The in wall air conditioner with heating and many available features represents an affordable appliance that helps you a lot during hot summer months and provides a nice warmth in winter. The modern air conditioner functions give you a new level of comfort for a low initial price.
This kind of air cooling device isn’t an obstacle in your home and you don’t struggle with a layer of dust on it. It’s very comfortable built-in the wall where it could be stored during the cold months even if it doesn’t have a heating option.
If you’re looking for an air conditioning machine suitable for bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, or offices and working all year round, then the in wall air conditioner is a very good choice. This unit offers a very good price-performance ratio.
There are tons of brands and models sold on the market. I strongly recommend to chose your new unit very carefully and to pay high attention to heating function and available features. Many people overlook the importance of buying a through the wall AC unit with some convenient modes. But I can make you sure you will regret. Of course, you will save money and you won’t have the best comfort eventually.
Available Functions and Modes
Through the wall air conditioners are provided with many functions and modes that should improve your comfort at home and comfort from using the cooling device. I know many of you will say they don’t need them. But trust me, until you don’t know them you don’t need it. But once you will get used to using them you won’t want to stop.
I believe some of you desire to use only some of the modes and functions and don’t pay extra money for more expensive units providing everything. I understand it. Let’s take a closer look at all of them. Then, it will be very easy for you to choose the perfect combination of functions that will make you happy and totally satisfied with your purchase.
Heating Function
The heating function is one of the most required functions for this kind of AC unit. You can rely on it in cold months and it gives your interior a bit of warmth and touch of home. Literally, with an in-wall air conditioner with heating it’s possible to use it in the entire year.
But you should know some models are able to provide the main heat of source as well as supplemental heating and some of them are designed to be only a supplemental heat source. I significantly recommend focusing on this fact when you are shopping for a new unit.
If you’re wondering what the difference is and why some models can be the main source of heat and some not, I should explain it.
The through the wall AC unit works as a main source of heat usually until the outdoor temperature doesn’t drop under some specific value. Usually, it’s 43 or 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Once, the temperature outside of your home is below this number you can use only a supplemental heating function. Therefore, the supplemental heating capacity is always lower than the cooling capacity in BTU.
Some models don’t offer an option to be used as a main source of heat and provide only supplemental heating. Of course, the heating capacity is weaker than the cooling capacity in BTU. And if you desire to feel comfortable at home you have to have another source of heat.
The models with heating functions use electric heat or heat pumps when producing hot air. Let’s take a look at what’s the difference between those parts and what are their benefits.
Difference between Electric Heat and Heat Pumps
The difference between electric heat and heat pumps is how they work, how much they are energy-efficient, and where they are usually used.
Electric heat works on the principle of producing hot air by using an internal coil. This coil heats the air around and the fan blows the air to your room.
Heat pumps work as a reverse air conditioner. It means the pumps move the heat from cold air by using mechanical energy. Compared to electric heat, heat pumps don’t produce heat. They simply transfer it.
Keep in mind the heat pumps are more energy-efficient than the electrical heat system because they don’t need extra energy to produce the heat and use only mechanical principles to transfer it. But the heat pumps are designed to usually work as a supplemental heating element. They are simply not so strong. On the other hand, if you live in a location with a fast-changing climate you should choose the electric heat. It would be more suitable for you.
Dehumidification Mode
The dehumidification mode is very commonly desired by customers along with heating function. It’s understandable because the humidity can negatively affect the operation of your in wall air conditioner as well as your comfort at home.
In general, the dehumidification level is defined in pints of moisture removed per hour (or occasionally pints per day). This value is visible on every box with an AC unit or every local retailer shows it on webpages. Even if you don’t struggle with a high humidity level at home you should choose the unit carefully.
If you overlook or underestimate the dehumidification level your AC unit won’t work properly, inside of the cooling machine the bacterias and mold will grow, and the mold and wet spots can occur on the walls, furniture, and floor.
The last tip I’d like to give you is about how to operate the unit and get rid of the humidity. Unfortunately, I know many people who try to save money and always turn on the air conditioning appliance for a while. It’s a bad mistake that can lead to machine damage. If you want to obtain good results in removing moisture you have to operate the device at least 30 minutes. The process of removing is able to work properly only if you give it time.
Sleeping Mode
From my humble point of view, the sleeping mode is a cool thing. If you’re searching for a new air cooling appliance and you know you will use it during hot summer nights I can recommend it. Let me explain how this sleeping mode works and why it’s more than energy efficient.
Our body doesn’t need to be cooled at night as much as it needs to be in a day. Therefore, the manufacturers install into their AC units the sleeping mode. The air conditioner increases the temperature in a room every single hour up to 8 degrees. In the morning you are woken up by a little bit unpleasant room temperature which is completely normal for your body and thermoregulation system.
What I can see as a big benefit is an energy-efficient aspect. The unit consumes less electric energy at sleep mode compared to a normal operation state. It conserves money for bills. And the second benefit is noise level. The machines are designed to produce less or very low noise during the night as they operate on the sleep mode. It’s very convenient if you are a light sleeper.
Fan Mode
I think this is a very nice mode but I’d recommend thinking about that very carefully before you decide to spend extra money on this.
