Category: Air Conditioning

Mold in Air Conditioning Units: Causes, Health Effects, and Prevention

August 24, 2025Dennis Reed

Yes — mold can grow inside air conditioning units, and it’s more than just a bad smell. Moisture, dust, and...

Pros and Cons of UV Light in HVAC. Is it Worth it?

August 24, 2025Dennis Reed

Is UV Light in HVAC Worth It? Yes — UV light can disinfect air in your HVAC system, killing germs...

AC Dehumidifier(Dry) Mode- What and When Do You Use It?

August 24, 2025Dennis Reed

What is Dehumidifier (Dry) Mode in AC? High Humidity is the number one cause of mildew and mold growth in...

Does Air Conditioning Use Water? Understanding How Your AC Unit Works

August 10, 2025Dennis Reed

Do Air Conditioners Use Water? Air conditioners primarily use refrigerants to cool and dehumidify indoor air. During this process, condensation...

A man smiling because he's found a simple way to clean AC coils without removing anything.

How to Clean AC Coils Without Removing the Unit – No Tools Needed

July 24, 2025Dennis Reed

How to Clean AC Coils Without Removing the Unit – No Tools Needed Cleaning your AC coils is essential for...

pic showing the warm outcome of dirty AC coils

Best AC Coil Cleaning Brushes and Tools

July 24, 2025Dennis Reed

Best AC Coil Cleaning Brushes and Tools for DIY Maintenance Proper AC maintenance requires the right tools for the job...

A picture of a woman that is learning about AC Coil care

Signs of Dirty AC Coils and What to Do About Them

July 24, 2025Dennis Reed

How to Tell If Your AC Coils Are Dirty A well-functioning air conditioner is essential for staying comfortable during hot...

BTU Calculator for Air Conditioners: Instantly Size Your Room

June 29, 2025Dennis Reed

How Many BTUs Do You Need? Use our free BTU calculator to quickly find out how much cooling power your...

A vent showing the direction clean air flows after installing a UV light in the HVAC

UV Lights vs. UV Air Purifiers in Your HVAC: What’s the Difference and Which One Do You Need?

May 19, 2025Dennis Reed

UV lights in HVAC systems kill mold and bacteria on internal coils, while UV air purifiers like the REME HALO...

Do Window AC Units Filter Smoke? Learn the Truth

“A window AC unit primarily functions to cool a room and may have an air filter to remove some smoke and other particles from the air.

But the amount of smoke that a window air conditioner can filter is minimal and it does not qualify it to be called a smoke remover or air cleaner.”

Do window AC units filter smoke?

Some window AC units have air filters that can help to remove smoke and other particles from the air, but it depends on the specific model and filter used.

But is important to check the specifications of the AC unit and its filter to determine its effectiveness in removing smoke.

Additionally, it is always good to keep window AC units clean and replace or wash the air filter regularly for optimal performance.

Window AC compared to smoke eater or exhaust fan

A window AC unit and a smoke eater or exhaust fan serve different purposes.

A window AC unit primarily functions to cool a room and may have an air filter to remove some smoke and other particles from the air.

A smoke eater or exhaust fan, on the other hand, is specifically designed to remove smoke and other pollutants from the air in a room or enclosed space.

Smoke eaters and exhaust fans can be used in a variety of settings such as restaurants, bars, and other commercial spaces where there is a lot of smoke or cooking fumes.

In terms of removing smoke, exhaust fan is the best option as it is designed for this specific task.

However, if you want to cool your room and also remove smoke, you can use both a window AC unit and a smoke eater or exhaust fan together.

Summary

Do window ACs filter smoke?

Window ACs do have a filter that capture particles as the indoor air is being pulled through the air conditioner to cool it before it is released,

Will the amount of filtration that a window air conditioner will supply is not on the level of a exhaust fan or smoke eater.

An exhaust fan is recommended to get rid of smoke inside of a house. The window air conditioner will only help and won’t hurt the ability of the exhaust fan to remove smoke from the air, so if you need to run the window AC at the same time because of the warm temperature in the house, you are safe to do so.

Do Window Air Conditioners Interfere with Wi-Fi?

Do window air conditioners interfere with Wi-Fi

Window air conditioners can potentially interfere with Wi-Fi signals if they are operating on the same frequency as the Wi-Fi network.

