On this page
- The bracket names in the manuals
- What the L bracket does in LG manuals
- The support bracket and sill bracket
- Window locking bracket and sash lock
- Storm windows and the wood strip
- Top rail and sash lock on Midea
- Matching the bracket to the window type
- What to check before the unit goes in
- Which to choose
- Questions people ask
The bracket names in the manuals
Window AC manuals do not use one generic bracket. The parts list and the installation pages name each piece. LG's LW1022FVSM manual lists heatproof foam (2), an L bracket (3) and a support bracket. LG's LW1522FVSM manual lists a window locking bracket and sill brackets (2). LG's LW1224RSMX manual lists a window locking bracket. LG's LW5024X manual lists an L bracket (3). Midea's MAW06R1WWT-T manual takes a different approach: it says the top rail must be assembled on the unit before installation and refers to a sash lock when the unit is removed. The what comes in the box page helps sort hardware from packaging, but the manual for the exact model is what names the brackets.
| Part named in the manual | What the manual says |
|---|---|
| L bracket (3) | LG LW1022FVSM manual: sits behind the inner window sash and helps hold the unit in place. |
| Support bracket | LG LW1022FVSM manual: secured to the inner window sill with a type B screw. |
| Sill bracket (2) | LG LW1522FVSM manual: sill supports attached with type A screws facing outside the window. |
| Window locking bracket | LG LW1224RSMX manual: attached with a type C screw on vinyl or similarly constructed windows. |
| Top rail | Midea MAW06R1WWT-T manual: must be assembled on the unit before installation. |
What the L bracket does in LG manuals
LG's LW1022FVSM manual places the L bracket behind the inner window sash. It says the bracket helps hold the unit securely in place and that the bracket edge should sit flush against the back of the window sash. The same manual says to attach the L bracket with a type A screw on vinyl or similarly constructed windows. The manual warns that damage may result if the unit falls from the window. The L bracket is therefore part of the window-to-unit connection, not a foot that sits on the sill.
The support bracket and sill bracket
LG's LW1022FVSM manual secures the support bracket to the inner window sill with a type B screw. That is a different location from the L bracket: the L bracket works at the inner sash, while the support bracket ties the installation to the sill. LG's LW1522FVSM manual uses the term sill bracket (2) and shows sill supports attached with type A screws facing outside the window. LG's LW1224RSMX manual also shows a sill support attached with two type A screws facing outside the window, and it mounts the cabinet to the window sill using three screws. The names vary by manual, but the job is the same: a lower connection that keeps the cabinet from relying on the window sash alone.
Window locking bracket and sash lock
LG's LW1224RSMX manual adds a window locking bracket. It says to attach the window locking bracket with a type C screw on vinyl or other similarly constructed windows, and it gives the reason as preventing broken glass or damage to windows. That bracket is separate from the L bracket and the sill support. Midea's MAW06R1WWT-T manual refers to a sash lock in its removal note: remove the sash seal from between the windows and unscrew the sash lock. The manual also says to remove screws installed through the top rail and side panel frames. Those details matter when the unit comes out for the season, because the hardware has to go back with the unit. The removing and storing guide covers the seasonal side.
Storm windows and the wood strip
LG's LW1022FVSM manual warns that a storm window frame may prevent the unit from tilting down toward the outside for drainage. Its fix is a wood strip: attach a 1 inch by 2 inch piece of wood to the inner sill, trimmed to fit inside the window frame, with the top of the wood strip 3/4 inch higher than the storm window frame. LG's LW1224RSMX and LW1522FVSM manuals call for a 2 inch by 2 inch piece of wood in the same situation. Midea's MAW06R1WWT-T manual says that if a storm window blocks the unit, the drain holes or slots must not be caulked or painted shut. These are manual instructions for specific models, not a universal rule for every window. The older windows guide covers the window-frame side, and the tilt guide explains why drainage depends on the tilt.
Top rail and sash lock on Midea
Midea's MAW06R1WWT-T manual says the top rail must be assembled on the unit before installation. It shows the hole in the top rail aligned with the holes in the top of the unit. That makes the top rail a bracket-like part that belongs to the cabinet, not a loose accessory to leave in the carton. For a Midea unit, the top rail and sash lock are therefore part of the installation record. Keep them with the unit if it is stored for winter.
Matching the bracket to the window type
The manuals separate wood windows from vinyl-clad windows. As the sections above show, the LW1022FVSM and LW1224RSMX manuals give specific screws for vinyl or similarly constructed windows. Midea's MAW06R1WWT-T manual has separate wooden-window and vinyl-clad-window instructions. The bracket names and screw types are the manual's way of matching the hardware to the frame. Because the manuals give different screw types for vinyl, the frame material is part of the bracket choice. The double-hung window guide covers the window type, and the window AC buying checklist covers what to confirm before purchase.
What to check before the unit goes in
Before installation, read the model's manual for the bracket list. The table at the top of this page shows which manual names which part. The manuals also give the installation height and tilt: LG's LW1022FVSM manual says the bottom should sit between 30 and 60 inches above the floor and the unit should tilt about 1/4 inch with the back lower than the front. LG's LW1224RSMX and LW1522FVSM manuals give a tilt of about 1/2 inch. Those figures come from the manuals and belong to the models they name. For model families, the LG guide and the Midea guide list the units covered here.
Which to choose
| If you | Look for |
|---|---|
| If you are installing an LG LW1022FVSM | Use the L bracket (3) behind the inner window sash and the support bracket on the inner window sill with a type B screw, as the manual shows. |
| If you are installing an LG LW1522FVSM | Use the sill brackets (2) with type A screws facing outside the window, and the window locking bracket with a type C screw on vinyl windows. |
| If you are installing an LG LW1224RSMX | Use the sill support with two type A screws facing outside, mount the cabinet to the sill with three screws, and fit the window locking bracket with a type C screw on vinyl. |
| If you are installing a Midea MAW06R1WWT-T | Assemble the top rail on the unit before installation, and keep the sash lock and top rail screws with the unit when it is removed. |
| If a storm window frame is in the way | Follow the wood strip instruction for your model: 1 inch by 2 inch wood with the top 3/4 inch above the frame on the LW1022FVSM, or 2 inch by 2 inch wood on the LW1224RSMX and LW1522FVSM. |
Questions people ask
Is the L bracket the same as the support bracket?
No. LG's LW1022FVSM manual lists them separately and puts them in different places: the L bracket behind the inner window sash, and the support bracket on the inner window sill with a type B screw.
What is a sill bracket on an LG window AC?
LG's LW1522FVSM manual lists sill brackets (2) and shows sill supports attached with type A screws facing outside the window. LG's LW1224RSMX manual shows a sill support with two type A screws facing outside the window.
Why does the manual mention a window locking bracket?
LG's LW1224RSMX manual says to attach the window locking bracket with a type C screw on vinyl or similarly constructed windows, and gives the reason as preventing broken glass or damage to windows.
What does Midea say about the top rail?
Midea's MAW06R1WWT-T manual says the top rail must be assembled on the unit before installation, with the hole in the top rail aligned with the holes in the top of the unit.
What if a storm window frame blocks the tilt?
LG's LW1022FVSM manual calls for a 1 inch by 2 inch wood strip on the inner sill with the top 3/4 inch above the storm window frame. LG's LW1224RSMX and LW1522FVSM manuals call for a 2 inch by 2 inch piece of wood.