As of Friday, it's officially fall. The box in your window that brought much-needed coolness during the summer is now preventing you from breathing that lovely autumn air (and will soon freeze your face off). Let's take it out. This is nothing revolutionary, but every year around this time, I start getting calls from friends who ask me to help them remove their window air-conditioners. I don't know why I became the go-to guy for this (strong like bull?), but it's probably because I've done it a bunch of times and I haven't killed anybody yet. I am by no means a professional HVAC guy, but this is the technique I've used for years to keep me, my A/C unit, and my neighbors safe.DISCLAIMER: These things are heavy and could very literally kill someone. Many of them weigh well over fifty pounds, and they feel even heavier because they are big and awkward. Whenever possible, ask a friend/spouse/neighbor to help you do this. Don't be macho about this, especially if you have a history of back/knee/shoulder/anything injuries.

If you don't have anyone to help you, consider calling in a professional HVAC person. All of the steps I show here work better with two people. If you have absolutely no other choice other than to do it alone and you are physically capable of doing it safely, then this guide shows you how. Prep: If possible, wait until it hasn't rained for a few days. These suckers can fill up with water, which makes things a lot messier. You'll need a screwgun, or at very least a screwdriver and a strong wrist. You'll also want some gloves, long sleeves, and boots to protect your toes.Step 1: Turn off the power. Duh.Step 2: Unplug the unit from the wall. Step 3: Remove the front panel if you can. It may pop off at a critical moment when you're trying to move the A/C and get in the way. Just set it aside for now.Step 4: Lay a grungy towel out on the floor where you plan on placing the A/C once removed. Even if it hasn't rained in days it's entirely possible that there is some nasty water in there, just waiting to slosh out.

Do yourself and your floors a favor and sacrifice a towel or two. Step 5: Pull the cord to the floor and step on it firmly to take the slack out. Do not take your foot off that cord. Now, if the A/C falls, standing on the cord is not going to help anything. However, if it starts to teeter, this may help it tip past the point of no return. I can't emphasize enough, though, that this isn't to be depended on. It's just to give a little bit of extra support.Step 6: Look out the window below you and check that there is nobody down there. If you have downstairs neighbors, warn them ahead of time so nobody walk out. If you have a friend who can stand down there and keep passersby away, all the better. Whatever you do, do not skip this step. If you drop this thing on a kid, it will kill him or her, and you will be convicted of manslaughter. Step 7: Unscrew the screw(s) on one side of the window frame. Do not do both yet, and do not attempt to raise the window. Step 8: Shove the unit over toward the side that is still screwed in.

If it has an accordioning side (on the unscrewed side), fold that into the unit. There should now be a gap big enough to get your hand through.Step 9: Reach your hand though the gap on the side and grab onto the A/C in a very stable place. If you can reach all the way to the back of the unit and hold on there, all the better. thru the wall heat and cooling unitsYou need a place you can grab so you can stop it from tipping. how much does a portable ac unit costOnce you have a good grip, hold on for dear life and do not let go. wall ac unit coverSeriously.Step 10: With that one hand still in place and never moving for any reason, use your other hand to unscrew the screw(s) on the other side. Once you've done that it's just your hand and the window holding this thing up, and the window is no longer reliable.

Step 11: The is the most critical part. Holding on to the back of the A/C with your hand that's on the other side of the window, flex that arm to give it some extra pull/lift. With your free hand, open the window. The A/C will want to drop (as you can see in the video). Use that one arm for all it's worth, and as soon as the window is open grab on with your free hand and move slide the A/C back into your house until it's well balanced on the sill. Still, do not let go with that hand!Step 12: Readjust your feet (you can stop standing on that cord now), bend from you knees, and move the A/C unit onto the awaiting towel. Remove any additional hardware, and close your window. You're now nice and draft-free for the fall.We searched the whole of the internet looking for tips and tricks on this, we even called a couple HVAC specialists. After all that, this is still the best system we've seen. Do you have a trick to doing this that makes it easier and safer? We definitely want to hear it, so let us know in the comments.

You can keep up with Brent Rose, the author of this post, on Google+ or Twitter. In case you missed itA step-by-step guide to removing your A/C unit—without any scary slip-ups We're far enough into September that we we can probably stop worrying about one last heat wave coming back to spite us, which means it's time to take out our window air-conditioners for the season. But, given some horror stories about A/Cs being dropped on passing pedestrians, you'll want to make sure you remove yours as carefully and safely as possible:First: Get another person to help you shoulder the load. (No shame in not being able to manage an unwieldy, precariously perched, 40-pound behemoth of an appliance on your own, after all.) Turn off the power, then unplug the unit.Afterward, lay down a fresh towel to sop up any water that's accumulated in the appliance, Gizmodo recommends, making sure you're wearing a long sleeved shirt, close-toed shoes, and maybe even some protective gloves.

Unscrew the air-conditioner (if necessary), and stand on the cord for extra leverage in case it falls, then hold the unit from behind while the other person lifts up the window. Be prepared for the A/C to naturally tilt back at this point. Carefully scoot the unit out of the window, then place it on the towel to let any excess water drain out. For good measure, send someone outside to give neighbors or pedestrians a heads up. After all, just because your apartment insurance would cover this kind of accident doesn't mean you shouldn't avoid one. New York City apartment insurance broker Jeff Schneider of Gotham Brokerage (a Brick Underground sponsor) tells usLest you think you're off scot-free because you've got a PTAC air conditioner—an all-in-one heating and cooling unit located against the wall like a radiator—don't forget that it's crucial to change the filter at least twice a year, or risk incurring water damage (and mold).Once you've got the air-conditioner safely indoors, clean the filters or, if you're feeling spendy, send it out for a pricey cleaning.