This can cause a decrease in signal strength and result in slower internet speeds or dropped connections.

However, most modern Wi-Fi routers and devices are designed to operate on different frequencies than window air conditioners, so this is typically not a problem.

Additionally, if the air conditioner is not located close to the router or device, the interference will likely be minimal.

What to do…

If you are experiencing Wi-Fi issues, you can try moving the air conditioner further away from the router or device, or try changing the channel on your router to a different frequency.

What is more likely interfering with your Wi-Fi then the window AC?

There are many potential sources of interference that can affect Wi-Fi signals, so it can be difficult to determine the exact cause without further investigation.

Some common sources of interference include:

1.Other electronic devices:

Other devices that operate on the same frequency as your Wi-Fi network, such as cordless phones, microwaves, or baby monitors, can cause interference.

2.Physical obstructions:

Walls, furniture, and other objects can block or weaken Wi-Fi signals.

3. Distance from the router:

The further away a device is from the router, the weaker the signal will be.

4.Interference from other Wi-Fi networks:

Other Wi-Fi networks in the area can cause interference, especially if they are using the same channel as your network.

5. Overlapping channels:

If you are using an older router that does not support 5GHz or if your device does not support 5GHz, it could be that your router is set to 2.4GHz channel which is more prone to interference from other devices.

You should know that interference is not always the sole cause of weak or unstable Wi-Fi signal, it could be caused by a combination of factors or even an issue with the router itself.

It’s best to troubleshoot and eliminate each potential cause one by one.

Summary

Do window air conditioners interfere with Wi-Fi?

Though that there is the possibility that your Wi-Fi is on the same frequency as your Wi-Fi network, it is not probable.

There are many, more likely scenarios what could be interrupting your Wi-Fi reception.

Devices like microwaves and and baby monitors are known to interrupt Wi-Fi as well as cordless phones.

Other common problems include physical obstructions like walls and furniture that are blocking the Wi-Fi reception.

Distance from the router and other Wi-Fi networks in the area interfering with yours or all fairly common reasons too.

Finally you can easily check if the window AC is interfering with the Wi-Fi by moving the router to another area in the house that’s away from the window AC. That’ll tell you real quick if it’s the problem.

AC Window Vs Through the Wall. Is there a difference?

“A window air conditioner is an affordable and easy to install option for cooling a single room, but may be less energy efficient and more vulnerable to theft or vandalism. A through-the-wall air conditioner is a more permanent and secure option with better energy efficiency, but is more expensive.”

AC Window Vs Through the Wall

Are you looking to find out what are some of the pros and cons of using a window air conditioner instead of a through the wall air conditioner and vice versa?

In this article we lay out some of the biggest points to give you a starting place and a few things to think about so you can make a good decision.

Window air conditioners are an easy solution when you need to get air conditioning and to a specific room.

And even though they’re not exactly portable since they had to be installed and uninstalled if you decide to move them

You still do have the option if you decided to put the window AC in a different window.

But using an air conditioner through the wall is also a good idea especially when you think about the fact that you don’t ever have to deal with putting it up for a winter or that it’s completely sealed and not nearly as attractive as a break-in point for a burglar.

A window air conditioner is a unit that is installed in a window or a hole in a wall and is typically used for cooling a single room.

Some of the benefits of a window air conditioner over a Through the Wall AC include:

1. Affordability:

Window air conditioners are typically less expensive than other types of air conditioners, making them a cost-effective option for cooling a single room.

2. Easy installation:

Window air conditioners are relatively easy to install, and many models come with all the necessary hardware and instructions for installation.

3. Versatility:

Window air conditioners come in a wide variety of sizes and cooling capacities, making it easy to find one that is suitable for your specific needs.

A through-the-wall air conditioner is a unit that is installed in a hole in the wall and is typically used for cooling a single room.

Some of the benefits of a through-the-wall air conditioner include:

1 Permanent installation:

Unlike a window unit, a through-the-wall air conditioner is installed permanently, which means it will not need to be removed and stored during the off-season.

2. Better security:

A through-the-wall air conditioner is less likely to be stolen or vandalized than a window unit, as it is installed in a more secure location.

