Praising the Simple Window AC Unit

[1990C4S]

I will eventually be installing a mini-split in our master bedroom (my wife hates the look of the 'wall unit' inside, and wants a 'casettte' ceiling mount ) so just for this summer (and next?) I bought a used Midea U-shaped window AC unit.

It's not life changing, but man, they make a great AC machine. I can turn off the central air at 9PM, and cool the bedroom to 72 in about 15 minutes. It is really quiet with the compressor outside the (almost) closed window, and I have to be saving money on my hydro bill.

Downsides? Those machines are known to grow mould; the secret is to tilt them 'out' and drill a couple of drain holes at the back of the unit to prevent them from storing water in the base. They are also a bit ugly on second floor window.

I don't care about the appearance, this thing is great.

[herr_oberst]

This is what I thought of when I read the title of this thread...

The Thermador!!!

[1990C4S]

^^^ I do want a deflector for my cab...I've seen Miata air scoops that go above the rear view mirror.

I should take it on as a 3D printing job.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

^^^ I do want a deflector for my cab...I've seen Miata air scoops that go above the rear view mirror.

I should take it on as a 3D printing job.

I remember when those were all the rage @ the miata.net forums.

[herr_oberst]

The Thermador is filled with ice. Cooool, refreshing ice.

[stevej37]

I have this for the upstairs bedrooms in the summer. It's an LG portable. It's large, noisy, and takes up space....but it works.
If it's too noisy, the visitors don't have to stay another night...Win.
I put a pan underneath it just in case it overflows. (it never has so far)

[A930Rocket]

^^^ I have one about that size in the owners bedroom. It has a pair of ducts going to the window.

[stevej37]

^^^
The pic doesn't show it....but there is one 6 inch duct on mine. It stretches out to about 8 feet to reach a window. Three bedrooms upstairs, so it can be used on any one of them from one spot.
The collected water is caught in the bottom and evaporated somehow.

[A930Rocket]

Mine has two 6” ducts. Intake and exhaust. After I turn it off, I hear water dripping into a pan. I think during use, the fan whips the water out one of the ducts.

[stevej37]

That (two ducts) sounds like a better setup than mine. I think mine is over 20 years old...and heavy.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

Mine has two 6” ducts. Intake and exhaust. After I turn it off, I hear water dripping into a pan. I think during use, the fan whips the water out one of the ducts.

That was a 'feature' of the Midea. Water collects in the pan, gets slung around to evaporate, but then causes mould.

It's bad enough that there was a recall. Then there was an approved fix to drain the condensate.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

^^^ I do want a deflector for my cab...I've seen Miata air scoops that go above the rear view mirror.

I should take it on as a 3D printing job.

You might be able to use the Miata one on the Cabrio, I will see if it fits.

Buddy had one of those cylinder shaped swamp coolers for his bug, worked fairly decent

[GH85Carrera]

Back in Aprin of 2012 I was done with a hot garage. They layout of the garage with the work area, bathroom and such make a mini split impractical.


This is the human door to have access to the back yard.







A few long screws and I can remove the door. The AC slides into the opening, or I can store it on the shelf right next to the door. On a 100 degree day it will keep the work bay very cool, in the low 70s. All these years later that AC unit just works, and it cost just 75 cents per hour to run. So at the end of the project, I am just not soaked in sweat. I have a heather out there as well.

It is pretty much a tie between the scissor lift and the AC to which is my favorite upgrade to my garage.

When that AC unit dies, I will likely upgrade to a 220 volt unit, but it still works great, I do drain the water out after use.