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Energy-Efficient And Space-Saving Through-Wall Air Conditioners

Through the wall air conditioners are a viable replacement for window-mounted units, especially in rooms where there are no windows. They don’t sacrifice quality and cooling efficiency because of that, integrating a variety of features that a homeowner could benefit from.

Through-Wall Air Conditioners

Equipped with everything from programmable timers to the possibility to control them using designated smartphone apps, through the wall air conditioners are becoming increasingly more popular. If you’re interested in knowing more about what they can do, as well as exploring some of the models that caught our attention, keep reading the following buying guide.

Top Picks

Quietest Operation: Friedrich Uni-Fit 14,000 BTU Thru-the-Wall Air Conditioner

With four different measures against a high level noise output, the Friedrich Uni-Fit is one of the quietest thru-the-wall air conditioners on the market.

Best for Medium-Sized Rooms: Perfect Aire 12,000 BTU Thru-the-Wall Air Conditioner

The Perfect Aire can successfully cover areas of up to 550 square feet and embedded intelligent technologies and features that will help you make the best out of this product.

Most Durable: Friedrich Wallmaster 15,400 BTU Thru-the-Wall Air Conditioner

Made with commercial-grade parts, the entire construction of this air conditioning unit screams durability.

Best for Small Rooms: Keystone 10,000 BTU Thru-the-Wall Air Conditioner

Through a variety of interesting and useful features, the Keystone through the wall air conditioning unit can cover rooms of up to 450 square feet.

Best Budget Pick: Danby 10,000 BTU Thru-the-Wall Air Conditioner

The Danby air conditioning unit is a product that delivers the performance you expect to see from a thru-the-wall air conditioner but without spending thousands of dollars to achieve thermal comfort.

How to Choose

There are a few characteristics that are specific to air conditioning units, and if you’ve never had to buy one before, you might be confused as to what those characteristics are. When you’re shopping for an air conditioning unit, take a look into:

  • Energy consumption. It is a well-known fact that air conditioners tend to consume a lot of electricity when running, which means that looking for products that are labeled with Energy Star is a good idea. These models generally have proper insulating materials, preventing leaks and helping you avoid consuming too much electricity in the process.
  • It’s important to determine the size of the unit that you are going to need, as well as the unit’s placement. For example, small window air conditioners can cover areas of up to 300 square feet, while large window units can cover up to 650 square feet. Portable air conditioners aren’t that as good as manufacturers claim they are. Split ductless air conditioners are a more expensive variety, but they do a good job at cooling down multiple rooms with open doors between them and have a reduced noise level when operational.
  • If possible, opt for units that allow you to redirect the airflow vents. This feature is useful because it can help redirect air to a spot in the room where it’s most needed (and generally, away from your head).
  • If you live in a very humid environment, look for air conditioning units that have the dehumidifying mode.
  • Look for air conditioning units that have a programmable timer. This allows you to customise the operating schedule of your unit. Some of them can even be programmed to turn on before you arrive home, allowing you to return to an already-cooled down environment.

Benefits of Air Conditioners

While some people talk about the disadvantages and potential health implications of air conditioners, the truth of the matter is that these units actually do more good than harm if you know how to use them properly. Good air conditioning in your home can:

Improve air quality

Because they are equipped with filters, air conditioning units can remove pollutants from the air to a certain degree. This can be really helpful for people who suffer from allergies and can have attacks triggered by these airborne contaminants. However, for this to happen, the filters need to be cleaned/changed on a regular basis.

They improve your mood

On days with extreme temperatures, one can experience fatigue due to extremely warm weather. Needless to say, this decreases productivity and causes a lot of discomfort because the body wastes a lot of energy in trying to cool down, affecting our ability to think.

They help us sleep better

If you are a hot sleeper, summer nights can be quite unbearable for you. When you find it too hot to sleep, you can even wake up during the night, which causes interruptions in your sleeping pattern, especially if you have difficulties cooling down and falling back to sleep. An air conditioning unit can help solve that problem.

They remove humidity for the air

This can be a real problem-solver if the humidity in your house or in the area where you live skyrockets. Humid environments favor the apparition of mold and bacteria, and can even cause respiratory problems. Most air conditioning units are able to clean air and remove moisture from it, causing a significant decrease in air humidity.

They can prevent electronics from overheating

This is even more important in today’s context, when working from home has become a thing all across the world. During the day, we tend to have a lot of electronics turned on and, paired with the outside heat, causes personal discomfort and puts the components inside those electronics at a risk of overheating. This causes expensive damage and, in some cases, irreversible loss of that.

They keep bugs outside

In order for most air conditioning units to be effective, one has to keep all windows closed, which helps prevent any bugs and insects from getting in the house.