3. Better energy efficiency:

Through-the-wall units have a better energy efficiency rating than window units, which can help you save money on your energy bills.

Disadvantages of window air conditioners compared to through the wall air conditioners

However, there are also some downsides to consider when choosing between a window air conditioner and a through-the-wall unit:

1. Window units are less expensive, but through-the-wall units have better energy efficiency rating

2. Window ACs are easy to install and remove, but through-the-wall units are permanent installation.

3. Window units may be more vulnerable to theft or vandalism, but through-the-wall units offer better security.

Ultimately, the choice between a window air conditioner and a through-the-wall unit will depend on your specific needs, budget, and preferences. It’s recommended to consult a professional before making a decision.

Is there any difference between a window air conditioner and a through the wall air conditioner other than the way they are installed?

Yes, window air conditioners tend to be cheaper than a through the wall air conditioner.

Through the wall air conditioners also are built to look more sleek and to be more energy efficient.

You can install a window air conditioner through a wall but ultimately it will not be as energy efficient as purchasing a air conditioner that is intended to be installed through a wall.

Summary

For a single room, a window air conditioner is less expensive and is a mobile option.
But if you’re not going to be moving the window AC from room to room,
But threw the wall air conditioner, Even though it might come at a higher cost, is more energy efficient and doesn’t pose the same risk of being attracted for burglars.

Why is My Window AC Not Cooling? Five quick tips

“The main reason a window air conditioner is not cooling is usually due to a problem with the refrigerant levels. Low refrigerant can be caused by leaks, and can prevent the unit from cooling the air properly.”

Why is My Window AC Not Cooling?

Even though the window air conditioner is convenient and it’s a pretty cheap way to cool a room, If it’s not working right it can be super frustrating and uncomfortable.

And if you don’t know what you’re looking for, it can be pretty scary or at least a bummer thinking you may have to purchase a new one.

But if someone were to give you a few things to look for, that maybe you could even fix yourself, that would probably make a decent article.

So let’s give it a go.

There are a number of reasons why a window air conditioner may not be cooling effectively.

Here are 5 common causes and solutions to consider if you’re experiencing issues with a Window AC not cooling.

1. Dirty air filter:

The air filter in your window air conditioner plays a crucial role in keeping the unit running efficiently.

The filter traps dirt, dust, and other particles from circulating through the unit and into the air you breathe.

A dirty filter can restrict airflow and cause the unit to work harder to cool the room.

To rectify this issue, check the filter regularly and replace it or clean it as needed.

2. Low refrigerant levels:

The refrigerant in your air conditioner is responsible for removing heat from the air.

If the refrigerant levels are low, the unit will not be able to cool like it’s supposed to.

Unfortunately when you’re talking about a window air conditioner, if there’s refrigerant leaking out then you most definitely have a problem that you may not be able to fix yourself.

Finding the leak and refilling the unit is something most people will need to call a professional for.

3. Obstructed air flow:

The filter is not the only part of the window AC that can get cluttered and cause the AC not to work right. The unit’s coils and fins need to be kept clear of debris in order for the unit to function properly.

If the coils and fins are dirty, or if the unit is blocked by furniture or other objects, the unit will not be able to Do its job right.

But fortunately, This issue just comes down to cleaning the coils and fins and making sure that the unit is not blocked.

Here’s an article we wrote about homemade coil cleaners made of things you probably already have around the house. Check it out.

4. Malfunctioning thermostat:

A malfunctioning thermostat can prevent your window air conditioner from cooling properly.

If the thermostat is not calibrated correctly or is not working properly, it can cause the unit to cycle on and off too frequently or not turn on at all.

To fix this problem, check the thermostat settings and ensure that it is functioning properly.

This is a issue that can be as easy as switching from on mode to “auto”. Or if the thermostat is not working correctly, you might have to call a guy in.

5. Faulty compressor:

The compressor is the heart of the air conditioner and is responsible for circulating the refrigerant throughout the unit.

A faulty compressor can prevent the unit from cooling properly. If the compressor is not working, the unit will not be able to cool the room effectively.

If the compressor isn’t working, depending on the quality of the air conditioner and how much you paid for it in the first place, it may be Time to shop for a new one.

