Anyone have experience with window unit AC's? Thinking about one for seasonal use

[Bill]

My two a/c's are both original to the house, so closer to 30 years, vs. 25 years. One has been fixed several times, the other, untouched. I try and be gentle with them since they're getting on up in age, supplementing with ceiling fans, etc.

What I'm considering is a window unit a/c, which I would use as a supplement to the central a/c's, just to fine tune where I'm at. It also would be handy during an extended power outage.

Looking at this one:

YouTube

Supposed to be almost like a mini split, you can almost close the window so it's supposed to be quieter, and 12,000btu is fed by a standard 110 plug, not a 220.

Several neighbors have them, in the back of the houses. I helped my next door neighbor bring one in and fab it.....they just bought it in the case of extended power outage, so they can keep the bedroom cool with just an emergency generator, but they got a traditional unit, a 220v version, so they had some additional expense to run conduit to where they plan to run the portable generator. I don't think we've had a power outage of any duration since then, so the ac is doing it's job so far, lol.

And Texas is having a tax free holiday for air conditioners that are Energy Star rated, in a couple of weeks, so if I do it, that's when I'd do it.

[OnPoint]

They suck.

Bite the bullet and replace your dinosaur AC units with new ones.

[Bill]

Originally Posted by OnPoint

They suck.

Bite the bullet and replace your dinosaur AC units with new ones.

Mine are 12 SEER, and probably don't get that anymore. I clean the outside coils, but not the a-coil in the attic. The thing about simply replacing them is, I have no guarantee new ones will have the kind of longevity these have had.

The one that was worked on had a new a-coil years ago, a new fan on the condenser outside, a new dryer, and a new capacitor that I put on myself. Had the freon charged a couple of times over the years, probably a tiny leak now in that 2nd a-coil, but with the drop in replacement, so it wasn't terribly pricey.

[OnPoint]

Originally Posted by Bill

Mine are 12 SEER, and probably don't get that anymore. I clean the outside coils, but not the a-coil in the attic. The thing about simply replacing them is, I have no guarantee new ones will have the kind of longevity these have had.

The one that was worked on had a new a-coil years ago, a new fan on the condenser outside, a new dryer, and a new capacitor that I put on myself. Had the freon charged a couple of times over the years, probably a tiny leak now in that 2nd a-coil, but with the drop in replacement, so it wasn't terribly pricey.

Sounds like new ones, with much higher efficiency wouldn't have to work very hard. Which would help them live long happy lives.

[owc6]

I have a Frigidaire window unit in the bedroom because I like to sleep in as cold a room as possible.

However, it's foolish to cool the entire house so the bedroom is comfy.

I've probably saved at least 10 times the cost of the unit in electric bills.

[CurtP]

GE has one called the ClearView that is U-shaped, but hangs down instead of up. Don't know how reliable either of them are.

I have a bunch of window units. The one in the garage is a Friedrich Chill Premier that's always on to help control dampness. I was going to do a mini-split, but I don't think this is our forever home. Zero issues with it.

In my media room I had a Friedrich Kuhl. It died within a year and the company absolutely would not respond about a warranty claim. It was expensive and I'm still pissed off about it. I needed some extra cooling because that room gets hot with all the equipment running when watching a movie or listening to music. I haven't replaced it yet. It wasn't quiet and I hated how it blew directly on me when sitting in the recliner.

Then I have 4 LG window units for emergency use. Just basic window shakers - cheap, noisy AF, but they only get installed when there's an issue with central AC or we lose power - my little Honda generator can keep one going. Bought them during the scamdemic before prices took off and I couldn't get a repair company out here to fix our HVAC for several months. Absolutely hate them, but they work. I think they're LW series.

[LATB]

I’m fixin to buy 3 or 4 window rattlers for temporary use in the new house. I like to condition the house once dried in for comfort and to acclimate the building materials/products.

[simpleman68]

"datawiz and simpleman to the white courtesy phone please"

Scott

[CurtP]

Originally Posted by LATB

I’m fixin to buy 3 or 4 window rattlers for temporary use in the new house. I like to condition the house once dried in for comfort and to acclimate the building materials/products.

Might be better off with dual-hose portable units instead of putting window units in your brand new windows.

[Bill]

Originally Posted by CurtP

Might be better off with dual-hose portable units instead of putting window units in your brand new windows.

The issue with those is, they're pulling air out of the home, so presumably the hot outside air is being actively pulled in from outside.

My buddy in Florida bought one of those when his central a/c on his stilt house broke. I went to visit in the peak of Summer, and I almost insisted on getting a hotel room. It was literally sweltering inside an that was me on the sofa very close to the a/c, like blowing on me close. . I don't know how he lived like that.

[CurtP]

Originally Posted by Bill

The issue with those is, they're pulling air out of the home, so presumably the hot outside air is being actively pulled in from outside.

That's why I specified dual-hose. They exchange with outside air. The single-hose ones pull from inside.

[LATB]

I’ve tried the portable units. Also have a packaged unit rigged up temporarily.

The window units are simple and only a few hundred dollars for a couple of them. At the end of the job I give them away.

[Yadkin]

I have a unit in almost every window. Super thin and nearly invisible from the street or my neighbors. They don't have cords and don't use electricity. I can turn each on or off individually just by opening the window that it's attached to.

[Vandelay Industries]

I've got 4 window units to install and remove each year. I hate them with a passion but they do get the job done.

I end up replacing them every 5 to 6 years when they get noisy and some of the new ones are prone to growing mold and mildew on the Styrofoam insulation.

Sooner or later I'll bite the bullet for mini splits.

[markids77]

Buy the cheapest thing you can find that fits the opening, then get a spare. They all "work" but if you fear a total outage of your present setup, cooling more than one room at a time will require more than one unit. A couple $20 box fans placed strategically can do wonders for spreading the load.

[Rodnok1]

The last window ac I got is total junk, barely cools a small room.
If it was me I'd get an older unit.

[Anjdog2003]

My A/C is the Pacific Ocean.

[Bill]

Originally Posted by Anjdog2003

My A/C is the Pacific Ocean.

Could get this kind of setup for the van:

YouTube

[Aerovette]

I have a window unit in my bedroom as a boost to help keep the room cool without freezing out the rest of the house. I bought cheap and it's going on probably 5 years now. It doesn't have to work hard or be sized to the room since it isn't doing anything but an assist. It will freeze me out if I set it low enough.

[theandies]

My old window unit I use in my detached garage brings air in from the inside. Not sure what units everyone is saying draws air from the outside but I've never seen one. Mine has a cover that you take off to removed and clean/replace in inlet filter and I can assure you it's on the inside and I can feel the air being drawn in.

With that said it works great. It keep my uninsulated garage cool on those hot summer days when I need to wrench. I originally bought it when our central unit died 10+ years ago for our bedroom. It did that job well.
My youngest just bought a unit for his bedroom because he built a big honking computer that could be contributing to climate change. This unit has the exhaust connected to a pipe that goes in the window. The rest of the unit sits on the floor (or table if you want) and that's it. One thing is you do have to empty the condensation trap every once in a while but it will automatedly turn off if it gets full during use.

Not sure if this is the exact one but it looks like this: