIDE! and i mean let it run for a while it takes upwerds of 5 hrs to get a liquid buildup enough to drip.

Depending on the kit itself and your local humidity you may need to drill in a drain hole near the back of the kit (NOT THE AC) the kit! don't go drilling into your AC

Tools i used.

Tape Measure

Level

Drill

Hammer

nails/screws

Screwdriver bit for drill.

Saws-all

Flashlight

dust mask (drywall dust and junk)

screw driver (for where the drill wont catch)

old sheet/tarp

drill bits. one big one for starting the saws-all

(double header)

one to two 2x4's

Ripsaw (hand saw circular saw .. something to cut the 2x4)

LONG nails and or wood screws (DO NOT USE DRYWALL SCREWS)

Spare Drywall the hole inside will probably be larger than the required size for the box if you have to make a header. (drywall make pretty junk)

To make your life a little more easy use some header hangers (steel strips to hold up the header instead of just nails.

to create the header.

open the wall back untill you can see 3 studs

Cut the center stud out to the apropret gap.

Cut the 2x4's to the length to span the gap between the 2 outer studs you will need 4 of these.

Check your fit

Screw the 2x4's together lengthways to make them 4x4's

Use the hangers or nail in these new headers to the other studs and secure the center stud to the header. the connection point to the outer studs is the important part.

Pick where you want your box cut the outer hole and install.

Patch Drywall make it nice and install molding around the box slide the AC plug it in and enjoy the cold air. :)

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Pros:

This is a durable wall sleeve. With a little effort the pictures on the instructions can guide you through a solid installation that will be heavy duty. If you feel comfortable cutting through drywall and adding support beams to studs, you can handle this project in a weekend. Having this wall sleeve makes it easier to insulate around the sides of the A/C unit for an air-tight installation. Hot outside air stays out, cool inside air stays in.

Cons:

The instructions are very poorly written. They offer different details depending on the brand of wall sleeve, but it's not easy to determine the brand of this wall sleeve. I measured the dimensions and made my best guess from there.

Also not clear in the instructions is that you need to REMOVE THE BACK PANEL. You won't know this from the instructions. The back panel is a sheet of aluminum and a grate. The sheet of aluminum should be removed and the grate only placed in the back of the wall sleeve. I installed it with the aluminum in place and the A/C unit will overheat in about 3 minutes, shut off the compressor, and only blow hot air. Then the unit won't blow cold air again until it cools off again. ($65 service call later...) I removed the aluminum and left the grate and the A/C unit has been working fine. The hot air is now free to escape from the back of the wall sleeve.

I'd also like to see a water drip or spigot thread on the back of the wall sleeve. The condensation from the unit will collect in the wall sleeve and drain to the back where there are two holes in the lip of the sleeve. I rigged something to help it drip away from the unit, but it would have been preferrable to have something engineered as a part of the sleeve.

There were a few minor corners bent when my wall sleeve arrived. Better packaging could prevent this.

Best Deals for Frigidaire EA108T 18 In. Sleeve Kit for Through-the-Wall Air

This sheet-metal box is worth about twenty bucks. It doesn't come adequately packed, mine arrived in poor shape. The workmanship is indifferent, the foam baffles were attached incorrectly. The installation manual was written by someone with a strong aversion to communication.

Honest reviews on Frigidaire EA108T 18 In. Sleeve Kit for Through-the-Wall Air

Easy to work with. Figidiare unit fit well into space. Since the unit is made to have a tilt to shed water the trim on the inside wall did not cover properly. Had to build a 1x2 wood frame around the unit then install the trim kit.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Frigidaire EA108T 18 In. Sleeve Kit for Through-the-Wall Air

Would have been nice if the home store I special ordered the main wall unit from had informed me that I needed to special order this sleeve also. Although Amazon promptly sent me this product asap. Happy isn't the word when I saw the box arrive just 2 days after I ordered it. I was so upset that I had already put a hole in my wall and had to seal it best I could til it arrived. Pretty easy to put in but you do need 2 people unless you want stuff falling.