But like I said, if you have spent a lot of money on it, it’s a mechanical issue and it can definitely be fixed by the right person.

In summary,

There are a few reasons why a window air conditioner may not be cooling properly. Some common causes include a dirty air filter, low refrigerant levels, or a malfunctioning thermostat.

And it’s usually something that can be solved on your own.

A dirty air filter or debris and stuff around the coils, as well as just making sure the settings are right, or all easy things you could do very quickly to get your window air conditioner cooling again.

Hopefully the problem doesn’t turn out to be too substantial.

By understanding the common causes and taking steps to rectify them, you can help ensure that your unit is running efficiently and effectively.

Windowless Air Conditioner Solutions- Adding New Ductwork

Getting cool air to a room that doesn’t have any windows can be a challenge sometimes.

But depending on what type of room and what size of a room you were trying to cool, the answer may be closer than you think.

There are so many different scenarios of rooms that need cooling but do not have any windows.

One example is a garage that has been converted or closed in to add another bedroom.

Garages are typically not part of the HVAC zoning system of your home.

So you don’t have cool air running to your garage from the main hub of the central heat and air.

Windowless Air Conditioner Solutions- Adding New Ductwork

Running ductwork from your existing HVAC to your new room can be a solution if:

1. You have an adequate size HVAC that can handle it.

2. You have other rooms in the house that are not being used

1. Adequate or bigger size HVAC than you need.

Many times the HVAC system in your house is bigger than you actually need.

In this ideal situation, running new ductwork to your new room will be relatively simple and do a decent job.

For specifics, you will need to know the size of the room you were trying to cool and the tonnage of your HVAC system.

An HVAC tech will be able to tell you whether or not this suits you are not.

Diy

When you have rooms in the house that are not in use.

This is something I’ve seen in a rented house where someone was using the garage for a podcast studio.

He portioned off part of a single car garage to set up his equipment and built a makeshift studio. Since this was a rented house and he didn’t plan on living there forever, he converted the garage in a way that he could take it apart whenever he decided to move.

The problem was that there wasn’t any heating or air in the garage and it was extra hot throughout the summer.

And by no means is this a recommendation, I’m only telling the story to give you an idea of things that can be done if you think outside of the box.

In this specific rental house that he lived in, there was an area next to the garage that was supposed to be a dining room (maybe). The room didn’t make a lot of sense and he was just piling stuff in there.

So to cool his studio area that he had built into his garage, he got into the attic, removed the duct that was running to the dining /storage room he wasn’t using, and extended it to the garage.

A pretty good solution since he had a room that was only being used for storing stuff.

This was a good idea for him since he was a single man and wasn’t using one room for anything besides storage and didn’t care whether or not it ever got cooling or heating to it.

This idea can also work if you have a house with a room or two that you keep closed off but do not want to completely remove the heat or air from the room

In the above scenario, the man could have tied into the existing ductwork and ran a new duct to the garage.

Then added vents that could be completely closed to both the dining area and the new garage area.

That way both rooms could share the Heat and Air in an either/or situation.

I say either/ or situation because simply tying off a new duct from an existing room will probably not give you enough air into the new room for you to be satisfied.

Summary

Windowless Air Conditioner Solutions- Adding New Ductwork

If you have a room in your house that doesn’t get air from your existing HVAC, sometimes a solution to cooling the room is to add an extra duct from the HVAC hub.

This works if you have a bigger HVAC than you need or if you have rooms in the house that are closed off.

If you do have rooms that are closed off you can run the duct from those rooms to the room you want cooling,

Or you can tie in from the ductwork going to those rooms and add vents that completely close off, to the room you’re not using and the new room that you’re running air to. That way you can still open the vent and get air to the old room in an either/ or situation.

Windowless Air Conditioner Solutions- PTAC

How do you cool a room with no windows?
Is there such a thing as a windowless air conditioner?

There are a few types of air conditioners that you can use to cool a room with no windows.

Some expensive, some not as much. Some that take a whole lot of installation knowledge and work, and some that take less.

One solution that falls under the moderately expensive side and does take a moderate amount of installation is the PTAC.

PTAC or packaged terminal air conditioners are through the wall air conditioners that require the wall that they are installed to to be an outside wall that has the outdoors as one side of the wall.

