The window air conditioning unit was a revelation when it appeared in the 1950s. It made air conditioning easily affordable to residential buildings and homes. But in the decades since, central air conditioning has taken over, and window units are now best used for small apartments.
You may live in a house that must rely on AC units because it lacks a central heating and cooling system. We’ll explain why we don’t recommend continuing to use these window ACs.
Why Window AC Are Problems for a Home
They’re not powerful
Window ACs are designed to cool one medium-sized room. If you want to cool off a larger room, such as a dining room, you’ll need multiple units and take up more windows. If you want to cool most of your house, you’ll need units in each room.
They have strict placement limits
Window air conditioners need, well, widows. This can make it difficult to have cooling placed exactly where you need it in your house. And not all windows allow for the placement of air conditioning systems, so your house will have places where you just can’t get any air conditioning.
They create too much noise
A window AC is a complete air conditioning system in a small package. That means all the noisy parts of an air conditioner are in your living space, including the compressor and fan. Central air conditioning systems remove the compressor and exhaust fan outdoors, and the blower fan indoors is usually located in a space like the garage.
They block windows and light
A window air conditioner creates a darker room because it takes up a good portion of the window. If you’re using multiple window ACs around the house, you’ll miss out on plenty of natural light as well as the views the windows provide.
They make the house less attractive from the outside
The metal bulk of air conditioning systems protrude from the exterior of a house—and they just aren’t decor-friendly, no matter what style of home you own!
They make the house less secure
Burglars and anyone who wants to break into a house know that window ACs are a major weak point. It isn’t difficult for them to push these units in to give them easy access to the home interior.
They’re not cost-effective to repair
If a window air conditioner breaks, it’s not something that you can have fixed for a price that makes it worth it. Usually, a failed window AC has to be entirely replaced.
The Alternative
You may look at this list and think, “Yes, using window ACs has many downsides. But what can I do if my home doesn’t have ductwork or room for it?” The answer is: install a ductless mini split system. This cooling (and heating) system can provide cooling for 1–8 rooms with special wall-mounted units. Each unit connects through the back of the wall to the external unit with the compressor and outdoor fan. These are flexible systems that can turn around the way you provide comfort to your house. If you want to find out more, call us to learn about HVAC installation in San Marcos, TX.
At Thayer Air Conditioning, your comfort is our #1 priority! Call us for great whole-house cooling solutions.
