Window Air Conditioners Get a Bad Rap — but I Found One That Actually Works

CNET’s key takeaways

• The Windmill AC usually prices $349 for six,000 BTUs, however you’ll be able to usually discover it on sale on Windmill’s website or at Amazon or Home Depot. 
• Not solely is the Windmill AC the simplest unit I’ve ever put in, it is the one AC unit I’ve tried that successfully saved my older and never well-insulated house cool throughout a warmth wave. 
• Bonus: It is really trendy. Though, I nonetheless would have paid for an unpleasant one which works. 
• Its regular value is greater than another window AC items, however I’ve paid the identical or extra for items with comparable specs that did not work as effectively. 

Can I inform you a secret? I hate the summer season. That could be a scorching take, however sweltering three-digit temperatures and overbearing humidity simply would not scream “good time” to me. To make issues worse, I dwell in an older, drafty home with out central air-con. Each summer season, I would purchase and check out a brand new window air conditioner, solely to really feel annoyed by how poorly it labored. I would find yourself promoting it on the finish of the season, solely to begin the cycle once more the next spring.

Till I discovered the Windmill WhisperTech window air conditioner. This revolutionary powerhouse was so efficient at cooling my outsized master suite, that I ultimately purchased two extra. These three AC items successfully cool my 2,500-square-foot Philadelphia row house — even throughout intense heat waves.

As a private finance editor, I understand how costly house tech and appliances have gotten currently. The Windmill AC is not the most cost effective choice out there, however for me, it was price each penny. In case you’re fed up with sweating indoors, here is why including a Windmill AC to your property is perhaps a sport changer. 

My expertise with the Windmill air conditioner

I used to be skeptical in regards to the Windmill window air conditioner when it first arrived. It was lighter than different items I would tried out (I might decide it up myself), so I panicked, pondering there was no method this one might cool our south-facing 350 plus sq. foot bed room.

However inside minutes, my associate and I had the unit put in and working. Only some hours later, our bed room felt much less like a sauna and dropped to 68 levels Fahrenheit — a feat that hadn’t occurred with prior ACs. The humidity, which regularly jumped as much as 65% or greater on humid days additionally dropped to under 50%. I used to be equally impressed by how effectively it maintained its set temperature, too. Particularly throughout intense warmth waves. 

The very subsequent day, I ordered a second unit for the opposite finish of our home.

Observe: CNET does scientific testing on window ACs at our Louisville testing labs. We will likely be testing the Windmill AC unit there this summer season to see how briskly it will probably cool a heated 92 diploma Fahrenheit room and the way effectively it will probably preserve 68 levels Fahrenheit — a troublesome check many AC items fail at.

What makes the Windmill AC completely different?

Windmill air conditioners have a couple of distinctive options, however what prompted me so as to add one to my cart was the unit’s cooling design. Windmill ACs push cool air out of the highest of the unit at a forty five diploma angle for higher cooling. After attempting a number of large title window ACs that pushed air out horizontally, I used to be excited to seek out that this characteristic really cooled a second-story room with a tall ceiling; the air appeared to flow into higher for the reason that unit pushes the chilly air up, fairly than out and down.

No extra hiding the ugly AC items

I would take care of an unpleasant air conditioner so long as it cooled my house. However I am glad I haven’t got to. The Windmill air conditioner has a modern, minimal design that lots of my family and friends have commented on. The unit has a gorgeous entrance panel design that hides its air filter and homes tiny buttons which can be practically hidden on the prime of the panel. 

The LED show lights mechanically dim, so you do not have to fret about any visible disruptions at night time. It additionally comes with facet panel covers that provide additional insulation and a seamless look.

Windmill additionally presents colorful magnetic panel fronts so as to add some whimsy to your window, should you’re into that sort of factor. 

It is the quietest AC I’ve ever owned

Though it wasn’t a major promoting level for me, I am now an enormous fan of Windmill’s Whispertech quiet cooling expertise. My first precedence was an air conditioner that made my home really feel comfy; I simply assumed that will include some noise. The specs listing it as 42 decibels — softer than the average household refrigerator. I discovered my Windmill items comfortably quiet, even after repeatedly utilizing two for nearly three years.

My associate and I are capable of watch TV at a standard quantity, discuss to one another from different ends of the home and leap on work calls with out the noise bothering us. I really benefit from the white noise impact it presents in our bed room at night time.

