Window Air Conditioner Advice/Suggestions

[rp2813]

I decided to replace the portable AC unit in my bedroom with a window type in order to gain more floor space and easier access to the closet. The portable is a Soleus 9K BTU that has been a fine, quiet performer for the past two years, but suddenly after never being necessary, it had to have its condensate tank emptied twice in less than two weeks, so I decided this could be an indication of a bigger problem and that it would be a good time to make the switch to a window unit. I paid $50 for it so definitely got my money's worth.

I found a Panasonic model CWXC85HU (see image below), which the seller told me was the quietest window AC available when it was purchased new. I like its simple remote and the fact that unit isn't
"smart" and doesn't have any app nonsense. It blows cold as ice and cools the room down quickly, but it vibrates loud enough to be heard in most other parts of the house. I've tried to fashion isolators for it, but the rhythmic vibration remains and plastic parts on the front of the unit (intake and output grilles) often rattle loudly. Any respite is brief, and it seems like the compressor's vibration fluctuates during the course of operation for long periods, which once again makes both the vibration and the rattling even louder, and it's impossible to sleep. Adjusting the leveling screws on the outside hasn't helped. Currently, a folded up business card shoved between the bottom front of the unit and the inside window ledge is helping with the rattling, but the vibration level is still too much and I'm sure this band-aid is tenuous. I'm wondering if the compressor has a bad isolator. If anyone is familiar with this series of Panasonic, I'd welcome some advice on what to try next, but am not so sure I want to extract the cooling system from its casing in an attempt to resolve the trouble, either.

I've done some searching on line and it seems the Panasonic's 7.8K BTU is more than I need. The new(er) LG 5K-6K BTU window units are said to be the quietest. My sister has an older Toshiba in her guest room and it's fairly quiet. Midea's units all seem to develop issues (mold in particular) quickly. I've always been pleased with any Panasonic product I've owned, but this AC unit is intolerable. I do know that the extra space and easier closet access has already made a window unit preferable to a portable. I'm willing to buy new if that's what it will take to allow for a peaceful night's sleep.

 

[phillymatt53]

Get some adhesive "closed cell" foam weather stripping, perhaps a 1/2 inch wide, a 1//4 inch thick and run a strip of it on the underside of the unit where it sits on the window sill.
Also a strip on the top flange that touches against the closed window.
That should reduce noise.

 

[rp2813]

Thanks Matt. I had thought about both of those spots, as I had already used some "bubble" type of gasket material that has no foam core on the plastic intake grille with borderline results. There's also what appears to be fuzzy velcro stripping on the underside of the unit just inside the window opening, which seems useless to me, but it was already on there, so I Ieft it. This unit came out of a large Victorian home that IIRC still had original wood sash windows. Mine are '80s vintage metal single hung type which are not as thick as wood, or as forgiving.

You advised to use the stripping on the window sill, so I assume that means the exterior side. I'm fairly certain 1/4" isn't thick enough for that application, but it would probably work for where that velcro-like stuff is currently not doing the job. I'll get some of the closed cell stripping and see how it goes. Maybe not until this weekend. I'll post results here.

 

[wayupnorth]

I have a 30 year old Frigidaire I put in the bedroom window and this year it was only on 8 nights. Its already out and put away for the winter. People say buy a new one, why? It still runs right and cools and dehumidifies. It may cost a little more to run but its alot less than buying some new piece of junk that may last a few years, at best..

 

[phillymatt53]

I have a 30 year old Frigidaire I put in the bedroom window and this year it was only on 8 nights. Its already out and put away for the winter. People say buy a new one, why? It still runs right and cools and dehumidifies. It may cost a little more to run but its alot less than buying some new piece of junk that may last a few years, at best..

Yeah!
My bedroom unit, an 8,000BTU GE is now 15 years old and still purrs fine.
Come next month I'll store it on the floor of one of the bedroom's closets.
Forget what "people say", I do.
People like to intimidate you and make you feel that you "need" to upgrade, just because they've "bought into" the marketing hype.
Screw that!

 

[pstehle]

Most any window A/C will be noisy to some extent. There are some new U-shaped ones that are marketed to be very quiet, but who knows until you buy one and install it. Often, the construction of your wall and window installation can affect the way vibration is transmitted and made worse. Panasonic is usually one of the quieter brands, and has been very high quality over the years... GE made a "Slumberline" I think, all copper sealed system, glass reinforced plastic housing so it never rusted out, and they were exceptionally quiet. Unfortunately, they were built in the 1970's, so the odds of finding one that's still functional are slim. They were also quite efficient, don't believe the marketing nonsense that you "need a new model" because "all the old stuff is horridly inefficient". They had an EER of about 10, which is difficult to beat even these days. If you can afford it and own the home, I like Mini-splits. There are finally some reasonably priced ones on Amazon, I've brought all mine home from Mexico, a 12,000 heat pump costs around $325. Sounds like you don't need more than about 9,000btus, so if you go that route, get an "inverter" model that will throttle back when the heat load is low. Portable A/Cs are notoriously inefficient, because single hose models exhaust more air from the room than they actually cool, pulling makeup air from somewhere else in the building. Even double hose units can pull some room air out the vent, and most of those are 12,000-14,000btu. You were probably getting about 6,000btu of useful cooling effect from your old one.