Anyone looking for a way to cool down a room that doesn’t have access to air conditioning ducts or a window to put an air conditioner into might want to consider buying an AC unit that is installed through the wall. These AC units are also good for homeowners who don’t want to sacrifice a window they do have to install an air conditioner into it. We believe these units are good solutions for most homeowners, so we decided to review some of them. And what we’ve discovered are the best through the wall air conditioners currently available. These are models that are durable and do an amazing job of cooling down a room.
Quick Summary of the Best Through The Wall Air Conditioners
- Best Overall: Koldfront WTC12001W 12,000 BTU Air Conditioner (Amazon) – Review
- Also Recommended: Frigidaire 18,500 BTU With Supplemental Heat Capability (Amazon) – Review
- Also Consider: Koldfront WTC8001W 8,000 BTU Air Conditioner (Amazon) – Review
Best Overall: Koldfront WTC12001W 12,000 BTU Air Conditioner
The Koldfront WTC12001W is the answer to many consumer’s prayers. It’s not only capable of cooling down a room but is also capable of providing heat during the summer months. Although it’s not as easy to install as a window air conditioner, and in some cases may require the consumer to have it professionally installed, it is an appliance that will provide years of service. This 12,000 BTU through the wall air conditioner does require the consumer to purchase a suitable sleeve for proper installation, but that shouldn’t be too much of a challenge since they can be easily purchased online.
This unit consumers 1,330-watts of power while cooling and 3,450-watts of energy during heating. As we previously stated, this unit provides 12,000 BTUs of cooling, which is enough to service a room up to 550 square feet in size, and it provides up to 10,600 BTUs of heating. It’s an appliance that has 4 operation modes, including a dry mode for dehumidifying the air, and three different fan speeds. It’s also equipped with a digital thermostat that easily controls its heating and cooling capabilities. This unit is capable of maintaining temperatures between 62 and 86-degrees Fahrenheit.
This unit measures approximately 14.5×24.2×20.3-inches and weighs approximately 78.3-pounds. Although it does come with installation hardware and weather seals, the consumer is going to have to purchase the wall sleeve it’s installed separately. This appliance has directional louvers, remote control operation, and a sleep function that will periodically adjust the temperature until returning to a set temperature within 6-hours.
And it’s also equipped with an energy-saving mode that cycles the fan for 2-minutes at 10-minute intervals to save energy. Taking all of this into consideration, we’re left with the impression that this is a through the wall air conditioner that isn’t too expensive and is equipped with many of the features that consumers are searching for in one of these appliances. And that’s why we have no problems recommending it.
Also Recommended: Frigidaire 18,500 BTU With Supplemental Heat Capability
Although this through the wall air conditioner is more expensive than just about any other AC unit we’ve reviewed, other than a central air conditioner, it is packed with many of the features that consumers look for in one of these AC units. This model is approximately 25.4×23.6×17.9-inches and weighs around 120-pounds. It’s equipped with a washable mesh filter with tilt-out filter access that makes it easy for the user to change the filter. And since it’s equipped with a check filter alert, the consumer will also know exactly when it’s time to replace their filter to keep their unit in good running condition.
This unit provides 18,500 BTU of cooling and is also equipped with a 16,000 BTU supplemental heating unit. This unit is also capable of dehumidifying up to 5.5-pints of water per hour, as the unit cools down rooms up to 1,050 square feet in size. This unit also features three fan speed, three heat speeds, and three cool speeds. This appliance also features a sleep mode that will gradually increase the room’s temperature after it’s been turned on. That feature, and its super-quiet operation, makes this air conditioner one that’s perfect for use in any room of the home—particularly in the bedroom where it won’t interfere with people’s sleep.
Now that we’ve talked about this unit’s core cooling and heating capabilities, let’s look at some of the other features that can be found on it. This unit has an auto-cool mode that allows the unit to automatically adjust fan speeds as the ambient temperature in the room changes, and it has a low-power startup that helps to conserve energy.
Another feature that’s worth mentioning is that this unit has a restart operation that will automatically restart the air conditioner at a previous temperature setting if its operation has been interrupted by a power failure. These features make this air conditioner one to definitely consider.
Also Consider: Koldfront WTC8001W 8,000 BTU Air Conditioner
This 8,000 BTU Koldfront through the wall air conditioner might not be the most powerful AC unit that we’ve reviewed, but it is suitable enough for rooms up to 350 square feet. This unit is also one of the least expensive models of these types of air conditioners that we reviewed, although the consumer will still need to purchase a wall sleeve to install it because this unit doesn’t come with one. However, once the consumer gets a suitable wall sleeve, this unit fits nice and snug into the wall, and its secure fit ensures that the weather and pests stay outdoors where they belong and can get in around the unit.
Now, let’s talk about some of the features that are equipped on this unit. This unit comes with a remote control that allows it to be operated from the comfort of a bed or recliners; a sleep function that can adjust the temperature periodically over 6-hours; and an energy-saving mode that can cycle the fan for 2-minutes at 10-minutes intervals to save energy. It’s also equipped with directional louvers that allow the consumer to have more control over how air exits out of this unit. It also should be mentioned that this unit’s supplemental heating provides 4,200 BTU of heat to keep a room nice and warm during the winter. Although it should be noted that it will not warm the same size room as it will cool. Because it operates at a lower BTU, it only heats a room that’s approximately 100 square feet in size.
