Operating Your Through The Wall Air Conditioner

A little planning before installing your through-the-wall air conditioner will save you energy and money. The wall unit should be level when installed, so that the inside drainage system and other mechanisms operate efficiently.


If possible, install the wall unit in a shaded spot on your home’s north or east side. Direct sunshine on the unit’s outdoor heat exchanger decreases efficiency by as much as 10%. You can plant trees and shrubs to shade the air conditioner, but do not block the airflow.

Don’t place lamps or televisions near your through-the-wall air-conditioner’s thermostat. The thermostat senses heat from these appliances, which can cause the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.

Set your through-the-wall air conditioner’s thermostat as high as is comfortably possible in the summer. The less difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be. Don’t set your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when you turn on your air conditioner; it will not cool your home any faster and could result in excessive cooling and unnecessary expense.

Set the fan speed on high, except on very humid days. When humidity is high, set the fan speed on low for more comfort. The low speed on humid days will cool your home better and will remove more moisture from the air because of slower air movement through the cooling equipment.

Consider using an interior fan in conjunction with your window air conditioner to spread the cooled air more effectively through your home without greatly increasing electricity use.

Tags: conditioner, cooling, Energy Efficiency of Wall Air Conditioners, Through The Wall Air Conditioners, Wall Air Conditioners

This entry was posted on Monday, August 24th, 2009 at 2:44 pm and is filed under Energy Efficiency of Wall Air Conditioners. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.