Bookmark us and come back to visit sometime... 55 Preparedness Items  21 Popular Preps  People Are Buying Preps On This List During the summer months a widely overlooked security vulnerability in the home is something that is hiding in plain sight — and especially noticeable to a burglar. One potentially easy way that a burglar may gain access to your home is through the window after pushing in the window air-conditioner on the 1st-floor. When the weather warms up, the window air-conditioners are installed. How many of you have at least one window air-conditioner on the 1st floor of your home? Have you ever thought about how easy it might be for a burglar to push/force in a window air-conditioner unit and gain entry to your home when you’re away? Here’s what you can do about it: Most window air-conditioners are simply installed and held in place by gravity, tucked behind the window sash which keeps them from falling out – maybe with a few small screws holding the accordion side-panels in place.

Many people don’t even install a single support screw into the window sash itself because the air conditioner holds itself in place by gravity and its downward force against the window sash. So, what can you do to better secure your window air-conditioner? At least install a screw through the air-conditioner’s top mounting rail into the window sash. Most window air conditioners include a drilled-out hole in the top center to accommodate this. Consider drilling additional holes through the same top mounting rail to accommodate more screws into the lower window sash (see illustration below). (Sliding Window Lock, Window Stop, Window Restrictor) To prevent the burglar from pushing and forcing up the window to reach in underneath and shove the air conditioner (even with the A/C unit attached and screwed to the sash – although difficult), install window frame locks which prevent this motion… Depending on the style of your window, you might consider something like this:

‘Do It Yourself’ Window Lock: Another thought: While the air conditioner is mounted in the window you might simply measure the distance from the top of the lower window frame to the very top of the double-hung frame itself, and then cut a wooden dowel to snugly fit – which can be wedged to prohibit the window from opening further… Another clever idea is a window wedge (Window Wedge) – if your window accommodates it.best ac unit 2013 After reading about the (Window Wedge), you might not need to use the Velcro… if there’s enough ‘gap’ you might simply insert the wedge which may hold itself in place (I have not tried this). do window ac units workThe product is designed to keep a window from opening for child safety, although it should perform equally well when inserted (wedged) at the height with the A/C installed…ac unit size for home

Here’s a great product that will absolutely deter a would-be burglar. The second they begin to force open the window, this cleverly designed window-alarm will alert (based on motion/vibration sensing). It’s just about 3-inches in diameter and ‘sticks’ onto the window inside. It has an ‘off’ switch for your convenience when opening the window yourself… Doberman Security SE-0106-4PK Ultra-Slim Window Alarm (4 Pack)On the window with the air conditioner, install a burglar alarm window decal on a window panel where it will be plainly visible. This alone may be enough to prevent a break-in as the burglar may move along to an easier target. Security Burglar Alarm Decal Stickers Depending on the width of the window air conditioner, the ‘accordion’ side panels may be extended fairly wide, or maybe not. This is an obvious weak point of entry for a burglar to punch through and gain leverage to shoving the air conditioner itself. While the aforementioned suggestions will slow down or deter a burglar (likely to the extent of giving up – because they’re looking for a quick way in without attracting attention), all you can do about the accordion panels is to fashion and attach/secure/bracket your own wooden side panels to the window frame itself.

This involves some basic do-it-yourself skills and is not for everyone… Ultimately, you are not going to stop a determined burglar, but you will probably stop the majority of amateur burglars who are looking for quick and easy entry. If one of them happens to pick your home because they see a window air-conditioner hanging out of a 1st-floor window, when they give it a hard push and it doesn’t budge, they will probably move on… If the burglar pulls or pushes on the air conditioner while attempting to lift the window sash, it will not readily come out so long as you have taken the precautions mentioned above. Additionally or alternatively, consider removing any 1st-floor window air-conditioners when going on an extended vacation. A few minutes effort may be worth it…Window Air Conditioners: Guidelines and Warnings Stephen Varone & Peter Varsalona Summertime, and the livin' is … dangerous? It could be, if window-mounted air conditioners aren't properly installed in your building.