This air conditioner is also equipped with a digital display and electronic thermostat that make it easy for the consumer to select the features they need and to adjust the temperature of the unit. This air conditioner is also equipped with a pull-out filter that makes it easy to clean. This unit is approximately 14.5×24.2×20.3-inches and weighs approximately 65-pounds.
It’s capable of maintaining temperatures between 62 and 86-degrees Fahrenheit, comes with weather seals and installation hardware, and can also dehumidify up to 45-pints of water from the air per day. All of this makes this a great unit for smaller rooms that can accept a through the wall air conditioner.
The Ultimate Guide To Through The Wall Air Conditioners
Because we realize that not everyone is familiar with through the wall air conditioners, we wanted to do a little more than just review the best ones available. We wanted to put concrete information into the hands of our readers so they can not only purchase an air conditioner that will work for them but will be able to purchase the absolute best one for their home. A model that’s in their budget, provides great cooling and/or supplemental heating, and is easy for them to have installed. With those guidelines in mind, we’ve crafted this guide on the subject. The information contained in this guide should help all of our readers purchase a unit that will serve them for quite a long time to come.
Window Versus Through The Wall Air Conditioners
The first thing we’d like to discuss with our readers is the difference between window and through the wall air conditioners. And to be honest, there are very few differences between these models. They both can have the same cooling capacity and are roughly the same size, so they’re very similar to one another. However, although there are few differences between the two, the differences that do exist are exceptionally important. For instance, through the wall air conditioners require professional installation, if the consumer’s room doesn’t already have a hole through the wall for the unit. On the other hand, window air conditioners only require a window to operate.
Through the wall air conditioners are good for a room that doesn’t have a window, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t be used in rooms with windows. They may even be more energy efficient because these units have a tighter seal than window air conditioner units do. The problem with window units is that air can get out through the side panels of the air conditioner or the top. Through the wall AC units, however, that doesn’t happen because the seal is pretty tight. Other than those slight differences in use, however, window and through the wall air conditioners are quite similar to one another.
Purchasing A Through The Wall Air Conditioner
Now that we’ve discovered the main differences between window air conditioners, and through the wall air conditioners, let’s switch our attention to purchasing the best AC unit possible. The following features are some of the things that consumers are going to want to consider while they’re shopping for a new through the wall AC unit.
Choose The Correct Cooling Capacity
One of the first considerations the consumer is faced with when buying a through the wall air conditioner is the unit’s cooling capacity. The consumer wants to purchase a unit that’s large enough to cool the room it’s going to be installed in, but not so large that it wastes money. The consumer can determine the air conditioner’s cooling capacity by checking out the unit’s BTU rating.
The BTU rating tells the consumer just how much cooling (or heating for heaters) a unit will provide. The higher the BTUs a unit has, the more cooling (or heating) capacity it has. The consumer can then compare the BTU rating of the air conditioner with their room’s size to see if it will do the job. Below are some common air conditioner BTU ratings alongside the room sizes they are capable of cooling.
- 5,000 BTU: 100 to 150 Square Feet
- 6,000 BTU: 150 to 250 Square Feet
- 8,000 BTU: 300 to 350 Square Feet
- 10,000 BTU: 400 to 450 Square Feet
- 12,000 BTU: 450 to 550 Square Feet
Other Features To Consider
With the cooling capacity of the unit taken care of, the consumer is now going to want to think about some of the other features they need the unit to have. Although it’s impossible to thoroughly examine every single feature that can be found on modern through the wall air conditioners with a guide this size, we can cover some of the basics. Below are some of the features that consumers might want to consider before purchasing their unit.
- Supplemental Heating Mode
- Remote Control Operation
- Energy-Saving Mode
- Sleep Mode
- Adjustable Louvres
- Auto Restart Feature
- Programmable Timer
- Easy-To-Clean Filters
Through The Wall Air Conditioner Installation Requirements
Since we’re rapidly nearing the conclusion of this article, we need to address some final things the consumer needs to consider before purchasing a new through the wall air conditioner. These air conditioners can be installed in every home due to their particular installation needs. Since we don’t want any of our readers to purchase an air conditioner that they can’t use, we’ve included this section so consumers can make sure that their home is the right candidate for a through the wall air conditioner.
Consider The Wall
The consumer needs to make sure that they have a suitable wall for installing the air conditioner. The wall needs to be an exterior wall because the air conditioner needs to be able to vent to the outside. This wall also needs to be free of any plumbing or electrical structures around where the hole is going to be cut. The thickness of the wall also needs to be taken into consideration to make sure that it’s the thickness for the air conditioner’s depth measurement.
Consider The Electrical Requirements
The consumer should also make sure that their home supports the electrical requirements of their air conditioners. Although most newer through the wall models use 110-120 volt plugs, some models need 220-volt plugs. The power cord of the unit also has to be long enough to reach from the air conditioner to the outlet, so the consumer should keep that in mind.
Most Units Don’t Come With Installation Sleeves
Although most of the air conditioners we’ve reviewed or have seen come with weather seals and installation hardware, none of them come with installation sleeves. That’s because just about every air conditioner manufacturer requires the consumer to purchase them separately. Even the best through the wall air conditioner will require the consumer to buy a sleeve, so everyone needs to keep that in mind.
Some Final Thoughts
If the consumer has any doubts about installing their new through the wall air conditioner, then they should consult an expert and have them professionally install the unit. The consumer should also carefully read the directions that came with their air conditioner to make sure that they install and use it properly. If all of this sounds a bit overwhelming and the consumer wants an air conditioner that’s easier to install, then they might want to consider purchasing a window or portable air conditioner instead.
