A windowless air conditioner – as its name suggests – is an air conditioner that does not require a window for venting. This isn’t exactly accurate because it does need a small hole (about four inches in diameter) through which to feed its exhaust pipe.

But a windowless unit does not take up your window space like a window air conditioner. Rather, it is a free standing unit that takes up less than two square feet of your room. Because of this, coupled with its low price and high energy efficiency, has made the windowless air conditioner very popular in recent years.

In fact, some families who have central air conditioning have decided to invest in windowless air conditioners in an effort to reduce energy consumption and lower their bills. By using a windowless unit, you can opt to keep your central air conditioner off or at least minimize how much you use it during the hottest days of summer.

There are many advantages of purchasing a windowless air conditioner. These units are a cinch to install and most of them come on wheels that allow you to move them from room to room. In other words, you could purchase only one unit and use it throughout your room.

The downside of buying a windowless unit is that they are often quite heavy. Because all of the air conditioner parts (the compressor, the fans, the coils, and the evaporator) are housed in one unit, the windowless air conditioners can weigh over 50 pounds. The other problem is that windowless units are often less efficient than window air conditioners. Some experts argue that windowless air conditioners are significantly weaker than their stated BTUs and cooling capabilities.

If you do choose to go with a windowless air conditioner, there are a few other things to keep in mind.

First, these units can do a fine job cooling one room. They just don’t pack a big enough punch to cool an entire house. It is important to keep your expectations in check if you do choose a windowless unit.

The second thing to bear in mind if you are planning to purchase a windowless unit is that they are very easy to install. Moreover, the installation is not permanent. You can install one of these units in a matter of minutes and you are also free to un-install it to you use it in different rooms as well.

Third, to determine which size windowless air conditioner you need, make sure you take measurements of the room where you plan to use it the most. You need to calculate the square footage in order to figure out how many BTUs you will need. Also, make sure you check with the manufacturer for the proper electrical requirements.

Finally, windowless air conditioners will need to be drained regularly. At the bottom of these units is a reservoir that collects excess humidity that is not dispersed through the vent. There is a valve at the bottom of the unit. You remove the stopper, tip the air conditioner back, and the water will drain out. If you live in an especially humid environment, you will have to do this fairly regularly.