Installation & Setup
Practical setup guides for window and portable units, vents, filters, fans and thermostats.
Guides
Bathroom Fan Venting: Duct Size, Roof vs Wall Caps and Attic RulesA bathroom fan must vent all the way outdoors through a roof or wall cap with a backdraft damper, never into the attic, …Ceiling Fan Direction for Summer and Winter: Which Way Should It Spin?In summer, run the fan counter-clockwise (looking up) at medium or high speed so it blows air straight down and creates …Cold Air Return Vents: How They Work, Sizing and Where to Put ThemReturn vents carry room air back to the furnace or air handler so it can be filtered, heated or cooled and sent out agai…How to Drain a Portable Air Conditioner: Three Methods ComparedPortable ACs handle condensate in one of three ways: self-evaporating models exhaust most water through the hose, gravit…Furnace Filter Guide: Sizes, MERV Ratings and When to Change ThemUse the size printed on your current filter, choose MERV 8 for basic protection or MERV 11–13 for better air quality if …Can You Recharge a Window AC? Sealed Systems, Leaks and EPA RulesA window air conditioner is a factory-sealed system with no service ports, and refrigerant does not get used up. If it i…Thermostat Wiring Explained: Terminals, Wire Colors and C-Wire OptionsThermostat terminals are named by function, not color: R is 24-volt power, C is the common return, W calls for heat, Y f…How to Vent a Portable AC Without a Window: 5 Workable OptionsA portable AC must send its hot exhaust outdoors, or it heats the room it is meant to cool. Without a usable window, the…Where to Place an Air Purifier for the Cleanest Air in Each RoomPut a portable air purifier in the room where you spend the most time, usually the bedroom, within a few feet of where y…Where to Put a Humidifier: Best Placement for Comfort and SafetyPlace a portable humidifier on a waterproof surface about 2–4 ft off the floor, a few feet from beds, walls, furniture a…How to Install a Window Air Conditioner Safely: Step-by-Step GuideMeasure the window, fit a support bracket for any unit over about 50 lb, set the unit with a slight tilt toward the outs…