Window A/C Thread

[maytagmark]

I have central A/C but prefer Window A/Cs, If I use the central my bill is about $400.00, but with the window units it's about 250.00,I don't use two rooms so why cool them all the time?, The central a/c is a Goodman unit and has been great,Its about eight to ten years old,never needed a repair and it will freeze you out, just use it mainly when guests are over or when the main window unit, a Friedrich Quietmaster is having a moment,most are too cold with either, I suffer from lack of A/C phobia. Here on the gulf coast nothing survives,here's the window unit I just replaced from the small bedroom,A Whirpool still working perfect.

 

[appnut]

Mark, how well I know the deteriorating moisture-laden salt air around that island and the vicinity. Not much stands a chance.

 

[petek]

Wow.. time to find a vintage GE/Hotpoint with a lexan casing

 

[tomturbomatic]

I suffer from lack of A/C phobia

Me, too. I hate being at the mercy of something without a backup. I use window units as my main cooling plan and augment them with the central system during extremely hot weather. I also keep unused rooms closed off and uncooled. For several years, I had problems with barking dogs and the window unit in my bedroom uas used for cooling during the summer and for white noise during the winter.

 

[yogitunes]

Yes...a lot of people who get central air throw out their window units.....I have always kept them, you never know when you or someone else needs a backup.....my central went out about a week ago, at least I had a few window units to get me thru till the repair man got here....I like the carry-cool units, easy to handle from room to room with the handle and center weight....

In Vermont my sister has her car in for an OIL treatment( underbody and door jambs sprayed with oil) to ward off the salt from the roads and causing her car to rust out too soon....I wonder if this would work in your case for something like this....just a thought

 

[dustin92]

MaytagMark- is that A/C from about 2005? if it is, I have the same one and mine looks like new, but we dont have any salt here.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Years ago, we were at a yard sale and the couple had two 6,000 BTU window units for sale. We asked about them and were told they had just put in central. We gave them many reasons for keeping at least one and they did.

 

[whirlcool]

I know what the salt air is like on Galveston Island. If you stay overnight on the island in the morning your windshield is covered with a film of it.

I always rinse my car off completely both top and undercarriage when I get back from the "island".

But I love the ever blowing breeze they have down there. Sometimes it is quite strong!

 

[maytagmark]

Hi Bob and Pete

The salt really does a number on anything outside,I owned a few of those plastic A/Cs and they are nice if you can find them now.

 

[sudsmaster]

I bought two 5500 BTU window units a couple of years ago. With the utility company rebates, each one wound up costing me $50. But I rarely use them. Didn't bother to reinstall them last summer, and haven't yet this summer either (it's been the coldest summer in 30 years, I'm told).

There is a vintage GE in the enclosed patio. The fan works but it blows the fuse when the compressor kicks in. I like the unit because it has the capability to use the fan to exhaust stale air and bring in fresh air, a feature I rarely see on modern units. Does anyone know of a modern window A/C unit that can do an air exchange? During the summer I adjust the control so that it passively exhausts hot air (it's up by the ceiling, mounted through an opening in the wall). Seems to help.

 

[maytagmark]

Tom

I know about the white noise thing,Right now i have the window unit four feet from the bed, A floor fan right next to the bed and a air cleaner at the foot of the bed. I really love the sound,it helps me sleep.

 

[jasonl]

I love window AC as well for the hum and white noise. The constant 60hz hum and fan noise is unbelievably soothing at night. And I have to have a radio on too.

As far as vintage AC's my parents had a Chrysler Airtemp in the kitchen and a WA Wizard in the bedroom when I was growing up. I'll bet the electricity bill was much less with the window units before the central air was put it.

 

[dustin92]

Does anybody have any vintage A/c's that they can post pics of?

 

[toggleswitch]

Well yes the bill can be less with window units, you are doing less cooling, but comfort suffers! My house was sufficiently compact such that I could afford to heat it and cool it completely. I had not thought of that when I bought it!

My central air-conditioning was set on 77*F / 25*C such that you were neither cold not hot. The only way to tell it was on was to step out and deal with the heat! Nothing beats the silence, the evenness of temperature, the great dehumidification, and with accessories the air-cleaning and fresh-air intake possibilities of central air-conditioning. My central system was purposely under-sized to dehumidify better. On killer-hot days, or a house full of guests or with the ovens on, the through-the wall one-piece self-contained unit would be run to augment and supplement the main unit's capacity.

My electric bill those days was $140 a month, all year 'round, on the budget plan. And Long Island some of the most expensive electricity in the country after Hawaii, Los Angeles and New York City.

My rental apartment has only window-rattlers and they are horribly noisy! I went so far as to find these vintage Panasonic brand units with a side air discharge(indoors). So much quieter than others! I pray they last a good log time. Today's model and brand options don't enthuse me.

 

[toploader55]

1971 Chrysler Airtemp

This is a HO7-91.
Bought it when I was a Freshman in High School. I have not fired it up this year, but it did work last year. Ice Cold Air from R-22.

 

[toploader55]

Outside Pic

This unit weighs a ton for 6500 BTUs

 

[jasonl]

Chrysler

The one I remember had rotary controls (but love the 70s sliders too). If I will guess the Chrysler came with the house, it was a 1965 model.

Steve, I think GE still makes a model like your Panasonic and was rated by CR being "good" for noise.

 

[58limited]

1971ish Friedrich

I have three of these. The one pictured is installed in my storage shed/shop. They are 6000BTU and I got them while in college. They originally came from a Methodist Church across from the Texas A&M campus. They were custom-made to fit in place of a pane of glass in the 1950s metal framed casement windows, which were no longer opened. Consequently, they are long and narrow. None were working when I got them but I was able to fix them - wiring problems.

The dial still controls fan speed and cooling, but the on/off part quit working so an axillary on/off switch has been added to this one.

 

[58limited]

Outside pic

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