On average, a US resident consumes about 78,000,000 BTU’s of energy per year. A large portion of this energy usage goes to heating and air conditioning. That’s why it is important to choose the right air conditioner for your needs, but finding the right air conditioner can be a difficult process. Luckily, if you are looking for a wall mounted air conditioner, there are plenty of great options to choose from.
Wall Mounted Air Conditioners:
What are Wall Mounted Air Conditioners?
A Wall Mounted Air Conditioner is an AC unit that is installed into the wall of a home. One side of the unit is exposed to the outdoor air, while one is exposed to the interior room. If installed properly, this device will successfully release cool air into your home.
Benefits of a Wall Mounted Air Conditioner
There are many different types of air conditioners on the market today. As such, a normal buyer has to decide between a wall-mounted AC unit, a window AC unit, a portable AC unit, a central AC unit, and a split system ac unit. That’s why it’s helpful to know the benefits of a wall-mounted air conditioner in comparison to its competition.
Advantages:
- Inexpensive
- Don’t block windows
- High cooling capacity
- Sleek design
- Home temperature control
Disadvantages:
- They don’t cool your entire home
- Require more intense installation process than window units
- May require higher than normal voltage outlet
What to look for in a Wall Mounted Air Conditioner
There are many things to consider when looking for an AC unit. Below, we have covered some of the most important items to look for before buying including room coverage, size, voltage, efficiency, and warranty.
Room Coverage
The first step in looking for a wall-mounted air conditioner is to determine the size of space that needs to be cooled. In order to figure this out, you need to calculate the square footage of the room by multiplying the length times the width. Most product descriptions will tell you how much square footage can be cooled by the wall mounted air conditioner.
Size
Most wall AC units are around 15 inches tall, 20 inches deep, and 25 inches long. The actual size of the wall-mounted air conditioner is not as important as the size of the unit’s wall sleeve. The wall sleeve is the connection between the outside air and the AC unit itself. Luckily, the majority of wall mounted AC units have the same size sleeve. This means that multiple different units will fit in the same location.
Voltage
The majority of electrical outlets in the US are around 115 to 125V. Be sure to check the voltage of the unit. If the wall mounted air conditioner that you are considering is within this voltage limit, then you can just plug it in. In the case that your unit requires higher voltage, you will need to pay an electrician to install a higher voltage outlet in the location of your AC unit.
Efficiency
Another important thing to consider when looking for an air conditioning unit is its efficiency rating. An AC unit with high efficiency will actually save your money in the long run. One-way to measure the unit’s energy efficiency is to examine its EER rating (Energy efficiency). The EER is determined by dividing the BTU by the amount of energy needed per hour of operation. The higher the EER the better.
Warranty
Luckily, part of the reason we selected the Pioneer, Senville, and Koldfront as the best wall mounted air conditioners due to their performance, price, and reliability. However, you never can be too safe. That’s why it is important to look for warranties before purchasing these devices. Many AC units offer a 1-year warranty. Be sure to read the list of what is covered by warranty before purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are wall air conditioners good?
Wall air conditioners are good for cooling off one room in your home. These AC units will not cool your entire home, but can effectively cool smaller areas.
What is the difference between a through the wall and window air conditioner?
A through-the-wall air conditioner is mounted on the wall in your home and uses a connection sleeve to access the outside air. A window air conditioner is placed in a window and is connected to the outside air through the window opening.
How much is a wall mounted air conditioner?
A wall-mounted air conditioner usually costs between $250 and $600. However, you can find some that are more than $1,000.
Which is better window AC or wall AC?
A wall AC unit normally provides better performance, as there is no place for outside air to escape through an open window.
Trusted Wall Mounted AC Units
Smart Wall Mounted Air Conditioner
The Senville Wall AC unit is an air conditioner built with high quality materials and superior design. The unit includes a built-in washable filter, heat pump, and installation kit.
The Senville LETO series has a SEER 19 high-efficiency rating, providing an affordable and efficient way to cool your home. With a reduction of energy usage up to 20%, this eco-friendly AC unit uses a high-efficiency inverter, which gives the ductless system it’s high SEER rating.
