Through-the-wall Air Conditioners are air conditioning units designed to be installed in the exterior wall of a building. They are self-contained units that cool the interior space by exhausting heat and humidity from the room to the outside. Air conditioners that are installed into a wall function in the same way as
window air conditioners, with the advantage of not blocking natural light from entering the room.
If only one or two areas of your house need cooling, they can save energy compared to whole house air conditioning systems, and are often ideal for bedrooms and living areas. If you need more than a couple of these air conditioners, and it is possible to do so, central air conditioning may be a better and more energy efficient alternative, but Through-the-wall aircons are a good solution where that is not the case.
Work is still in progress
Energyboom's Best Through-the-wall Air Conditioner Recommendations will be published soon. These are relatively large devices and they can be quite energy-hungry, so our team takes the process of testing, compiling data and reviewing very seriously.The amount of energy that can be saved by choosing an Energy Star efficient model is significant, and can trim quite a bit off your utility bill while also reducing your environmental impact.
How do I install an air conditioner through a wall?
Unless you are a very confident home-improver, if you need to put a hole in your wall, you will need professional help. Air conditioner sleeves are optional in most cases, but if you do have a sleeve already installed just be sure to identify your existing sleeve type before ordering a through-the-wall aircon.
What is an air conditioner sleeve?
A sleeve is a special metal device designed to hold an air conditioner in the wall. This is not always required for a through-the-wall aircon, but is a requirement if the wall itself cannot support the weight of an air conditioner.These can be installed in a window or wall, and are ideal for walls 8" thick or less.
Wall Measurement
It is also important to know how thick your wall is. This will help you determine what type of wall air conditioner is appropriate, as the weight and dimensions of the aircon unit you can use will vary according to the strength and width of the wall.
Can I use a Window Air Conditioner?
Be very cautious before using a window air conditioner in a through-the-wall installation.While they look similar, if it is the type of window unit that vents out of its side, the wall will block the vents and cause overheating. Certain window aircon models can be installed through a wall, but only if they have a slide-out chassis wall sleeve. Check with the vendor before purchasing.
Energy Costs and Savings
The power consumption of through-the-wall aircons is generally between 500 and 1440 watts, which means the energy efficient models can offer a major savings over the less efficient units.
- A 1440-watt air conditioner running for a 24 hour period would consume 34.5 kWh (1440 watts * 24 hours, divided by 1000). If you pay 18 cents per kWh, running such an air conditioner will add about $6.22 per day to your power bill (plus taxes and fees).
- An energy efficient 500-watt unit would only consume 12 kWh, which at 18c per kWh would reduce the cost to $2.16 - a daily saving of over $4. Most people find they only need to run these units for a few hours in the day or night, reducing costs even further.
