Unlike most folks, I have really taken a liking to window ACs. When I had central air, I spent over a grand a year to keep it running. Considering the increase in prices these days, I would not be at all surprised if it’s pushing 2 grand a year.

Roughly 5 years ago, I bought a 12 thousand BTU unit that lasted 5 year. I pulled it out and put it at the curb. My guess is that someone cleaned it up and now has a perfectly good unit that will last another 4 or 5 years.

Those window units are really built well. Some just might last forever but for the dust.

I put a new 8 thousand BTU unit in for about 5 hundred. I was

afraid it wouldn’t carry the load, but, with my age, 12 thousand BTU units are just too heavy for me.

So now the unit is being tested as the temp is hitting 95 daily. I am impressed. During the heat of the day, it runs about 75% of the time and keeps us comfortable.

My guess is that it also uses about a quarter the power of a 2 ton central unit.

There is a side benefit. When I finish working in the yard and come in really hot, I sit in front of the AC 15 minutes and I’m recovered. Can’t do that with central air.

Maybe one of these years, they will start making central units as reliable as window units. However, I’m not going to count on it.