Window AC: to replace or not to replace

You need a custom solution then.
Anything and everything will leave a trace. It's up to you to decide how deep you want to go.
An insert can be made flush, and covered with an original chip that you can chip and store before putting the insert in.

In my book the GE saddle type would be the least intrusive - I don't own one, but logically it looks the least intrusive and self-weighs the correct way at the correct place, but you still have the little tightening legs at the bottom of the bracket - will they leave a trace on the wood trim outside ? How unnatural would a window AC look on your house in the first place ?

I'd get the different models, and look in Youtube for mounting instructions and reviews.
All I know is that if these things did heating as well, I'd switch to them exclusively in a heartbeat. Currently I have the Midea in the kids' room, and even though it is not mounted too well (distance between my window panes is too big for both to fit in the opening) - it works absolutely great.
 
alarmguy said:
Maybe this is better sized for your BR
15 Seer too
i get it though Costco has a larger one for less but if grossly oversized BR room will get musty
https://www.amazon.com/Midea-Inverter-Conditioner-Flexibility-Installation/dp/B08677DCKN

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Midea-8...0-sq-ft-Energy-Star-2024-MAW08U1QWT/327511952
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That’s what I was originally looking at, but the 12k is cheaper on sale at Costco $280. I don’t get it, but it is what it is, ain’t what it ain’t.
 
Rand said:
mr cool diy mini split heat pump? basement/garage install seems like it would be easier than some installs.
Click to expand...
Not a bad idea. I’m just not the most handy guy outside of basic wrenching on cars and other simple stuff. I know, I know, just watch the YouTube’s! Lol
 
Just an update. The room is 24X22’, including the master bath and walk-in closet. We could keep the doors to those extra spaces closed, but we choose not to (the closet has a lot of stuff that I’d rather keep at a lower humidity to prevent damage).
 
Cujet said:
The condenser's water would then pool at the bottom, needing a pump. Also, my walls are nearly a foot thick.

Last night:

Initial power draw 604W
Later on 430W
Before bed 320W
This AM 270W

Bedroom Temp 62.7 this AM.

I'll be honest, I believe this window unit is more efficient overall than my 16 SEER home central AC. The home AC has a 2.5T and a 5T compressor, runs constantly and the 2.5T unit does only slightly better at cooling the entire house on modest days.

Put another way, I am quite sure 3 of these units could cool my home during the hottest summer days and use less power doing so. My 5T unit draws about 3700W at full load. The advantage is that the central air is completely silent and has superb filtration.
Click to expand...

I also like that once the unit fails or becomes too long in the tooth I can just sell it for cheap and buy a newer, more efficient unit. Speaking of which, I still need to get rid of my old 10k units that are heavy as heck, but still cool just fine.

It has an EER of 10.8 (not CEER) and its auto feature sucks or I would use it in the bedroom for now. It’s also much louder and of a less pleasant tone for sleeping. The fan also burns 318W without the compressor running, over 900W with.

The 12k Midea burns almost nothing in auto fan mode, just over 900W on a hot day, full blast, on boat mode.
 
Rand said:
my 8000btu is current set on 73f (it had crept upto 78f inside)
and is using 105w-110w to maintain 73f not bad with 600w of computer and lights on.

PS: TPLINK KASA plugs with energy usage are nice.. much more convenient than killawatt meter.
I have them on a separate locked down wifi.
also at that power level it produces much noise as a fan on low/med. Nice if you are sleeping 5ft away.

View attachment 274549
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I use the same plugs
 
Rand said:
ok so word choice on your part and my part were not exact enough I think :)

you asked if you had to screw into a window and ruin a window? the answer is no
2 tiny screws into the woodwork which imo are optional at least with my window type.
The screws could be replaced with a piece of wood.. or nothing.
the bracket is extremely stable and works excellent even just resting on the outside against my vinyl siding.

