While I agree that our windows are generally superior from a functional perspective, the Americans have us beat in the fact that you can’t install a window AC unit in our windows.
Hence we get to just die in the increasingly common heat waves. Not great - we’ve got to figure this one out.
Before portable ACs are mentioned - I’ll point out that they have terrible efficiency, and connecting the tube to blow out the hot air is still terrible with European windows.
Window mounted units are still terrible for comfort. External AC unit is like 300 euro + 300 euro for installation. It’s not a big investment and you get totally silent unit. In Europe people will use portable units if it’s short term and install external one if it’s permanent.
The quoted prices I saw for installation were a lot higher, more like 700 euro, but that probably depends on the cost of labour where you are.
There are also non-monetary aspects to this issue - I’m not allowed to make any modifications to my facade on account of it being made out of asbestos, for example. I’d have to get a specialist to cut the hole to make that work. It’s also a bit tricky to fit in an outside unit - or inside unit for that matter - on my walls.
I’m in complete agreement that mini splits are superior, but the downsides do exist and need to be acknowledged.
Yep, I’m just saying that 90% of people in Europe will simply go with external AC. Where I live most new apartments simply come with central AC installed and roof top units. But that’s in southern Spain, AC is a must.
Absolutely. I’m speaking mostly from a Swedish apartment-perspective, where ACs have been optional basically forever, but the climate crisis is quickly making them more and more mandatory each year.
There are the freestanding air conditioners. They have a hose you put in the window. There are plastic seals you can buy that fit in the windows to seal off the exhaust. They aren’t perfect but they are better than nothing.
While I agree that our windows are generally superior from a functional perspective, the Americans have us beat in the fact that you can’t install a window AC unit in our windows.
Hence we get to just die in the increasingly common heat waves. Not great - we’ve got to figure this one out.
Before portable ACs are mentioned - I’ll point out that they have terrible efficiency, and connecting the tube to blow out the hot air is still terrible with European windows.
Window mounted units are still terrible for comfort. External AC unit is like 300 euro + 300 euro for installation. It’s not a big investment and you get totally silent unit. In Europe people will use portable units if it’s short term and install external one if it’s permanent.
The quoted prices I saw for installation were a lot higher, more like 700 euro, but that probably depends on the cost of labour where you are.
There are also non-monetary aspects to this issue - I’m not allowed to make any modifications to my facade on account of it being made out of asbestos, for example. I’d have to get a specialist to cut the hole to make that work. It’s also a bit tricky to fit in an outside unit - or inside unit for that matter - on my walls.
I’m in complete agreement that mini splits are superior, but the downsides do exist and need to be acknowledged.
Yep, I’m just saying that 90% of people in Europe will simply go with external AC. Where I live most new apartments simply come with central AC installed and roof top units. But that’s in southern Spain, AC is a must.
Absolutely. I’m speaking mostly from a Swedish apartment-perspective, where ACs have been optional basically forever, but the climate crisis is quickly making them more and more mandatory each year.
Mini split heat pumps.
All you need is a 3cm hole in the wall to run a refrigerant line from the outside heat pump unit to the wall unit.
Window AC units are pretty poor efficiency too, IIRC
What if I can’t make a 3cm hole cuz I’m a rentoid?
There are the freestanding air conditioners. They have a hose you put in the window. There are plastic seals you can buy that fit in the windows to seal off the exhaust. They aren’t perfect but they are better than nothing.
And this is a thread about how those won’t work with European windows
I live in Europe, have one, and they work just fine thank you. They just don’t put the whole unit in the window. See here
That looks like shit
Okay but still beats having useless us style windows everywhere.
Integrated AC ftw bebeh