PTAC air conditioners are known as commercial hotel air conditioners because that is where they are seen the most.

But they can be used in almost any type of application where you have a room that has an outside wall.

Advantages of Packaged Terminal air conditioners

1. Quality.

PTAC air conditioners are commercial grade ACs that can literally last you 20 or more years.

2. Work as both air conditioners and heaters.

If you have ever stayed in a hotel that has a Packaged Terminal air conditioner installed in the room that you were sleeping in, you know very well how intensely cold that room can get using a PTAC.

You also know how hot one can get in the winter.

3. Energy efficient.

PTAC disadvantages

1. Installation

Not nearly the amount of installation that a mini split requires,

but installing a Packaged Terminal air conditioner does require a large rectangular hole to be cut through an entire wall. And for most people that means that they will have to hire an outside Carpenter to do the work.

The size of the hole that you are cutting pretty much dictates that you are invested in using the package terminal air conditioner for a very long time.

And once the hole is cut, you are stuck with that location for the air conditioner.

Of course you can always fix the wall if needed. But that would be an entire job on its own.

2. Single room only

PTAC air conditioners only work in the room that they are installed in.

And they are a point of origin type of air conditioner. In other words, they are very cold, the closer you are to the air conditioner.

Back to the hotel reference,

If you ever stayed in a room with two beds that used a PTAC air conditioner, you know that the bed closest to the air conditioner is going to be the one you want if you like to sleep with a lot of covers.

Otherwise, it may get a little warm on your side of the room.

3. Noise

Just like a window air conditioner, all the components of a HVAC system are located in one package with a Packaged Terminal air conditioner.

There is no getting away from the sound of the compressor running and cycling on and off while the air conditioner is on.

Because of that point, PTAC air conditioners are not very suitable for use in recording studios or podcast studios where you need as much quiet as you can get.

Summary

Packaged Terminal air conditioners are a commercial grade windowless air conditioner solution when you have a room with no windows.

PTAC air conditioners are known as hotel air conditioners because that’s where you see them the most.

But anywhere you have a room with one wall that is an outside wall, you can use a package terminal AC.

The installation for a Packaged Terminal air conditioner requires that a large rectangular hole be cut into your wall.

So not only are you looking at the installation cost, you are also looking at a fairly permanent solution when you install a PTAC.

And though they are very powerful air conditioners with a long lifespan,

They do have the disadvantage of being a single room air conditioner that has a noisy compressor built right in.

And they are a point of origin air conditioner that can be freezing cold when you are next to it.

Windowless Air Conditioner Solutions -Mini Split

How do you get air conditioning into a room that does not have any windows?

In a series of articles, we are presenting different options for air conditioning when you have a room that doesn’t have any windows.

We explore through the wall air conditioners, portable evaporative coolers, HVAC options, mini split, PTAC, and more.

In this article we are talking about the mini split as a windowless air conditioning solution.

Mini Split Windowless Air conditioner

Mini split air conditioners are a windowless air conditioner solution that are a very close cousin to a traditional HVAC central heat and air unit.

The difference is that mini split air conditioners are more of an afterthought and usually go into a house after the house has already been built.

Where HVAC systems are built into the house and ductwork is installed as the house is being built.

That’s not always the case, but it is true most of the time.

Just like a HVAC system, the compressor of a mini split is outside of the house.

The compressor runs to an air handler( or multiple air handlers) inside of the house via conduit on the outside of the house. And on the outside of the walls inside of the house.

That is why we say that many split air conditioners are more of an afterthought because they are installed via the outside of the walls.

Mini splits are a much more sophisticated way of getting air conditioning into a room with no windows then say a portable evaporative cooler.

But the price and the installation of a mini split is considerably more also.

Mini split air conditioner Benefits

There is a number of benefits to using a mini split air conditioner:

1. Quiet

Since the compressor of a mini split air conditioner is outside of the house, the only noise coming from the air conditioning is the light sound of the air handler.

This is a good solution if noise is a problem. For instance, a recording studio for a podcast room needs silence as a prerequisite.

With the mini split air conditioner, you can achieve less noise.

2. Individual temperature settings

Another big advantage of mini split air conditioners that even HVAC systems don’t have is the ability to set the desired temperature for every room individually.

