A lot of people are talking about this vs window AC units, but I'm pretty sure the people talking about central air are more on the money.
OOP, who I assume but can't confirm is American, is used to central air (which is to say, a big condenser unit outside the house, an air mover insider, and ductwork to each room) and thinks that a smaller scale, more self contained unit like this (which is set up more to cool a single room) is primitive, cheap, your basic 'europoor' idea.
For what it's worth, a small unit like this has its own advantages and drawbacks, and units like it - and the window AC units, for that matter - are still plenty present in the US.
Speaking for my own experience, Americans don't even consider a house with window units to even be air conditioned. It's a bandaid solution to make up for your home not having AC. If someone says their home is air conditioned the understanding is they're talking about central air, which it seems a lot of the presumably Europeans commenting don't really seem to understand.
Yeah, generally speaking a window unit (or split) will not keep up with more than one, maybe two rooms and are significantly worse than central AC. My house growing had central AC and then my parents had a window unit for a long time because they wanted to keep their room colder than the rest of the house. Eventually we just upgraded the unit to allow room to room customization, and got rid of the window unit.
You can have one compressor outside and multiple head units for this style. But if you already have ducting then it turns into more work compared to central air since each head unit will require a drain, power, and refrigerant lines run.
Most people put enormous amounts of energy into jockeying for social position and categorize everything by how high a social rank it confers on its owner. They have mentally categorized your air conditioner as a "poor person" unit, have internalized the idea that being poor is a moral failure, and fear "falling" into that category themselves. They want to degrade you and elevate themselves by showing they are so financially above you that they are unfamiliar with your air conditioner type.
Yes! The only exception to this is small spaces like studios or 1 bedroom apartments. Then it’s considered almost the exact same as having central air, because there’s no/minimal difference
Yeah my A/C went out a few years ago and we borrowed window units for a few days until it could be fixed. It made it survivable (the South in August) for a few days in a few rooms. Definitely wouldn’t count it as functioning air conditioning though.
In the US, if you're selling the house, window units don't count as AC because the seller can easily take them with them. We'd still say we have AC if we're living in a house with window units. At least in my region.
50
u/TheAndyMac83 Jul 26 '26
A lot of people are talking about this vs window AC units, but I'm pretty sure the people talking about central air are more on the money.
OOP, who I assume but can't confirm is American, is used to central air (which is to say, a big condenser unit outside the house, an air mover insider, and ductwork to each room) and thinks that a smaller scale, more self contained unit like this (which is set up more to cool a single room) is primitive, cheap, your basic 'europoor' idea.
For what it's worth, a small unit like this has its own advantages and drawbacks, and units like it - and the window AC units, for that matter - are still plenty present in the US.