The fan mode uses only room air which isn’t cooled in the machine. It’s simply sucked in and dispersed around if you need to get rid of stuffiness. The air isn’t cooled but it can help a lot. But you should keep in mind through the wall air conditioner isn’t like a central AC. To clarify, it doesn’t have a system of duct built in the floor and ceiling. The airflow isn’t so efficient.
Energy Saving Modes
First of all, I should mention the in wall air conditioners are suitable for small or mid-sized rooms. When they are operated in these sizes of space they are very efficient and there is no need to invest in a building-in of the central AC unit. But what it means?
If you are wondering how much the model is energy-efficient you should follow the label on a box or instructions on the webpage. There is usually an Energy Guide Label showing these things:
- A number of BTU – It indicates the cooling capacity or cooling power. When you’re shopping for the through the wall air conditioner it’s important to follow this number. It shows what space it’s possible to cool with a specific model.
- Estimated yearly energy cost – This value is an estimated average value and can be completely different eventually. It’s fully dependent on a price of kW/hour given by your electric provider along with hours of operating.
- The Energy Efficient Ratio – It’s the most common way how to measure energy efficiency. In general, for through the wall air conditioners with the 10 EER or higher are considered to be energy-efficient. If I were you I would definitely look for the 10 EER or higher.
Energy Star Qualified models conserve at least 10% more energy than units without this qualification. I significantly recommend purchasing a model with this certification because it can save about $50 over the lifetime of the AC machine. And from my point of view, it’s worth it!
Programmable Timer
A programmable timer is a very good thing on how to conserve energy and feel comfortable all the time. Almost all of the models allow you to program them up to 24 hours which means you can set the unit to turn on or off as you wish.
It’s very convenient if you know when you will come from work or when the last member of your family will leave home. You can save lots of money and enjoy the chilled comfort when coming home without having to wait until the room is efficiently cooled.
Energy Saver Mode
The energy or money-saving modes are a bit different according to the brand but they work on the same principle. And in the end, they have the same result which conserves money on electric bills.
The principle of working is very simple. You set the desired temperature and once the AC unit reaches the number of degrees the appliance stop working until it indicates the room temperature is increasing again.
It’s opposite to a cool mode when the machine is working, however, the temperature was obtained.
Cool Must-have Features
However the throu the wall AC units are very affordable and designed to be used in small or mid-sized rooms at home or at work, they still have lots of amazing must-have features. Those things were developed to improve the level of comfort.
Remote Control
The remote control is one of the best must-have features for me. Usually, it works on the infrared connection. Most of the models have a full-function remote control. You can comfortably change the temperature, turn the unit on or off, or switch on the heating function. There is no need to stand up and go closer to a place where the cooling machine is installed.
I have a great tip for you. If you’re shopping for a new unit, find that one with remote control. However, you don’t want to buy a smart AC unit you can buy a smart plug with a WiFi connection. It allows you to control the unit during the day and turn it on or off remotely by using a smart device like a phone or tablet for example while sitting at work. I think it works better than a programmable timer.
Check Filter Alert
You have to check your air filter every two or three weeks. It’s hard to say because it can be different according to your model. Always follow the instructions from a manufacturer. If you don’t do the regular check and don’t clean the filter, you can find out the filter is clogged. A clogged filter makes your through the wall air conditioner works harder and consumes more electric energy. Or worse, it causes damage.
Unfortunately, many of us forget to do a regular check as it needs. The check filter alert is a big helper for all of us. It’s a light that starts to come on when it’s time to clean the filter. If you are like me, you should definitely find a model with this feature.
Washable Air Filter
The filters are installed in the unit in order to keep all of the dirt and dust particles and protect the inner parts of the machine. Without the filter, the appliance could be damaged.
The reusable air filter is the best choice because you don’t waste money and don’t need to buy new ones over and over. The only thing you have to do is to take the filter and wash it by using a brush, warm water, and kitchen soap. It’s very easy and it doesn’t take more than 5 minutes. I recommend buying a model with a washable air filter.
Adjustable Louvers
Maybe you’re wondering why I picked this feature. Let me explain. The throu the wall AC unit isn’t a central air conditioner. Therefore, there is no system of built-in ducts on the floor and ceiling. The in wall AC unit operates only with a fan built inside of the unit. It’s a cause why you can observe some hot and cold spots while using the cooling modes. But it’s not all. When your unit is installed in a place where you meet with your family or guests it’s always better to have adjustable louvers.
The adjustable louvers allow you to direct the air as you wish to a specific location. Your guests don’t suffer from a cold air blowing behind their necks.
Auto Restart
This is a very common feature these days. If a power failure or outage occurs this feature automatically restarts the motor and with the same settings as it was before the failure. I believe you will appreciate it especially if you want to install this type into an office where you have one or more running computers.
The Bottom Line
The in wall air conditioner is an affordable type of AC unit. However, it requires a permanent installation and cutting a hole into a wall. On the other hand, you can rely on it during hot summer months and, if you decide to buy a machine a heating function, also in the winter. The yearly operating costs aren’t so high for many models.
All of the available features, functions, and modes were developed to improve your comfort and I hope my guide helped you to make a final decision on what is important for you and what is not. Don’t overlook the process of choosing the right functions and enjoy cool days!