Since each room has its own air handler with a mini split, the temperature of each room can be sent differently.

Mini split downsides

1. Installation

The installation of a mini split air conditioner requires quite a bit more than other types of portable air conditioning.

Installing a mini split is more like installing two air conditioners because you have to install the outdoor compressor and the indoor air handler.

They also have to be connected via conduit.

Other factors to consider are that electricity has to be run to the compressor which means a new circuit.

And a condensate line has to be installed to drain the moisture outside.

2. Maintenance

Maintenance is also a huge part of owning a mini split air conditioner.

Two separate parts of the air conditioner required two separate maintenance.

The air handler has to have filter replacements and cleaned at least once a year.

The compressor outside requires disassembling to clean and also needs at least a yearly cleaning.

And the condensate lines need checking and unclogging if a problem appears.

Summary

A mini split air conditioner is a good solution for a room that does not have any windows.

A good solution but one that comes with a big price tag and requires installation and maintenance.

But they do have the benefit of being extremely quiet when noise is as much of a factor as getting cool air into a room without windows.

Windowless Air Conditioner Solutions – Evaporative Cooler

Riddle.
What kind of room has no doors or Windows? A mushroom. Haha.

But what kind of room actually has no windows?

I can think of a few… A recording studio, the basement, storage shed, garage, laundry room, converted closet… It starts to be a pretty big list when you start trying to think of all the kinds of rooms that don’t have Windows.

There’s all kinds of scenarios where rooms are built without windows for one reason or another. And it seems that these rooms pretty much always lack Air conditioning.

So what do you do when you have a room with no windows but you need air conditioning?

One Windowless Air Conditioner Solution is a portable evaporative cooler

If you’re doing a search on Google for a windowless air conditioner, evaporative coolers are pretty much the only suggestion that you will get.

So what exactly is a portable evaporative cooler?

An evaporative cooler is an air conditioner that uses a fan blowing over water to cool the air with evaporation.

Kind of similar to the feeling you get from the wind blowing over a pool.

A cool breeze.

What makes a portable evaporative cooler a good option for a room that does not have any windows?

It’s because they do not exhaust heat in any form.

Other portable air conditioners or window air conditioners use a refrigerated air cooling method that creates a large amount of heat that exhausts either through a hose or by sitting in the window.

But when you do not have a window, you do not have anywhere to exhaust the Heat.

Portable Air coolers come in different size packages. Larger ones have wheels for mobility while smaller ones are more like the size of a small ice chest with a handle that you can carry it around by.

Portable evaporative cooler downsides

1. Water

The number one maintenance that a portable evaporative cooler requires is filling it with water.

And of course the mess that comes along with filling it with water.

Some air coolers have removable basins that you can fill under a faucet similar to a humidifier, other types you have to externally fill the water by carrying the water to the machine.

And most modern air coolers have a compartment to put ice into them.(optional)

There are larger portable air coolers that have a garden hose hookup so that you do not have to continuously carry water to the machine.

2. Mold and bacteria

Related to the first required maintenance of filling the air cooler with water,

Is the necessity of dumping the water that is not used out of the air cooler when you are done.

Stagnant water can start growing bacteria and getting moldy in as little as 48 hours.

So it is a requirement to keep an air cooler clean and dry when it is not in use.

Turning on an air cooler that has germy stagnant water in it,

will distribute all the germs and bacteria in the water, into the air where you will breathe it.

Airborne mold can cause symptoms similar to the flu or pneumonia.

And there’s also a disease called legionnaires that originates from bacteria growing in water.

Nothing you want to mess around with.

3. Don’t cool very well in humid climates

Another issue with evaporative air coolers is that they use humidity as a source of cooling off the air.

But when the air is already humid, adding more humidity to the air makes the air feel hotter .

And that kind of makes using an evaporative cooler pretty much useless in the high humidity months or if you live in an area that has a higher year-round humidity.

Summary

A portable evaporative cooler is a windowless air conditioner solution.

While most air conditioners require that you have a window to exhaust the heat that they create while cooling,

Evaporative coolers do not create any heat at all. So in turn they do not require a window to vent any heat.

But they do require a little more maintenance in that they have to be continually filled with water.

And they must be cleaned and left dry when not in use.

