The Pacific Northwest is more or less “naturally” air conditioned and the need for a mechanical air conditioning system is rarely necessary like it is in other parts of the country. I see a few Air Conditioning systems----and when I do they are more likely to be incorporated into high-end homes or commercial structures and often in conjunction with heat pumps. Frankly I see Heat Pumps as a more economically justifiable system in the Northwest----with the Air Conditioning aspect being just a side benefit that comes with the Heat Pump. It is the other way around in most parts of the country. This picture shows the basic approach to installing air conditioners in the NW when it is NOT a high end home. It is very important to get yourself a good saw horse----one that you can cut the legs off of so that it will sit nicely on whatever pitch your roof is. You can use any old piece of plywood as a shelf----it will delaminate appropriately on its own over time. 
Charles Buell
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Click on the Rose to check out: AHA!---A Forum of Landmark Proportions---your Group
PS, for those of you that are new to my blog (or for some other "unexplained" reason have never noticed)all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.
My WORDLESS WEDNESDAY pictures and some selected POEMS & STORIES.
Charles - Thanks for the advice. And here I was going to spend thousands on having one installed by a licensed professional. You've saved me a fortune! Haha.
Charles, I can't believe you came all the way down to Pa. just to take a picture of my son's a/c installation for your blog post. Are you saying this is not a proper, professional installation? OK, all kidding aside. Drive through any city out here and you'll see at least 1 such installation per 2 -3 blocks. The total lack of common sense people exert to avoid paying a few dollars never ceases to amaze me.
That is custom! You can't just go anywhere for and installation like that.
Matt, just here to help:)
Suesan, I bet you are right that in areas that actually need AC this type of installation would be very common.
Jim, see my comment to Suesan:)
Whoa, Charles! It looks like one of my husband's handywork. He learned from the best, though. His father refused to make the "just to get by until we can really fix it" fixes into actual fixes. Duct tape and pantyhose. That's all he ever needed. My father-in-law is the original MacGuyver!
That is funny. Why spend the money to get it professionally installed when you're just going to remove it and take it with you when you move anyway. =0)
Heather----say it isn't so:)
Tony and Libby----I wish they would come back and get it then:)
That's quite the intricate setup they've got there!
No doubt the work was performed by the same genius who did this...
Craig---nice view out the window.
that looks like an air conditioner we used to have at a rental we lived in when i was a kid. It used to drip all over the place and had algae running down from it. It was pretty disgusting
Sandy, like any appliance, some amount of maintenace is going to be require to avoid the disgusting part:)
Mr Charles,
Is you problem with the A/C unit or the support. It looks nutsy to me.
Nutsy
Well---actually my problem is with----Nutsy:)
Charlie - LOL....Why, that is what I call improvising!
Ya know... I saw a horse one time. This one was likely eating the moss on the roof.
Carol---most likely more common than one would like to admit.
Klee----or the moss was eating it.
Charlie - you could think a bit outside the box, like this owner, who understands that without the extra water contribution from that window unit the roof moss would not grow fast enough for his local manufacture of moss beer, pesto, salad dressing, etc. Entreprenuers never get enough credit...
Man----how could I be so stupid?:)
Not your fault, man - he probably does it on the side...
Pun intended...
Rube Goldberg lives here. He just moved from the house in Craigs photo.
Jay----you are probably right
Jim, well, one way or the other.
That is an exquisite example of home owner ingenuity. I have said it before and I will say it again, they should license tools.
What is that famous quote?-----"If I only had a brain."
Charles, looks as if you've been to Arkansas doing a few inspections. Heat pumps work great here.
Barbara, nope---just another Arkansas transplant I guess:)