Window Air Conditioners Good and Bad

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I have concerns over the newer minisplits and all this "inverter" rubbish they add to them.

First of all, all the kit and kaboodle is manufactured in Thailand (or some other 3rd-world country) for pennies. There is no guarantee that buying the TOL product/brand will get me a good quality product.

Second, all the electronics, valves, switches that make these things tick.
Uh uh. Delicate electronics + Regular Electricity Supply = Disaster *just waiting* to happen.
When an air-conditioner was an air-conditioner, without all this, they just kept going. If your house isn't on a surge-suppressor, these things could break down, expensively.
When this eventually does happen somewhere around 5-10 years from now, will these parts be available, and if so, will they be cheap? Or will I have to replace the system because of these stupid electronics?

Weatherproofing: Just how well protected are these electronics from the elements? Can water/ice/rain get in easily?

A regular, non-inverter system still uses some electronics. But nowhere near as much as these craptastic pieces of rubbish!
 
As I mentioned...

I rent.
So, I really don't have any say. I am just happy that I don't have to buy another unit for my window. The deteriorating Friedrich is in place and running should I need it until installation day arrives.

I don't know if this will be a heat pump model as we already have Forced Hot Water heat by Oil. (Which heat IS included in my rent.)

It has to be quieter than a window unit. And being I am in a studio with only one window... It will be nice to have the window available for nice days when you don't need the A/C.

I just hope it works out for the owner. The unit is going to cool 3 rooms...
Their Living Room and Bedroom and my Studio. Which would be equivalent (my studio) to about 8,000-9,000 BTUs.
 
I do not chose the units the place where I work buys.Some of them-VFDs and all have been running here for several years without any difficulties.Same with the plant in Wash DC.Will see how long they last.A few neighbors houses out my way have these HVAC units.
 
My central a/c has been permanently put to rest. Several years ago it needed freon, it cost 44 dollars a pound in august of 2013, of course there's a leak. It ran all last season like a dream, now it couldn't cool a closet so it would need freon again and now it a whopping 215 $$ a pound and I'd need at least 4 pounds. We had a few window units from our other house, I think I bought them in 2006 or 07, the one is a 5, 000 btu Goldstar, the other a 8, 000 btu goldstar, both are very quiet with the larger unit being the quietest with only a low hum. I really don't like window units blocking the window but oh well its better than not having any a/c...its gets pretty humid in Pennsylvania. I did try a few years ago to have the central a/c fixed but the refrigeration tech told me its now against the law to repair leaks in these units.I am currently looking for one more window shaker I am hoping this doesn't send my electric bill threw the roof. Cheryl
 
IIRC:

It is possible to convert the older systems to the newer refrigerant.

Seen it done on some of the ancient central units around here. Often times, they get a new compressor and are switched to either R-404 or R410.

Its simply a matter of changing the filter/dryer, and compressor oil.

"Cant fix the leak" is another way of saying, "I want to sell you a new unit."
 
@ Gary

I am supposedly going to have my own individual controls (thermostat) in my apartment.

Honestly, as long as I don't have to listen to the deteriorating Friedrich anymore, they can control the cooling.

I do have a 1971 Chrysler Airtemp but it won't fit in the casement window. I hope to use it again someday.

I just love the looks of the Airtemps from that era. It seemed to be the shift from the "Weather Wheel" to an updated version. Although like NewVista, I would love a Fedders Weather Wheel for nostalgias sake.
 
Regarding the different rooms, if it is a split unit the compressor unit will be housed outside and it will have three individual indside units. Each of the rooms will be seperately controlled and you will have the option to switch it off/on, decide on your temperature, and fan speed.

However should one of you decide to switch to heating then all inside units will be in the heating mode and you will then again be able to decide on your heating temp, in other words if your landlord swiched the a/c on and selected the heating mode your unit will not be able to cool however you will still be able to run the fan on your side and vice versa.

I think you will find that it is much better and much more quiet then a regular window unit.

Hope that helps.

cheers
 
I can't tell you how many of those Fedders like the one in that advert I have seen. Probably one of the most common a/c units around in the 60's. It seemed like everyone had one or two! I knew a few people who had them. Never heard any complaints.
 
We had a "1 Ton" as they used to rate them. Fedder's that is. With the Weather Wheel. It had four colored buttons. I think Black was Off, Yellow was "Ventilation" (Fan Only), Green was Cooling, and White was Exhaust. It didn't run in reverse but it had 2 rotary knobs. 1 was for the Temperature and the other one rotated and had Closed, Ventilation and Exhaust settings.

Good Lord that thing blew Ice Cold Air. I mean Ice Cold like you were standing in front of a Commercial Walk in freezer Evaporator.

I remember when it had died and Dad sent it out for repair. It came back even colder than before it went out for service. Just amazing how things worked back then.
 
We had a Fedders

round vent in our mobile home in the 70's. NOt sure what model, it was 220V and it blew COLD. I mean make your skin break out in goosebumps cold. Sadly it died and was replaced with another Fedders, 115V and we put a 220V Amana up front. Both those units kept a 14 x 70 metal roof, side, and crank out window mobile home comfortable through many hot Indiana summers.
 
Good news on the horizon for me. As I posted ^^ above our central a/c has a leak and needs freon r-22, the hubby spoke to one of his customers that used to be in refrigeration, retired now, but is comming out this week to repair the leak, and he has 2--30pound cans of the r-22 so he will fill it and give us the tank. He is going to do all this for a home cooked meal of mamapinkys lol..I will of course cook that meal, but I think a tip of a few hundred $$ dollar at least is in order. After all this is a huge savings for us and a tremendous kindness.
 

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