And one of the biggest issues with evaporative coolers is that they do not work in high humidity.

Which describes a large portion of the world as well as a couple of the months in summer where temperatures are at their hottest.

Windowless Air Conditioner Solutions – Through the Wall

Finding a solution to cool off a room with no windows is not always the easiest thing to do.

Adding in other things into the equation like needing a room to be quiet besides cool, can add a whole another layer of difficulty.

One solution for a windowless air conditioner is using a window air conditioner through the wall

Using a window air conditioner straight through a wall can be a solution:

A. if you have a room with no windows but at least one of the walls is an outside wall.

In other words you have a wall that is on the other side of the wall, outside of the house. The same kind of wall that you would normally have a window in.

(This is a good place to point out that if you are willing to cut a hole through your wall to put a window air conditioner in it,

Installing a window instead, maybe the better play.}

You can always put a window air conditioner into a window and when you don’t need the air conditioner, have a window for light or fresh air, etc.

B. Or you have a wall that leads to an area that is suitable for exhausting Heat into.

In this scenario, one of the walls in the room that you need air conditioning in leads to a storage area, like a garage or a permanent storage area that won’t be affected by the exhaust.

Keep in mind that you will also have to have a bucket underneath the air conditioner to capture any dripping caused by the condensation the air conditioner creates.

Why do you need a wall that leads outside?

Window air conditioners exhaust heat out of the rear and drip condensation water through a drain hole.

They are also excessively noisy on the side of the air conditioner that sits on the outdoor side of the air conditioner.

Every once in awhile I will hear somebody ask why can’t they just bring the window air conditioner inside of the house and set it on a table

And that would be an awesome solution if it weren’t for the amount of heat that a window air conditioner creates through the rear while pumping cold air out of the front.

The result will not only be canceling out the cool air with the heat, it would raise the humidity in the room and cause condensation to form all over everything around it.

Not to mention the noise from the compressor in the air conditioner would drown out all the other sounds in the room.

Obviously cutting a hose to the wall is not the easiest ideal to come to terms with.

Especially if you are talking about a wall inside of the house.

But there are all kinds of scenarios where people use storage areas and other types of rooms that don’t have windows for offices and crafting rooms for instance.

Summary

A window air conditioner can still be a windowless air conditioner if you have a wall that you can put the air conditioner through.

The stipulation is that the outside of the wall is either outdoors or is in an area where the exhaust coming out of the rear of the air conditioner will not affect anything.

Putting an air conditioner through the wall is a good solution in certain circumstances.

But obviously not for all circumstances.

Getting air conditioning into a room with no windows is a problem that requires thinking outside of the box.

Windowless Air Conditioner -What Are Some Options?

What do you do for AC when you do not have any windows?

What kind of air conditioner would qualify as a windowless air conditioner?

This is a problem that can come up when you are using a renovated basement as a living space.

It can also be an issue when you are in a room that is inside of another room.

For instance, my family recently built a separate closed in shop inside our garage to use as a crafting area and a studio area to record music and videos in.

The walls of the shop consist of a brick wall that leads to the outside, a wall that’s connected to the inside kitchen and two walls that are inside of the garage.

The air conditioning option that we decided on was to put a window air conditioner through one of the walls that leads into the garage.

It’s a good solution because we don’t use the garage much other than to park the cars and store tools and such.

And the heat that is exhausted from the window air conditioner goes into the garage. And it’s really not a problem. The condensation drips into a bucket.

That’s just one example of something that can be done to get AC into a room with no windows.

There are a few options for getting air conditioning into a room that does not have any windows.

1. Through the wall air conditioner
2. Evaporative cooling
3. Mini split AC
4. Tying in new ductwork and creating a new zone in your central heat and air set up.
5. Portable air conditioning that duct into the ceiling

1. Through the wall air conditioner.

A through the wall air conditioner can be a simple as putting a window air conditioner through the wall instead of into a window.

Another type of through the wall air conditioner is the air conditioner units that you see in a lot of hotels. These air conditioners are called PTAC air conditioning or packaged terminal air conditioning.

PTAC air conditioning require a much larger hole through the wall than a window air conditioner. But they are also commercial air conditioners that can perform well in a very large room.