While New York City doesn't consider a/c units as serious an issue as cracked bricks or loose masonry, a poorly installed one can fall and injure or kill someone. Boards and property managers must make sure the units at your co-op or condo are adequately secured. What does "adequately secured" really mean? The first thing to know is that window air conditioners do fall under Local Law 11/98. While not specifically mentioned, they're covered under the existing administrative code (C26-105.3), which stipulates that exterior walls and appurtenances must be maintained in a safe condition. The Department of Buildings (DOB) scrutinizes facade inspection reports closely, and can reject reports that fail to affirm the stability of window-mounted air conditioners, or which have photos showing potentially unsafe units.Installation GuidelinesThe DOB website provides a plain-English page of guidelines for safely installing window air conditioners. Step one: Make sure the right-sized a/c is being used.

It should have enough capacity to cool the room and have a dedicated outlet with the proper amount of electrical current.The window and window frame in which the unit will be mounted should be secure and in good condition. The air conditioner should be braced from underneath with metal brackets, mounting rails or similar supports, or firmly fastened from inside with supporting angles. The metal brackets and angles should be attached to the exterior of the building and be strong enough to support the size and weight of the unit. While these are considered best practices, there is no requirement under Local Law 11 that buildings over six stories are absolutely required to use metal brackets.Anything used to adjust the position of the air conditioner, such as shims, should be independently secured to prevent shifting caused by vibration, wind or ice.Tip: The air conditioner should remain in place when the window is opened, or secured so that the window cannot be opened accidentally. Tilting the unit for drainage is okay as long as it isn't at a steep angle.

Footing LooseDangers come not only from an improperly secured air conditioner itself, but also from any loose objects used to support it. Bricks, wooden blocks, phone books or (as in one case we've seen) videocassette tapes should never be wedged between an air conditioner and the window sill. Items such as flower pots, satellite dishes and bird feeders should not be placed on top of the unit.Aside from these guidelines, there are factors specific to each installation, such as the size and weight of the a/c, the width of the window, the depth of the windowsill, the condition of the window frame, whether the unit is installed on the top or at the bottom of the window opening and how much of the air conditioner extends outside the window.Given the number of air conditioners in a multistory building and the problems that ensue (including gaining access to apartments, and the fact that air-conditioner installations aren't permanent and may change from year to year), it is impractical if not impossible for the engineer or architect conducting a Local Law 11/98 inspection to check every window-mounted unit.

One protocol is to have him or her inspect at least one securely installed window a/c (which must conform to the guidelines above) that building management has established to be a standard for the building. When signing the inspection report, management is asked to confirm that all other air conditioner installations meet or exceed that standard.Don't Do Do-It-YourselfUnder this arrangement, management must establish installation guidelines and procedures and make sure all residents comply. For example, management can establish a rule that window air conditioners can be installed only by someone deemed qualified, such as the building superintendent, a maintenance person, a technician from the store where the unit was bought, or perhaps an exterior contractor. Residents might be asked to complete a simple form verifying that a qualified installer was used.To maintain uniform safety standards, it's not a good idea to permit residents to install window air conditioners on their own, especially on street-facing facades.

Managers will doubtlessly face resistance from residents and boards questioning why they need to hire an installer to put in their air conditioners when they can do it themselves. The issue, however, is not unlike apartment alterations. Most residents accept that they cannot renovate their apartments without board approval. Similarly, without established a/c guidelines that require a qualified installer, some residents will no doubt hastily shove a unit in a window, close the sash, and be done with it. The more apartments in the building, the greater the risk some air conditioners will not be adequately secured.While individual residents will have to assume responsibility for ensuring their air-conditioner installation conforms to building standards, managers and boards will still be required to monitor and enforce compliance. Such measures as marking air conditioner locations on building elevation plans and conducting spot checks should be part of the maintenance staff's procedures. Boards, of course, are already aware that if a poorly installed unit falls and injures or kills someone, the corporation will be held liable.