Thru-Wall HVAC — New York City
Built for the 36” x 19” Sleeve
NYC buildings were designed around a standard thru-wall sleeve opening — and every unit we carry is spec’d for exactly that. No cutting, no custom framing, no variance from the co-op board. Just a drop-in replacement that works.
The NYC Standard
Why the 36” x 19” Opening Defines Everything
Walk through any prewar co-op in Manhattan — the Upper West Side, the Upper East Side, Park Slope, Astoria — and the sleeve dimensions are almost always the same. Those openings were built into the masonry during original construction in the 1920s and 1930s. They were designed for window units that became available after World War II, and the standard stuck.
Post-war high-rises from the 1950s through the 1980s followed the same convention. Buildings in Flushing, Forest Hills, Riverdale, and Flatbush all used the same sleeve spec because contractors were trained on it and equipment manufacturers supplied to it.
The result: if you’re replacing a thru-wall unit in any NYC building built before 1990, the 36” x 19” sleeve is the starting point — not a variable. We stock units built for that exact opening.
Prewar Co-ops
The sleeve is part of the original masonry. The co-op board almost never approves modifications to cut a new opening — and the DOB requires an A2 alteration permit for any new penetration through the building envelope. Sleeve replacement without structural changes? No permit required, no board approval needed for the opening itself.
Post-War High-Rises
208V single-phase is the standard electrical feed in NYC post-war buildings — not the 240V residential standard you’d find outside the city. Our Thru-Wall and AboveAir units are available in 208V configurations specifically for this reason. Don’t order a standard residential unit and discover the voltage mismatch at installation.
NYC DOB Requirements
Replacing a unit in an existing sleeve does not require a DOB permit. Only new sleeve openings — where structural masonry is cut — require an A2 alteration filing. This distinction matters when working with co-op boards who may not understand the regulatory difference between “replacement” and “installation.”
Authorized Dealer
Thru-Wall Brands We Carry
We are authorized dealers for two thru-wall brands specifically engineered for NYC building requirements. Both are available in 208V and configured for the standard NYC sleeve dimensions.
Thru-Wall
Purpose-built for NYC prewar co-ops
Thru-Wall units are engineered to the 36” x 19” sleeve standard with precise tolerances for NYC masonry installations. Available in cooling-only and heat/cool configurations. The product line is designed specifically for the NYC multifamily market — not adapted from a suburban product.
View Thru-Wall UnitsAboveAir
High-efficiency option for post-war high-rises
AboveAir thru-wall units offer enhanced energy efficiency ratings — important for buildings working toward Local Law 97 compliance. Available in the same NYC sleeve dimensions with 208V single-phase configurations. A strong choice for property managers replacing aging units across multiple apartments in a single building.
View AboveAir UnitsKnow Your Sleeve Dimensions?
Submit your sleeve dimensions, BTU load estimate, and electrical specs. We’ll match you with the right unit in one business day. NYC contractors get priority turnaround.