There is also a sliding brace that slides out in the u section to the side of the window
so the AC can go nowhere. it requires 2 screws.. to lock it into place these go into the brace and brackets on the ac
not anywhere on the window. but you could just slide them out and it locks the ac into the window.. I dont even use mine. its not going anywhere with the window closed.
and it barely fits in my window(width) so its a pain to get a screwdriver in there but doable.

edit: I added more to post @JHZR2

If you are thinking about replacing regular window ac with these.. they are a winner. I'd buy another tomorrow full price if this one dies... that much better.
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I never screwed into the window frame. The unit is incredibly stable and I don’t see a need to.
 
JHZR2 said:
Threaded insert still destroys the wood in my book. My home has original 100yo American Chestnut trim so I’m hesitant to drill into it, let alone install an insert.

That IS the right way to do it IMO for frequent install and removal. We always remove ours.
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I have similar woodwork. I just used mini splits in those rooms and called it done. The rooms with junky pine I have midea units which are excellent.
 
gathermewool said:
I also like that once the unit fails or becomes too long in the tooth I can just sell it for cheap and buy a newer, more efficient unit. Speaking of which, I still need to get rid of my old 10k units that are heavy as heck, but still cool just fine.

It has an EER of 10.8 (not CEER) and its auto feature sucks or I would use it in the bedroom for now. It’s also much louder and of a less pleasant tone for sleeping. The fan also burns 318W without the compressor running, over 900W with.

The 12k Midea burns almost nothing in auto fan mode, just over 900W on a hot day, full blast, on boat mode.
Click to expand...
In my locale you can barely give away window AC if you deliver it except possibly the hottest days of year. So many people installing mini splits or getting more efficient window units the “market” is flooded.
 
andrew_j said:
In my locale you can barely give away window AC if you deliver it except possibly the hottest days of year. So many people installing mini splits or getting more efficient window units the “market” is flooded.
Click to expand...

I wonder if that will be true for me this time. When I moved in 2017 the previous owners left two ancient (brown wood grain) AC units. I offered them up for $25 and had a ton of hits, and it was gone within a few days. I don’t recall what time of year.

If I can’t sell both of the old Sharp 10k and guest room 5k I’ll just give them away on buy nothing. I’ll replace the guest room manual-knob 5k unit with the digital 6k unit currently in our main bedroom or maybe keep it as a backup. It’s compact, so it doesn’t take up much space. The 10k units are pretty big and waste a lot of space. If the 12k unit dies I’ll buy another…maybe
 
i am not techy + dislike all the "smart" stuff thats a hassle to me or as one member said KISS keep it simple stupid!!! sooner or later this "tech" causes issues $$$$$
 
chexxers said:
i am not techy + dislike all the "smart" stuff thats a hassle to me or as one member said KISS keep it simple stupid!!! sooner or later this "tech" causes issues $$$$$
Click to expand...
Eh. We thought the same about fuel injection. Still remember the debate on back in France whether my CRX' PGM-FI was an issue. Every time this would come up my sole comment was "...my previous cars included a 1980 Giulietta 2.0 with two dual Dell'Orto carbs...", and it was criquets, then subject changing straight to fishing from there.

It might surprise you but all those bells and whistles you see as new have been tested for at least two decades in countries that had zero ACs in them three decades ago, then massively went all in. The US is discovering these just now because the fake wood GEs with fake wood and rotary switches started dying about five years ago. That's when mine went out, bought in 1997.
 
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chexxers said:
i am not techy + dislike all the "smart" stuff thats a hassle to me or as one member said KISS keep it simple stupid!!! sooner or later this "tech" causes issues $$$$$
Click to expand...

I agree to some extent, but everything smart can be done with manual buttons on the front of this unit.
 
Boss lady finally caved and said I could get it
IMG_5972.webp
 
Just in time for it to go on sale at Sam's club for 249




Okay, I'm joking. It's the smart inverter model with heat, not the u-shaped model.
 
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