Summer heat is usually unforgiving, but the best through-the-wall air conditioners will help a lot if your space doesn’t allow for a window or if your window is too small for an AC unit. Through the wall air conditioners are typically helpful for people who want to experience cooling but have little budget and a smaller space, to begin with.
The most known difference between the best quiet window air conditioners and a through-the-wall air conditioner is the way it is installed – with a through the wall, you’ll have to cut a rectangular hole to fit in the air conditioner instead of simply hooking it to your existing window.
So, if you have the problem of a small window or room, a good option for permanent cooling in a room is a through-the-wall air conditioner. We want to help you out, so let’s learn about them and how to choose one below!
Who makes the best through the wall air conditioner?
If you are looking for the best through-the-wall air conditioner, we have some picks below:
1. LG LT0816CER 8,000 BTU Wall Air Conditioner
Made by a well-renowned international brand, the LG LT0816CER 8,000 BTU Wall Air Conditioner is a unit that measures 24 x 14.41 x 20.09 inches for its dimensions. It is ideal for rooms up to 340 square feet and it uses the R32 refrigerant, which is eco-friendly.
We like that this air conditioner has a simple control panel and remote control to conveniently select your desired fan speed, temperature, and the like. It operates at 56 dB and weighs 65 pounds (just something to know about when installing it). Moreover, it has a dehumidifier with a 2.1 pts/hr rating and a 10.6 CEER (Combined Energy Efficiency Ratio).
2. Keystone 12,000 BTU 115V Through-The-Wall Air Conditioner
Yet another eco-friendly pick is the Keystone 12,000 BTU 115V Through-The-Wall Air Conditioner, which is Energy Star-rated and has a sleep mode. It will be ideal for medium-sized rooms up to 550 square feet and it has a sleep mode plus a 24-hour timer.
With an EER of 10.5, this air conditioner comes with a “follow me remote control” for easily controlling the temperature even when you’re far away. Measuring 20.3 x 24.2 x 14.5 inches, this unit comes with a cleanable front filter.
3. Keystone 8,000 BTU 115V Through-The-Wall Air Conditioner
A slightly smaller choice than the previous Keystone AC unit, this air conditioner is suited for 350-square-foot rooms. It also has the signature “follow me” remote control and has a 2.1 pts/hr dehumidifier. There are 3 fan speeds and cooling modes to choose from with this unit, as well as an Energy-saver mode.
Measuring 20.3 x 24.2 x 14.5 inches, this unit will fit into existing sleeves from 24.5 to 27 inches. It also has a front-access filter that’s easy to clean.
4. Friedrich Uni-Fit Series UCT08A10A in Wall Air Conditioner
At 8,000 BTUs, this Energy Star-rated has a 6-way airflow design and has a universal fit that adapts to most sleeve sizes for convenient replacements. It will fit sleeves from 24.5 to 27 inches, much like with the previous pick.
This AC unit has various controls on its panel, such as a sleep mode, a timer, fan speed control, and the air filter – all of which are controllable with a remote.
Are Wall AC units good?
Generally speaking, a through-the-wall air conditioner has a lot of benefits. First, it’s one of the most inexpensive units for people who just want to have an AC unit in their home.
Second, they are ideal for homes that don’t have large windows so you don’t have to sacrifice your view of greenery (or city life, if ever) outside. A through-the-wall air conditioner only needs to be installed on some part of your wall and not on your window.
What’s more, they are also good when it comes to cooling capacity. They have a similar match with window-type AC units and will range somewhere between 8,000 and 14,000 BTUs. Check out more on our best 12,000 BTU air conditioners.
Depending on the unit, your through-the-wall air conditioner might be a 1/2 or 1 HP, which will also depend on your room size.
How do I choose a wall air conditioner?
So, what are the considerations you must know about choosing a wall air conditioner? Here are the pointers that we used:
- Consider your room size. As with all air conditioners, you need to know your room size first. Most AC units will have an indicated rating to let you know for which size of the room they are for. This is typically tied to their BTU rating and their horsepower (HP).
- Measure the dimensions of the unit. Installing a through-the-wall air conditioner requires you to know the dimensions because it will have to go into either a new or existing wall hole in your room.
- Know the air conditioner rating. This pertains to the BTU rating (the cooling efficiency), which is typically around 8,000 to 14,000 BTUs. If you can’t find one, at least look for the horsepower – ½ HP is usually sufficient for a very small bedroom.
- Look for eco-friendly features. An example of an eco-friendly feature is the use of CFC-free refrigerants, such as the R410A or R32. You’ll also find sleep modes and automatic speed adjusters on some through-the-wall air conditioner units.
- The controls should be convenient. While manual controls are also okay if budget-wise, having a remote control is usually the best option for a through-the-wall air conditioner, especially if it needs to be situated at the top portion of your wall.
Are all through the wall air conditioners the same size?
When it comes to dimensions, no – all through-the-wall air conditioners may vary in terms of their width, so you should plan with your existing wall hole. Or, if you don’t have one yet, be sure to measure it so that it will fit the spot you intend to put a hole into.
However, when it comes to room size, it depends on two criteria: BTU rating and horsepower (HP). A stronger HP and a higher BTU rating will be more ideal for a bigger room.
Conclusion
As a whole, through-the-wall air conditioners are great alternatives to a window-type AC, especially if you just want to cool down in the summer but don’t have the luxury of space, especially window space. We hope that this article helped you to choose the through-the-wall air conditioner that best fits your needs!