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In this video, I go over the 4 window air conditioners.
Check them out here
0:00 Amazon Basics - https://geni.us/EcORaE
2:03 Zafro - https://geni.us/xg36
3:48 The Windmill - https://geni.us/VhPBtJk
5:57 Midea U-Shaped - https://geni.us/kqG3ajl
Videos On Each Air Conditioner
Amazon Basics - https://youtu.be/O0QqRhlo6-k
Zafro - https://youtu.be/rIFH2qj70pQ
The Windmill - https://youtu.be/IB-yySPf32w
Midea U-Shaped - https://youtu.be/FEyhpe_pBXI
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0:00
I bought 4 popular window ACs and put them to the test, so here's what you should know about them
0:07
First up is the Amazon Basics AC, and what stands out right away is how simple the controls are
0:13
You get two knobs and that's it. One lets you choose from 7 cooling levels
0:17
while the other switches between cool and fan mode with either low or high speed
0:22
There's no app, there's no wifi, and there's no remote control, which might sound like a drawback
0:27
at first, but it's actually one of the best things about this unit. When you're half asleep and just
0:31
want some cool air, you just walk over, turn the knob, and it's running. If you prefer simple things
0:36
that just work, you'll probably appreciate this one. Installation is also pretty easy. Amazon
0:41
designed this unit to fit most standard bedroom windows, so unless your window is unusually sized
0:47
chances are it'll fit without much trouble. Mine went in easily and took very little time
0:51
and the expandable side panels took care of all final fit without any custom cutting. And at around
0:56
39 pounds, it was manageable enough for one person to carry and install. On top of that
1:00
the two-way air direction control makes it easy to adjust the airflow. You can keep it blowing
1:04
straight ahead or tilted upward when you don't want cold air hitting you directly. And to see
1:09
how quickly this AC could bring the temperature down, I checked the vent with a thermal camera
1:13
After only 10 minutes, the air coming out was around 30 degrees cooler. And that's really
1:17
impressive for a compact unit because getting cold air is only half the job. The harder part
1:22
is pushing that air far away enough to actually cool the room. And this one has enough airflow to
1:26
carry the cold farther out so you don't have to sit right next to the unit to feel the difference
1:31
I measured the airflow from around 11 miles per hour on the lower setting to nearly 15 miles per
1:35
hour at full speed, while power draw stayed at around 452 watts. Noise also remained manageable
1:40
with my loudest reading being around 66 and a half decibels. Now the washable filter is another nice
1:45
touch. It's easy to access, catches dust and allergens, and helps the AC maintain better airflow
1:51
over time Still all the controls are on the unit itself so changing settings means walking over to it Now that isn a big deal for quick adjustments but it worth keeping in mind if you prefer controlling everything from your seat Next up is the Zafro AC
2:06
It's designed for small rooms up to 200 square feet and it gives you 4 different ways to
2:10
stay comfortable depending on the weather. On humid days, you can use dry mode to pull up to 40 pints of moisture out of the air
2:17
and if you just want some airflow, fan mode keeps the air moving around the room while
2:21
keeping your temperature setting the same. And for everyday cooling, cool in auto modes takes care of the rest
2:26
You can also set the temperature anywhere from 61 to 88 degrees
2:30
And thanks to the 24 hour timer, you can have it cool the room before you get home and avoid
2:34
unnecessary run time. Now the included remote makes those changes even easier
2:39
A few clicks are all it takes to keep the room feeling just right from whenever you are
2:43
It also allows you to adjust the airflow in four directions, so you can position the cool
2:47
air exactly where you want it. And that makes it a better fit for overnight use as well
2:51
and I measured the noise level at around 64.5 decibels on the lower setting
2:55
which feels like a good middle ground for nighttime cooling. The display stays subtle in a dark room
3:00
so it won't pull your attention when you're trying to sleep. The compressor also adjusts automatically
3:04
It kicks on when more cooling is needed, and shuts off once the room reaches the set temperature
3:09
which can help lower electricity costs. The airflow wasn't quite as strong as the Amazon Basics one
3:14
with the highest setting reaching around 11 miles per hour. Even so, it still pushes out a steady stream of cool air
3:19
that spreads the cooling more evenly around the room. Power draw reaches around 580 watts when the AC was working hardest, but it delivers fast
3:26
cool in return. And in my test, the vent temperature dropped by about 35 degrees in about 10 minutes
3:32
Now setup is pretty simple, but your window shape can make a difference. My sill wasn't completely flush with the frame, so I spent a little extra time adjusting
3:39
the bracket placement. But once everything was lined up, the unit felt secure and sealed well
3:43
So if you're looking for an AC that's flexible and easy to use, then this is one to go with