The main thing you have to have for this to work is for one of the walls to be a wall that is connected to the outdoors. Or like in the example above, a wall in which you do not care whether the heat from an AC exhaust there.

Through the wall air conditioners can also be purchased as combination heater units which as you know, is perfect for the other half of the year.

2. Evaporative cooling

Evaporative coolers come in many portable styles that do not require a window to sit in or to exhaust heat out of.

But they do require frequent refills of water or a continuous water line connected into the air conditioner.

Evaporative coolers work better in dry climates. And are not a good ideal for areas that have a lot of year-round humidity.

And not the best solution if you have to carry the water long distances or up and down stairs.

But for apartments where there is less than adequate AC throughout the building, evaporative cooling is an option that doesn’t take any modifications to the walls or ceiling.

In a lot of ways, evaporative coolers are the best option for a windowless air conditioner.

3. Mini split

Mini Split air conditioners are a type of HVAC system ( central heat and air) that can be installed into a room or a whole house that doesn’t require any windows.

With this set up, there is a compressor that is installed outdoors and routed to as many rooms as you desire through external hoses.

This gives you an HVAC type effect without the cost of installing an entire HVAC system and ducting the entire house. Which can be very expensive in an already finished home.

Mini splits also give you the advantage of being able to heat the same rooms.

4. Splitting an HVAC zone

Running ductwork to a room with no windows can be an option.

This can work okay if you have a room where there are multiple vents that don’t warrant it.

In other words you have a room that doesn’t need as many vents and you want to route One to a different room.

I’ve seen this work where someone took the ducting off of one vent inside of a kitchen/dining area and extended it to reach into a garage that was modified to live in.

This left him with one vent in the kitchen, and one vent extending into the garage.

Which of course, left less cooling in the kitchen, but added cooling to the garage.

This is a fairly simple modification that will work to a certain extent.

Just don’t expect a huge result because you were basically taking the cooling from one room and cutting it in half to use it in two rooms.

Don’t expect to call in a professional for this. This is definitely a gamblers project.

But it’s a fairly simple operation that you can do yourself with some duct tape, some extra duct, a sleeve to connect to the existing duct, and a new vent for the room that you’re running the duct to.

And if you don’t get the result you want, it will be pretty easy to remove it and return it back to the way it was.

5. New HVAC zone

Adding a new zone to your existing HVAC is a possibility if you have a system that is big enough to handle the extra room.

Adding a new HVAC zone will require installing a zone control panel, new thermostats, and adding zone dampers into your existing duct.

In other words, having a professional price it and do the work for you.

6. Exhausting a portable air conditioner into the Attic.

Portable air conditioners typically require a window to exhaust the heat from the air conditioner out of.

But what if you have a windowless room that needs AC?

This idea can work if you have a room that has an attic that is connected to the ceiling.

If so, you do have the possibility of exhausting your portable air conditioner into the Attic instead of out of a window.

The Attic is an area that is generally very warm already. And usually comes with some type of vent for the hot air to escape.

So adding a little extra heat from the exhaust of a portable air conditioner is not going to be a problem.

This method will take a little bit of modification to your ceiling. Which if it’s done right, will look intentional and not add a huge eyesore to your room.

The idea is to put a vent into your ceiling and run the hose from the portable AC into the vent, instead of a window.

So finding a vent that matches the connection of the hose on your portable AC is going to be the best. Not only for what it looks like but for sealing it up.

Summing it up

Finding ideals for a windowless air conditioner can be a little bit of a challenge.

The most obvious windowless air conditioner is going to be in the evaporative cooler.

Evaporative coolers do not need a window to exhaust any heat out of.

But they do require continuous refills of water.

And they do not work too well in humid conditions.

Some other ideals to get AC into a windowless room;

1.Put a window air conditioner through the wall,

2.Use PTAC air conditioning ( hotel air conditioners)

3.Have another HVAC zone installed.

And if you like to think outside of the box,

4.You can split an existing HVAC zone,

Or exhaust a portable air conditioner into an attic instead of through a window.

Remember, any modifications you do to your ceiling are going to be there whether you end up using an ideal or not.

This article is in no way professional advice.

These are just things that I have seen done that will hopefully spark your own imagination, and help you get your windowless room cooled off during the summer.