You are currently viewing Casement Window Air Conditioners

Casement Window Air Conditioners

In this article we are going to be talking about air conditioners that fit in casement or sliding windows. These types of casement air conditioners have become quite popular in recent years, and today we are going to be discussing some of the features you should look out for and think about before you make a purchase.

After that we will be looking at some of the most reliable and affordable models currently available on the market, so you can skip to the bottom of the page if you are only interested in the recommended models.

What should you look for in a casement window air conditioner?

The very first thing you must decide on is how powerful an air conditioner you need. All air conditioners are measured by their output called BTU, otherwise known as British Thermal Units. Air conditioners range from small 5,000 BTU all the way up to 30,000 BTU. For the average sized room you shouldn’t need more than 12,000 BTU to keep it effectively cooled. Some folks think that getting a bigger and more powerful unit is the best way to do it. However this can often cause issues. If your air conditioner is switching on and off the whole time, this will waste electricity and it will put strain on the air conditioners compressor. A ideal size unit will run continuously at a low setting to keep the room at the optimal temperature. We have attached a diagram below to help you work out what sort of size you will need to cool your chosen area.

BTU AC DiagramRemember that there are a few exceptions to this diagram. If the room where the air conditioner will be situated is sunny, then you should add about 10% onto the required BTU. On the other hand if the room is shaded, then you should decrease the BTU required by about 10%. People can also affect the BTU required, so if there are more than two people in the room for most of the day, then add an extra 600 BTU per person. The kitchen is also a special case to consider. A lot of heat is generated in there, so an extra 4,000 BTU will be required to cool it properly.

Insulation is the next factor to consider in your decision. It can be a little awkward to work out, but there are some rough estimates you can make. If you have a fairly modern home, then odds are your insulation will be pretty decent. If that is the case, then you don’t need to be too worried about requiring any additional BTU to cool the room. If you have a very old house then the odds are that the insulation will be a little on the poor side if the house hasn’t been renovated. If you suspect this is the case, then you will need to think about adding around 20-25% extra power onto your requirements.

Something else to consider is the energy saving aspects, and the noise efficiency of the unit. Most modern slider casement window air conditioners come with good energy saving features to comply with eco laws. All newer units have a Energy Efficiency rating, so be sure to have a look at this before you commit to a purchase.
The noise level of the air conditioner is another aspect to consider. As mentioned above, modern units have improved greatly in noise reduction in recent years. Most quality units cause no more noise than a average desk fan, but this can be a important consideration if the unit is going into a bedroom or your tv area. Remember to look at the noise output if this is something that can cause a problem for you. .

These are some of the basic choices you will need to make before you choose a air conditioner. Remember to keep these in mind before you make any purchase.
Now lets have a look at some of the best casement window air conditioner models you can currently get.

What are some of the top rated models?

Frigidaire FRA103KT1 Casement AC UnitUnfortunately there isn’t really a big range of these available. Haier, LG, Soleus and Frigidaire, are some of the companies that make them. Frigidaire is undoubtedly the most popular choice in this regard, so we are going to take a look at their range of air conditioners. Frigidaire have three casement ac units, which come in 8,000, 10,000 and 12,000 BTU outputs. These models all have identical features, except for the power output.

Frigidaire Casement Air Conditioners

These three units come with some good features. One such feature is the easy installation kit, which allows you to install them with relative ease. This kit comes with everything you need to get up and running. These models come with a Spacewise design. This means they have optional extendable panels to help you fit them into your window area more effectively.

The controls of the unit are all electronic, and they are fairly straightforward to operate. There are three cooling settings to choose from, as well as three fan speeds. Most people use the auto cool mode, which adjusts both of these settings automatically as the temperature changes. All three models come with a remote control, allowing you to control the unit from a distance.

These units come with Energy Efficiency ratio of 9.5 for the 8,000 BTU model and 10.5 for the 10,000 and the 12,000 models. This will help you to save money in the long run. In terms of noise, these units have a quiet operation mode which will allow you to sleep comfortably without any disturbance. All three models have respectable ratings on Amazon, so they seem like a reliable choice. Using the links below, you can find the current pricing and read some of the user reviews of the B0042JXF7U (8,000 BTU), the FRA103KT1 (10,000 BTU), and the FRA123KT1 (12,000 BTU).

2021 Update:
All three of the above models have now been phased out, so we have disabled the links above. Instead we recommend you have a look at the more recent Frigidaire 10,000 BTU FFRS1022R1 model which is designed for casement style windows. You can find out more about it and read some of the hundreds of happy reviews on the Amazon listing page.

Summary

So that is a look at the features you should look out for in an air conditioner for casement windows. Frigidaire seems to be the most popular choice for many people, but several other manufacturers do offer alternative choices. Some people even choose to mount ordinary window air conditioners in their casement windows, however please be advised that this does void the warrranty if they are installed like this! This is quite tempting due to the price difference, but we would strongly advise against this not only because of the warranty loss, but also because this is a huge safety hazard.

Leave a Reply