Casement window air conditioners are not as popular compared to the conventional horizontal window air conditions that you can find in the market today. But if you’re interested in getting one, as with all new appliances, it’s best to know the advantages and disadvantages. Here is an in-depth presentation of the pros and cons of casement window air conditioners.
Pros
There are several good things that you can expect from casement air conditioners, especially if your home is designed mostly with sliding windows. Casement air conditioners are specifically engineered to fit vertically instead of horizontally. Sliding windows have spaces in vertical orientation and conventional window air conditioners will not be able to fit these windows. If you can’t afford to buy split type models but you don’t want portable units, casement air conditioners are the best choices that you have for room air conditioners.
Another good thing about casement window air conditioners is that they are easy to install. Just like ordinary window units, these units simply need to be inserted into the window and screwed in place. There’s no indoor and outdoor installation required. You just have to connect the electrical wiring of the unit to make it work.
Many casement air conditioners also sport modern technology such as models from Frigidaire, Kenmore, LG, and Fedders. These units are also improved in operation with quiet modes, multiple fan speeds, automatic timers, remote controls, and LCD displays for easy operation.
Cons
It may seem like casement air conditioners are great to use, but when compared to conventional window models, there are a very low number of units that can be bought in this style. While LG has two casement models, it has 15 horizontal window units. That’s how scarce the models of casement air conditioners are. This means that there is a very limited variety to choose from, and from this limited variety, you need to find the perfect model for your home. If the options don’t quite fit the profile, you can either settle for that unit or get a split type which is much more expensive.
Another problem with casement air conditioners is their dimensions. Sure, you may have sliding windows in your current home, but what happens if you move houses? What if there are no sliding windows in your new house? This would make it very difficult for you to install the unit. You would have to make a hole in the wall for it.
Casement units are also not as traditional in appearance as horizontal models. Therefore, they aren’t aesthetically pleasing. They are like stereos or subwoofers hanging from your windows. This may not be a big deal but depending on the interior design of the room, casement units may not always fit well. It would probably look better to add a split type wall-mount unit in your room.
Conclusion
There’s always a good time and a bad time for everything. In the case of casement window air conditioners, it’s a good time to use them if you have sliding casement windows in your home. You will find that no matter what the cons are of using them, you’ll probably need to use them if your home has many slider windows.