...It was a window unit, but the only small windows that opened were in the bedrooms - the kitchen and the living room (one room really) had only large, non-opening, "picture windows", so he had to cut a hole in the wall to mount the A/C...
My dad did that too. We had electric baseboard heat.
Bought a MASSIVE Kenmore window unit. Not sure I've ever seen a window big enough for that monster. Hacked a hole in the wall, wired a 220 outlet to feed that beast, and AC'd the whole freakin 1600 sq/ft house.