Perhaps your home was built before central heating and air. Perhaps your home’s air conditioner was built in the stone ages. Or perhaps your air conditioner needs a boost in a certain room. Whatever your reason, a wall air conditioner can come in handy in a tight spot. But what are the real pros and cons of these models?

Pro: Wall Air Conditioners are Inexpensive

When it comes time to replace a wall air conditioner, they are relatively inexpensive. Ranging from $300 to around $800 depending on the size and features, they do not generally take a huge chunk out of your wallet to replace.

Pro: Wall Air Conditioners do not Block the View

Unlike window units, wall air conditioners exhaust heat and humidity through a vent in the wall rather than through the window. Wall air conditioners are installed in a pre-set sleeve that (hopefully) was professionally installed in your wall. This offers additional support and an airtight seal around the unit that prevents air leaks that would reduce its efficiency. Best of all, the view from your window is not blocked by a window unit.

Pro: Cooling Capacity

Wall air conditioners tend to have better cooling capacity than their window counterparts. With more BTUs and better fans, wall units can often cool a room faster. With internal thermostats, they also have the ability to shut off when the room reaches a certain temperature, saving you money in utility costs.

Con: Wall Air Conditioners Do Not Cool Your Whole Home

If your central air conditioner is on the blink or if your home simply does not have one, it is important to note that a wall air conditioner does not have the capacity or ability to cool your whole home. In fact, wall units are most effective when rated for the square footage of a single room and operate best when the door to that room remains closed.
But let’s say you have central air but cannot seem to keep one room of your house cool. It may be worth having an HVAC specialist uncover the reason why. Additional air intakes or vents can mean the difference between punching a hole in the wall of your home and enjoying the central air you already have. Best of all, adding an air intake and vents costs about the same as having a wall unit installed in your room.

Con: Wall Unit Must be Maintained

Just like central air systems, a wall unit’s lifespan is determined by the maintenance performed on it. If you properly maintain your wall air conditioner it can last as long as 10 years. If you leave it to run year after year without having the air filter changed or the hoses examined, you may find yourself replacing it more frequently.
Whether you have a wall unit, need one installed, or need maintenance performed on your wall air conditioner before summer begins in earnest, let the HVAC specialists at Farnen and Dermer help you stay cool. Call today for your free in-home estimate or to schedule your wall air conditioner maintenance.