3:49
Up next is the windmill AC And the window shutters already come attached to the frame so there one less thing to worry about during installation And most AC make you put those panels together yourself but windmill takes care of that step before the unit even reaches your window It also keeps the mounting process pretty flexible The top bracket goes in with just about 4 screws and don sweat it if your
4:09
window setup isn't a perfect match. The included L bracket helps you get a secure installation
4:14
either way. Now you do get a physical remote, but Windmill also lets you control the AC through
4:18
Alexa or through the app. And getting everything connected takes a few minutes, and after that
4:22
you can check the temperature from your couch, adjust the fan speed, and switch between three
4:27
different modes straight from your phone. There's also an automation feature so it can turn on at a
4:31
certain time, run based on sunrise and sunset, or respond when the room temperature changes
4:36
Of course, cooling a room is about more than just temperature. The way it moves air around the room
4:41
matters too, which is why Windmill gives you a few ways to control the airflow. And the difference
4:45
between the fan settings is easy to notice, with the lower speeds keeping things more gentle
4:49
and the highest setting, pushing air much harder. Power use also changes depending on the task
4:55
In fan-only mode, it barely uses any electricity, pulling about 0.7 watts. During cooling
5:00
the compressor needs more power to bring the room down, but once the target temperature is reached
5:05
the unit scales back automatically. Even at the coldest setting of 60 degrees
5:09
it's settled at around 571 watts while continuing to deliver strong cooling. But efficiency isn't
5:14
just about what's happening inside the AC. The insulated side panels play a role too
5:18
They keep more of the cool air inside the room while blocking out some outside noise
5:23
It also comes with a dual filtration system. The mesh filter catches dust, hair, and other larger particles
5:29
And it's washable, so you can simply rinse it clean and reuse it. And if you want extra odor control, there's also an optional activated carbon filter you can add
5:37
At night, the LED display keeps the important settings visible, and it dims automatically when the room gets dark
5:42
And just so you know, the vent only directs air upwards, so the airflow pattern is a little
5:46
different from the other two units I mentioned before. But Windmill makes up for that with a sleeker design and smarter features, which makes it
5:53
a solid option if you value the overall experience. Finally we have the Medea U AC And this one does things very differently from a traditional window AC Instead of blocking the whole window the sash slides right into the middle of the unit
6:07
You keep more daylight, more of your view, and even the option to crack the window open
6:11
for a fresh air. An anti-theft window lock is also included too, so everything stays secure
6:16
But the biggest advantage of this AC is its inverter technology. The compressor changes its speed throughout the day to match the cooling demand, so it
6:23
only uses the power it needs to keep the room comfortable. That helps boost efficiency with Medea claiming up to 37% energy savings and Energy Star certification
6:31
backing those claims up. In my own test, it used about 2.4 watts with the fan off and settled at 185 watts after
6:38
10 minutes on the coldest setting. I also found the airflow increased smoothly as I raised the fan speed so you aren't jumping
6:44
from barely anything to a wind tunnel. The Hi-Ace setting pushed air at nearly 9 mph but the noise stayed surprisingly well under control
6:51
Even when pushing more air, the unit can still run as quietly as 32 decibels
6:55
Now you can control everything from the remote, the smart home app, or simply tell Alexa or
6:59
Google Assistant what you need. And it does more than just turn on and off. The AC can also keep track of your energy usage in the background so you always know
7:06
how much power it uses. It can even give you a quick reminder when you leave it on by mistake
7:11
You can also set your target temperature and let the unit kick on automatically when the
7:14
room gets too warm. And if you come home after a hot day and want to cool air fast, Flashcool gives the compressor
7:20
an extra push at startup to cool things down faster than a normal cycle
7:24
And yeah, you'll pay a little more for this model, but part of that extra cost goes towards
7:28
a smarter drainage design. The leveling feet also help guide water out more evenly, and the built-in drain plug means
7:34
you won't have to wrestle with leftover water when it's time to empty the tank. So far, this is one of the most well-rounded AC's out there, and I'd recommend it to
7:41
anyone upgrading from a basic window unit. And that's all for today. I hope this list helped you decide on the perfect window air conditioner
7:46
And if you found something you'd like, don't forget to check the description for the links to each window air conditioner mentioned in this video
7:52
Thanks for watching
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