Choosing a window air conditioner. Economical, simple, reliable

Recommendation points

• Modern window air conditioner
• The principle of operation of a window air conditioner
• Pros and cons of window air conditioners
• Choosing the best window air conditioner model
• What to look for when choosing a window air conditioner
• At the end

In this article: the capabilities of modern window air conditioners; how a window air conditioner works; positive and negative characteristics; selection of the best window window from three models; what to look for when buying; how to install a window air conditioner.

Monoblock window air conditioner is the first climatic device created for private apartments and houses. A couple of decades ago, Russian homeowners simply did not have any choice in terms of the class of air conditioning unit – the market offered only new BK air conditioners and used BK air conditioners, which are in short supply in any case. Over the years, the popularity of window air conditioners has significantly decreased, they were overshadowed by split systems that flooded the salons of climatic equipment overnight. I suggest you study the characteristics of window air conditioners – find out what capabilities their modern models have, as well as choose the best model among three devices of the same power.

Modern window air conditioner

Climatic installations of this class appeared at the beginning of the last century – see the history of the creation of windows in this article. Their body is a monoblock, installed in a window opening or, much less often, in a specially prepared hole in the wall. Unlike the models of the last century, in which the condensate was drained outside, most modern window air conditioners are equipped with a tank for collecting moisture condensed on the evaporator. During rotation, the blades of the ventilation unit capture the accumulated water and dissipate it along the condenser body, which improves heat transfer to the outside atmosphere. Like air conditioning units of other classes, window devices operate in a cyclical manner – the switching on and off cycles are controlled by a bellows or electronic temperature sensor.

The main task of the window window is to supply the serviced room with chilled air, free from dust. Depending on the cooling capacity, the models of window air conditioners are able to maintain the climatic conditions required by the owner in one room with an area of ​​10 to 60 m², at a range of external temperatures from 18 to 45 ° C. In addition, window frames regulate the humidity of the internal atmosphere in the room, bringing it to the optimum level of 35–55%. Some models of window air conditioning units can not only cool the air, but also heat it by reversing the operation of the compressor. True, heating is possible only if the outside air temperature is not lower than -3 ° C, otherwise the device will break. In low temperature conditions and for constant heating of the room only by window air conditioners, models equipped with electric heaters are produced.

Windows can ventilate the room without heating or cooling the air, acting like household fans. Also, some models of window air conditioning units that partially mix air from the atmosphere outside the house allow operation in exhaust ventilation mode without turning on the device – just open the damper on the front panel. The hood function can be performed by the device in automatic mode when activated by the user, i.e. after turning off the air conditioner, the damper will remain in the “open” position.

Companies that produce window-class air conditioners complete them with air filters in the form of a fine mesh, in some cases they are given antibacterial properties. The air filtering mesh retains large dust particles, protecting households and internal units of the air conditioner from them.

The principle of operation of a window air conditioner

It is necessary to immediately dispel the popular misconception – window climate control units clean and cool only the inner atmosphere of the manned room, i.e. air intake by the window “from the street” for the purpose of introducing it into the room is minimal or absent altogether. If you remove the cover from the outer casing of the monoblock, you can find a metal partition dividing the unit’s units into two sections, one of which is facing inward of the room, the other outward. For models that mix air from the external atmosphere and are able to extract air from the room, there is a small hole in the partition separating the units.

During cooling operation, the refrigerant pumped by the compressor circulates in a circuit between the evaporator on the inside of the monoblock and the heat exchanger on the outside. The air pumped in by the centrifugal fan from the room passes through the dust filter, blows over the evaporator, gives off heat to the refrigerant, cools and goes back to the room. The heated refrigerant is directed to the heat exchanger on the side of the window facing the street, where it gives off heat to the air forced through the side air intakes by an axial fan and thrown out of the device into the street. The principle of operation of air conditioning units is the same for class models, for split systems and for any other classes of air conditioning units – it is discussed in detail here.

Pros and cons of window air conditioners

A significant advantage in favor of window frames will be their cost – with equal characteristics and capabilities, window climatic devices are about half the price of split systems. Installation and dismantling of a window air conditioner does not create any difficulties for the owners, since there is no need to involve specialists in these operations – it is easier to install only a mobile air conditioner. If necessary, the window model can be turned into a mobile one, for example, during a visit to the country house – remove the device from the apartment window, close up the resulting opening with a plywood partition, bring it and install it in the country house, and before returning to the city, do the dismantling and installation operations again.

The design of a monoblock window is much more reliable and miniature than that of split systems, primarily due to its simplicity – all devices are located in one case, there are no detachable connections in a closed freon pipeline, the device is brought to a working condition under conditions workshop, thereby reducing the likelihood of refrigerant leakage from the system. This is what explains the long-term trouble-free service of the windows and the almost complete absence of the need to refill them with refrigerant..

The most serious drawback of modern window models of air conditioners is considered to be the noise level produced by them during operation – depending on the power, the window windows make noise at a level of 40-59 dB (note, Soviet BCs were one and a half times louder).

Installing the device in a window opening turns into another problem – a decrease in illumination. In addition, a window sill cannot be installed in a modern double-glazed unit if the corresponding hole was not prepared in advance (during the frame assembly).

Finally, if you leave the window air conditioner in the window for the winter, then street cold well enters the room through its body – it is necessary to install at the beginning of summer, and at the end of it remove the device from the window, give it a storage space for the winter, close the resulting opening in window frame with an airtight panel or glass unit.

