Window units are the smallest of the self contained air conditioning units.
Inside of the cabinet is a compressor, condensing coil, evaporator coil, blower, controls and maybe ductlesswork. The ductwork draws in fresh air and re-circulate of room air.
Window air conditioners fit into your windows and are usually designed to cool one or two rooms, and are more affordable compared to central air conditioning.
They are generally easy to set-up and are more energy efficient compared to central air conditioners, saving you time and money.
Air conditioning units need routine maintenance.
Window air conditioning units have no condensation tank that requires empting regularly, but can be quite noisy, so pay attention to the noise level when purchasing. By using sound absorbing materials and quieter motors, manufacturers have improved these air conditioners over the years.
The filter, usually located behind the front grill, needs to be washed. The condenser coil at the back of the unit can accumulate a lot of debris, and might require a special chemical bath. All air conditioning systems, large or small, need good air flow across the evaporator coil and the condenser coil. Efficiency and performance drop rapidly as air flow decreases. Lose enough air flow and the unit will burn out.
Window air conditioning units start from $99 up at major hardware stores in Canada and can be installed by almost anyone.