Perfect for cooling single rooms, additions, garages, and commercial spaces, the unit runs very quiet and can be used overnight with minimal distraction. With the low ambient kit you can cool and heat your room in temperatures as low as 5•F.
All Senville models are backed by a comprehensive 5 year warranty, which gives peace of mind for any issues that may come up.
Installation: The installation kit makes it fairly easy to install. It’s important to note that most will need assistance with the actual refrigerant line hookup from a certified HVAC technician. The machine can be mounted by either using an outside pad or handing the unit from the outside wall. We suggest using a mounting bracket to hang to the wall air conditioner. Also, before installation, you should check your outside wall to make sure there is an electrical outlet within 25ft of the installation location.
There are 4 different options:
- 9,000 BTU / Room coverage: 100 – 450 sq. ft.
- 12,000 BTU / Room coverage: 450 – 750 sq. ft.
- 18,000 BTU / Room coverage: 750 – 1250 sq. ft.
- 24,000 BTU / Room coverage: 1250 – 1500 sq. ft.
Customers are very satisfied with this air conditioner. One customer from Senville.com said, “Took maybe 4hrs to install. My nephew helped and had previous experience, so that was key. The unit is extremely cold.”
Pros:
- Turbo Function
- Quiet Operation
- Installation Kit
- Washable Air Filter
- Built-In Heat Pump
Cons:
- Does not include check-list of all items needed for installation.
Test Results
Through The Wall Air Conditioner
This air conditioner was chosen as one of our favorites due to its power and price. The air conditioner is able to cool rooms larger than 450 sq. ft. at a price of only around $500. Additionally, Koldfront is a well-respected manufacturer of Wall AC units and is known for making high-quality products.
With 4.5 of 5 stars on Amazon, you can be sure that this product will get the job done. It’s important to know that this through-the-wall air conditioner is 68 pounds which is heavier than most other units.
Using four operational modes, including a dry mode for dehumidifying, this is a great AC-Heater combo. The heat mode will quickly, and quietly, warm a chilly room, and the AC mode will bring down the temperature fast. For overnight use, the low fan speed contributes a subtle white noise that is hardly detectable.
Sleep mode gradually changes the temperature through the night to save energy before returning to the original setting in the morning. The Energy-Saver mode automatically engages the fan for 2 minutes every 10 minutes to keep temperatures down while the compressor cycles.
Unlike our other AC on the list, this one is easier to install for a DIY home-owner. It does not require an HVAC specialist and can easily replace an old wall-mounted unit.
There are 6 different options:
- 8,000 BTU / 115 Volt
- 10,000 BTU / 115 Volt
- 10,000 BTU / 230 Volt
- 12,000 BTU / 115 Volt
- 12,000 BTU / 230 Volt
- 14,000 BTU / 230 Volt
One customer from Walmart.com raved, “I brought 10K BTU very sufficient, nice and quiet, cools down my entire 2 bedroom apartment, I Love it!”
Pros:
- Four-way directional fans
- Sleep Function for quieter use
- 3 Fan Speeds
- Best for sustaining room temperature between 63 – 86 degrees
Cons:
- Needs a wall cabinet in order to provide sufficient noise dampening
- Wall Sleeve not included
Test Results
| Wall Mounted Air Conditioners | AC | Heater | Temp Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senville Wall Mounted AC | Good | Good | 62 - 89 F |
| Koldfront Wall Mounted AC | Good | None | 62 - 86 F |
Final Thoughts
Wall-mounted AC units can be a very effective and affordable method of cooling your home. However, it’s important to make sure that you are purchasing the right air conditioner for your needs. Be sure to weigh the pros and cons of wall-mounted air conditioners vs. window AC units and central AC systems before making a decision.
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Frank is the chief editor and director at Specialty Air, where he oversees testing, research, and editing for all air quality-related articles. Frank is an expert in the air quality space with extensive experience testing, researching, and reviewing air purifiers, air conditioners, air filters, air fresheners, fans, and more. He also has over 4 years of experience with issues surrounding mold remediation, radon mitigation, moisture management, air duct systems, HVAC, and insulation.