I do generally discover the working noise distracting once I’m on work calls, however that will occur with any AC since my window is true subsequent to my desk. This usually solely occurs if it is on excessive or medium, so I simply swap it to low or eco-mode to resolve this downside.

You’ll be able to set up it in minutes (actually)

I’ve put in three of those items in a number of properties and home windows, and it solely takes me 5 to 10 minutes to arrange. That is as a result of this unit comes pre-assembled. There is no attaching panels or screwing brackets onto the bottom earlier than putting in it.

All it’s a must to do is add the window foam to the perimeters of your home windows, set the unit onto your window pane, increase the facet panels, shut your window, then safe it with screws. If you cannot drill into your window panes or should you hire (like me) and do not wish to, you’ll be able to safe it to a block of wooden. 

I normally have my associate assist me set up this (one among us lifts whereas the opposite opens and lowers the window), however I’ve efficiently put in it alone prior to now. 

It comes with a sensible app and voice management

Windmill will ship a distant together with your window AC, however in case you have a number of items to manage, I extremely advocate utilizing Windmill’s sensible app. It takes only a few minutes to put in and register your system (they ship a QR code you should use to make arrange even simpler). 

The app’s straightforward to make use of and useful should you depart the home and overlook to regulate the temperature earlier than you go. It does sometimes present the mistaken temperatures, although. I had a difficulty with my workplace AC’s temperature on the app displaying as 61 levels when it clearly wasn’t, however a fast reset of the AC solved that.

Just like a smart thermostat, you’ll be able to create automations to decrease or increase the temperature, velocity and even shut the unit off at sure instances of day. It is a terrific device if you wish to increase the temperature when you’re at work or away for a weekend.

I do not use the voice management with Alexa characteristic, however should you’re into that, it appears easy to set up.

Eco mode retains my vitality invoice low

Since I’ve fuel warmth, my electric bill tends to go up in the summertime once I’m working the AC. Whereas that is nonetheless the case, I do not fear about giant vitality invoice surges anymore. Windmill’s eco-mode helps my rooms keep cool with out inflicting a shock electrical invoice. 

Windmill air conditioners are Power Star rated, with as much as a 15 Mixed Power Effectivity Ratio score. To earn an Power Star score, air conditioners want a CEER score of 12 or greater. 

Solves the storage dilemma

I am fortunate to have a basement the place I can retailer my air conditioners once I’m not utilizing them. But when you do not have an additional closet or storage to deal with these items in the course of the winter, Windmill sells winter covers that can shield your unit, preserve your own home insulated, and add a pop of colour (should you select) to your window.

I like this concept, though the present choices are pretty restricted and I do not personally love any of the colour schemes they provide.

The specs

• 6,000, 8,000, 10,000 and 12,000 BTU items out there. 
• Pre-assembled for simple set up
• WhisperTech quiet expertise
• The 6,000 BTU unit is 42 decibels
• Comes with facet panel covers for additional insulation and a seamless end
• Airflow at a forty five diploma angle
• Auto-dimming LED lights
• Three cooling choices
• Three fan speeds
• Eco-mode
• Distant management
• Good app and voice management
• One-year restricted guarantee
• The 6,000 BTU unit retails for $350, however we normally see it on sale for  $340. The 12,000 BTU retails for $629 and infrequently on sale for $589. 

CNET’s shopping for recommendation

I like to recommend Windmill window air conditioners to everybody I do know who’s in search of one. My expertise with three items I personal has been nothing however optimistic. They’ve outperformed GE and Midea air conditioners I’ve tried prior to now and work effectively to maintain my humid row home cool and comfy.

The largest disadvantage of the Windmill air conditioner is its value. Whereas the price is on par with opponents like July (sure, they’re an AC firm named after one of many hottest months of the yr) and Midea, you could find extra inexpensive choices. Paying $630 for a 12,000 BTU window air conditioner is a steep value, however you’ll be able to ceaselessly discover them on sale at Windmill’s website or at Amazon, Home Depot, Lowes, P.C. Richards and Costco.

If a Windmill AC is not in your finances, do not go into debt to purchase one. As a substitute contemplate the GE 5,000 BTU mechanical window air conditioner, CNET’s greatest finances decide, the GE AHEC05AC window AC for round $160-170.