Back to Blogs
Your Guide to Window Air Conditioners
While New England summers can be short, they certainly pack a punch in the little time they have. By now, you’re probably seriously considering bringing your window air conditioners up from the basement. Or, if you don’t own any, you’re once again wondering if this is the year you break and get a few.
While window air conditioning units are convenient, it’s important to understand how they operate to ensure they cool your home efficiently. You’d be surprised how little we know about those heavy, loud boxes that buzz in our windows all summer. Yet, the more we understand, the better we can make them work for us. Here’s your window AC guide.
Consider Modern Styles
We’re all well acquainted with the standard window air conditioning unit. However, we’ve noticed a contemporary design emerge in the last few years that have us intrigued. These units are known as “inverter air conditioners” and work similarly to ductless mini-split systems, save for the fact that they fit into your window.
The best part is that these inverter units fit over your window sill rather than hang out of your window. This means they are supported by the exterior wall and do not rely on your window frame to hang, allowing you to open and close your window on days when the air conditioner is not needed.
Choose the Right Size
The greatest air conditioning fallacy is that "bigger is better." The complete opposite is true. When choosing a window air conditioner, the perfect size is the unit that is most closely rated for the size of your room; nothing more and nothing less. When you introduce a unit that is rated too large for your room, it will cool the immediate area so quickly that the rest of the room will remain hot and humid. Too small, and your air conditioners won’t be able to cool the space.
Understand AC Features
Gone are the days when your air conditioner functioned via two dials. While those units still exist (and work perfectly) many other units have features that you can take advantage of that make your unit work smarter, not harder.
- Programmable timers can ensure that your unit turns off after a set amount of time, such as in the middle of the night when you might not need the cold air.
- Smart features can sync your unit to your phone via Wi-Fi, giving you enhanced control even when outside of the house.
- The thermostat control allows you to set a temperature; once the unit cools the space to the temperature it can turn off.
- Econ mode or environmental mode will turn the unit off when the thermostat reaches the set temp, then cycle the fan every 10-20 minutes to sample the room temperature, where it can then turn on again if needed.
Ensure Correct Installation
We recommend you follow the installation instructions that come with your unit. However, here are a few general installation tips to ensure that your unit works as efficiently as possible.
- Choose a window with shade; even a small amount of shade from a tree can help your unit keep your room cool
- Keep objects clear of the front of your unit; keep house plants and curtains away from the unit’s air intake
- Clean your filter once a month and whenever the “clean filter” light turns on, if you have one
- Ensure your unit is plugged into an outlet that doesn’t have any other power-hungry appliances connected already or you might trip your breaker
- Weatherstrip any gaps between your window and the unit with foam insulation
Most of all, make sure the window you choose for your air conditioner is in good shape and can safely support the unit. Check for any rotting wood, bent window frames, or a loose sash that could cause your unit to fall out of your window!