Choosing the best window air conditioner model

We investigate the technical and operational characteristics declared by the manufacturers of three models of window air conditioners, designed to maintain the specified climatic conditions in a room with an area of ​​up to 15 m².

(*) – For most electrical appliances, a three-year warranty period is usually called, but in fact it is the sum of two periods: a year of the factory warranty, during which the appliance with arisen defects will be replaced with a new one; two years of service, during this period the service centers will repair the equipment free of charge, but its owner will have to pay the cost of the replaced parts.

W05LC, LG

Analysis of the characteristics of window air conditioners, information on which is given in the table:

• the external difference in the considered models of window frames is in the location of the louver section through which the processed air is supplied. Only for the AW05 NOBSER model they are located in the upper part of the monoblock and only this model allows vertical and horizontal air flow adjustment;
• in the characteristics of three models of air conditioners, filters with antibacterial treatment are declared, but this point is not indicated in the summary table, since the effectiveness of antiseptics will decrease to zero after several cleaning of the filter from dust;
• the W05LC window window is equipped with the most powerful ventilation unit among the other two, developing an air flow almost twice the intensity than the Samsung and General Climate models. For the same reason, LG window air conditioner dehumidifies indoor air better;
• in British thermal units (BTU), the cooling capacity of the AW05 NOBSER window air conditioner is slightly higher;
• the smallest weight of a monoblock window manufactured by Samsung;
• all three models of window sills are manufactured in China, at licensed factories of these brand owners;
• only the AW05 NOBSER model mixes air from the external atmosphere, it also allows the device to operate in the exhaust ventilation mode, with the blinds open without turning on the air conditioner;
• an installation kit, which is necessary in some cases for installing a window air conditioner, is not included in the standard package for the models of window frames under consideration (its cost is about 450 rubles);
• since the air conditioners participating in the review belong to the lower price segment, their work consists of on and off cycles – inverter models cost at least twice as much;
• the warranty periods and estimated service life of the three models described are the same.

AW05 NOBSER, Samsung

Conclusion: based on technical characteristics, taking into account ease of use and average prices in retail chains for this device, the best choice would be the AW05 NOBSER model manufactured by Samsung. However, if the climatic conditions in a given area are characterized by a high level of air humidity, then the priority in choosing a window air conditioner goes to the LG-W05LC model.

GCW-05CM, General Climate

What to look for when choosing a window air conditioner

Ease of use of the window sill directly depends on its three characteristics: air distribution, trained; noise; ways to control the device.

The opening of the air duct through which air is supplied to the room is taken away by sliding louvers that direct the air flow. According to the standard air supply scheme, cold air should be directed up (towards the ceiling), hot air – down (towards the floor), because the coldest layer of air collects at the floor, and the warmest at the ceiling. In the windows of the lower price segment, the blinds position is adjusted manually, and in some models it is possible to adjust only in one position, usually vertical. More advanced models of window air conditioners allow vertical and horizontal flow adjustment, and can also control the position of the blinds using a small electric motor – periodically move the blinds, change the direction of the air flow, directing it to different sides of the room.

The noise during the operation of the air conditioner mainly comes from the compressor, to a lesser extent – from the ventilation units. Climatic devices equipped with reciprocating compressors are louder than models with a rotary compressor, however, the difference is not so great – no more than 5 dB. In order to reduce the noise of window air conditioners, manufacturers take the following steps – vibration dampers made of rubber are placed between the compressor and the frame of the monoblock, the compressor housing is partially covered with rubber.

Ventilation units emit less noise, the impeller blades of which have a calculated aerodynamic shape, they are set in motion by special low-noise electric motors.

Another noise source is the fan, which sprays moisture from the drain pan onto the heat exchanger in order to more intensively take heat away from the refrigerant. To eliminate this source of noise, it will be enough to unscrew the plug from the drain valve, then put on a plastic tube that drains the condensate outside – the accumulation of moisture in the pan will stop and the noise will disappear.

It is necessary to check the window air conditioner for the noise level even in the trading floor, before paying for the device – you must turn it on at full cooling capacity. To test the noise level, the window window should be placed in a closed room, where extraneous noise does not penetrate.

Window air conditioners of the lower price segment are equipped with electromechanical control, more expensive models are controlled by push and touch buttons, equipped with a remote control, indicators of the specified characteristics are displayed on the LCD display. When choosing how to control the window sill, it is best to proceed from the location of the device: if it is installed in the lower part of the window opening, the keys on the control panel are easily accessible; if the air conditioner is installed in the upper part of the window, then the switches can be reached only from the chair, in this case the most optimal choice would be a model with a remote control.

Please note – if the technical characteristics of this model of window air conditioner indicate the maximum allowable area of ​​the serviced room, for example, 15 m², then it will not cope with 17 square meters, a more powerful device will be needed.

At the end

The hole intended for the installation of a window air conditioner must be made 10 mm larger than the dimensions of the monoblock require – the slots remaining after installation are filled with a rubber seal. In the case of installation in the upper part of the window frame, it is important to maintain a distance between the ceiling and the device of at least 200 mm, because at a shorter distance, it will pump the cold air generated by it, which will affect the quality of work, because the evaporator will freeze up. The minimum distance from the outside (street) side of the monoblock from any object in front of it is 500 mm.

This completes the material on window air conditioners. From the next article you will learn about the characteristics and criteria for choosing mobile air conditioners.