Window mounted units are still terrible for comfort. External AC unit is like 300 euro + 300 euro for installation. It’s not a big investment and you get totally silent unit. In Europe people will use portable units if it’s short term and install external one if it’s permanent.
Comment on Americans are asleep, post European windows
GissaMittJobb@lemmy.ml 9 months ago
While I agree that our windows are generally superior from a functional perspective, the Americans have us beat in the fact that you can’t install a window AC unit in our windows.
Hence we get to just die in the increasingly common heat waves. Not great - we’ve got to figure this one out.
Before portable ACs are mentioned - I’ll point out that they have terrible efficiency, and connecting the tube to blow out the hot air is still terrible with European windows.
ExLisper@linux.community 9 months ago
GissaMittJobb@lemmy.ml 9 months ago
The quoted prices I saw for installation were a lot higher, more like 700 euro, but that probably depends on the cost of labour where you are.
There are also non-monetary aspects to this issue - I’m not allowed to make any modifications to my facade on account of it being made out of asbestos, for example. I’d have to get a specialist to cut the hole to make that work. It’s also a bit tricky to fit in an outside unit - or inside unit for that matter - on my walls.
I’m in complete agreement that mini splits are superior, but the downsides do exist and need to be acknowledged.
ExLisper@linux.community 9 months ago
Yep, I’m just saying that 90% of people in Europe will simply go with external AC. Where I live most new apartments simply come with central AC installed and roof top units. But that’s in southern Spain, AC is a must.
GissaMittJobb@lemmy.ml 9 months ago
Absolutely. I’m speaking mostly from a Swedish apartment-perspective, where ACs have been optional basically forever, but the climate crisis is quickly making them more and more mandatory each year.
Andrzej@lemmy.myserv.one 9 months ago
Integrated AC ftw bebeh
9point6@lemmy.world 9 months ago
Mini split heat pumps.
All you need is a 3cm hole in the wall to run a refrigerant line from the outside heat pump unit to the wall unit.
Window AC units are pretty poor efficiency too, IIRC
Nika03@lemmy.world 9 months ago
What if I can’t make a 3cm hole cuz I’m a rentoid?
frunch@lemmy.world 9 months ago
Make a temporary 3cm hole
kindenough@kbin.social 9 months ago
I rent and could install AC because it is a home improvement. You could ask if it is allowed.
TCB13@lemmy.world 9 months ago
I’m sure if you pay the AC unit yourself nobody will oppose lol
realitista@lemmy.world 9 months ago
There are the freestanding air conditioners. They have a hose you put in the window. There are plastic seals you can buy that fit in the windows to seal off the exhaust. They aren’t perfect but they are better than nothing.
Hexarei@programming.dev 9 months ago
And this is a thread about how those won’t work with European windows
psud@lemmy.world 9 months ago
Rent a place with air con installed?
GissaMittJobb@lemmy.ml 9 months ago
This is likely going to be the answer, yeah, but I believe we need to see some improvements in installability for the average person - a window AC unit does afaik not require a specialist to install, while a mini split, while possible to tackle for a handy person, is a lot harder, leaving the average person to have to pay for someone to install the unit.
Window ACs are not the best from an efficiency perspective, but they do beat portable units by a large margin
GreatAlbatross@feddit.uk 9 months ago
I’ve just been looking into this in the UK (so Europe, but not EU).
You can now get split units that come pre-filled with a safer refrigerants that a DIYer is allowed to do themselves.
I would still get an electrician to do the electrical side though. 1KW constant load should definitely be on its own circuit.
9point6@lemmy.world 9 months ago
Yeah that’s a good point about affordability. I guess I’d hope for government subsidies or at least supply & demand market forces to address that before it becomes an essential thing, especially if they replace gas boilers too as a move to reduce carbon emissions.
GissaMittJobb@lemmy.ml 9 months ago
In the world of theoretical wild policies, there’s a really good argument for subsidizing heat pump installation for places heating with fossil fuels or direct electricity at more than 100% of the cost of installation. I’d love to see that kind of project. One can mostly just dream, though.
Steve@startrek.website 9 months ago
Not true, modern window units are very efficient