The Best Through-Wall Air Conditioner

Friedrich Uni-Fit 14,000 BTU Thru-the-Wall Air Conditioner

Through-Wall Air Conditioners

Our first suggestion for today is the Friedrich Uni-Fit air conditioning unit, one that embeds technology and quality components to deliver a cooling and satisfying experience every time. It is designed to be quieter compared to other through-the-wall units, as it comes with multiple measures toward achieving that goal: counterweight to reduce vibration by balancing the motor, a steel wall to reduce noise, proper insulation that absorbs internal sounds, and adjustable louvers with eight airflow options. Other noticeable features of this air conditioning unit include a fan-only mode to circulate air without cooling it, three different fan speeds to choose from, an auto-mode that helps determine what the optimal settings are, and a washable filter.

Pros:

  • Energy-saving mode.
  • Quiet operation.
  • Smartphone app.

Cons:

  • Poor instructions.

Perfect Aire 12,000 BTU Thru-the-Wall Air Conditioner

Through-Wall Air Conditioners

The Perfect Aire air conditioning unit can cover up to 550 square feet and provide a decent amount of cooling through a variety of features that are definitely worth mentioning. This product is designed with a dry mode that helps eliminate moisture from the air, decreasing the odds of airborne bacteria and allergens finding their way into your home. The automatic operation mode reads the room to determine what the optimal fan speed and operating mode is based on that information. One feature that we loved and really wanted to address was the Follow Me mode. Located on the remote control, this feature converts the remote into a thermostat in order to determine what is the exact temperature at whatever location you are in the room.

Pros:

  • Remote control turns to a thermostat.
  • Easy to install.
  • Customizable temperature.

Cons:

  • Gap between the unit and the finish frame.

Friedrich Wallmaster 15,400 BTU Thru-the-Wall Air Conditioner

Through-Wall Air Conditioners

Next in line, we have this stupendous Friedrich Wallmaster air conditioning unit which checks off all the right boxes and has the potential to become one of the best through the wall air conditioning units on the market. It comes with commercial-grade parts that provide a sturdy construction and peace of mind knowing you invested in a solid product: aluminum exterior grille, impact-resistant front cover, and even steel inner walls. Compatible with the smartphone app, you get to control the air conditioner even when you’re not at home. You can create a seven-day schedule for daytime and nighttime preferences. Other features of interest include defrost control, auto-restart in case of a power outage, and three fan speeds to choose from.

Pros:

  • Commercial-grade construction.
  • Smartphone app compatibility.
  • Defrost control.

Cons:

  • Pricey

Keystone 10,000 BTU Thru-the-Wall Air Conditioner

Through-Wall Air Conditioners

Another very efficient through the wall air conditioner is this Keystone unit, one that brings forth a series of noticeable features that expand the functionality of this product and make it desirable in the eyes of people who are tired of feeling exhausted due to elevated temperatures. It is designed to provide efficient cooling for rooms that are up to 450 square feet, maximizing thermal comfort through features such as adjustable thermostats and three available cooling speeds. This unit also comes with the Follow Me feature that converts the remote control into a thermostat. Other features that are worthy of mentioning include a fan-only operation designed for air circulation without the cooling feature, a moisture-removal function that helps engage the dry mode for removing moisture for the air, a programmable timer for more control over the operation of the unit, and adjustable airflow provided by the four-way adjustable louvers.

Pros:

  • Moisture removal feature.
  • Three cooling speeds.
  • Fan-only operation.

Cons:

  • No heat mode.

Danby 10,000 BTU Thru-the-Wall Air Conditioner

Through-Wall Air Conditioners

The last through the wall air conditioner we wanted to show you today is the Danby, a unit that’s available at a really good price, yet doesn’t lack the features that you would expect to see from a good air conditioner. Capable of successfully cooling down rooms that measure up to 450 square feet, this air conditioning unit is Energy Star compliant, offering you the best cooling feature without having to pump your electricity bill to an exacerbated point. It comes with automatic operation that allows the unit to cool the room to a desired temperature while automatically determining what the best settings for it are. The dry mode removes air moisture to prevent uncomfortable levels of humidity. The fan mode is perfect for recirculating air without the cooling feature activated. Other features of interest include the Follow me feature, a washable air filter, an energy saving function, and a sleep mode.

Pros:

  • Automatic operation.
  • Energy Star compliant.
  • Programmable timer.

Cons:

  • No smart connectivity.

FAQ

Are Wall AC units good?

Yes, because they usually have a high number of BTUs and superior fans. Thanks to their internal thermostat, they can stop once the room temperature has reached the desired level, thus helping you save money with electricity bills.

Are window and wall air conditioners the same?

No. A window air conditioner is designed to function only when placed right underneath or on an exterior window, while wall air conditioners are mounted on other walls (or straight into the wall).

Why are through the wall air conditioners more expensive?

A: Actually, through the wall air conditioning units aren’t that expensive, but they do cost a lot of money to install because they have special installation requirements, as opposed to a portable AC unit that mostly requires plugging it and making sure the exhaust hose is redirected properly.

Bottom Line

Through the wall air conditioners are extremely reliable units that are mounted to an exterior wall using a special wall sleeve to support them. They offer year-round comfort (especially units that also have an integrated heat module) for your home or office, making sure that you are staying in temperatures that are optimal for your own needs.