There are a number of mediocre, brand-new air conditioners on the market. (Belief us. We’ve examined most of them.) They are often loud, inefficient, unintuitive, and infrequently glitchy—and one way or the other nonetheless value $300 or extra. If you wish to get monetary savings, we predict you’re higher off getting a used machine, so long as it’s not more than 10 years outdated.
The truth is, in our information to window air conditioners, we advocate used air conditioners as our finances choose.
There’s an environmental case for getting a used AC, too. People throw away an estimated 6 million window AC models per yr (PDF), based on the Environmental Safety Company. That’s roughly 200,000 tons of metallic, plastic, and styrofoam waste piling up yr after yr. ACs additionally comprise doubtlessly dangerous refrigerant chemical substances that require correct disposal. By shopping for a used mannequin, you’re prolonging the lifetime of a giant machine and (for a time) protecting dangerous supplies out of the atmosphere.
However don’t accept simply any outdated air conditioner. In any other case, even a free AC unit could possibly be extra problem than it’s price. Beneath, we share the best way to save your self an additional journey to the curb or recycling middle.
The place to purchase a used air conditioner
Should you’re on the hunt for a used air conditioner, in all chance there’s already somebody in your space trying to offload an outdated unit. There’s no must journey far or pay exorbitant transport prices to get a heavy piece of {hardware} delivered to your door. Plus, cash spent domestically tends to remain native, so that you’re additionally serving to your group.
For direct person-to-person gross sales
We advocate SearchTempest, which compiles listings from native sources similar to Craigslist and Fb Market, in addition to eBay and Amazon. Remember the fact that ACs bought this manner sometimes don’t include warranties. You’ll additionally must do your individual work to vet the sellers and prepare a pickup.
For an assisted or in-person purchasing expertise
BackMarket sells licensed refurbished air conditioners, which all include a one-year producer’s guarantee. Inventory is usually restricted, although.
Habitat for Humanity ReStores are positioned throughout the nation, and so they typically have fastidiously curated picks of used home equipment. (Full disclosure: My father used to handle a ReStore location.)
Your individual city or metropolis may run an AC recycling program. Even when a program can’t resell one of many models it has recycled, it’d be capable of level you to a different group group that may assist.
Native equipment shops typically promote refurbished or used air conditioners, so it’s price checking them. These shops are additionally extra prone to provide a guaranty, even when it’s quick.
Decide an AC unit that’s a decade outdated or newer
Once you’re shopping for a used AC, you’ll need to be sure to’re getting a machine that really retains you cool with out working up the electrical invoice or inflicting different issues on your residence or well being.
The primary factor to recollect: Don’t purchase something that’s greater than 10 years outdated.
Again in 2014, the US Division of Vitality carried out new laws that required most standard-size room air conditioners to attain a minimal mixed vitality effectivity ratio (CEER) of 11.0. An AC with that effectivity degree will nonetheless use near 40% extra vitality yearly than our prime AC choose, from Midea, which has a CEER of 15.0. Based mostly on present vitality costs, that distinction might value you about $16 extra per yr on common. That’s finally not a nasty trade-off for getting used! However the additional again you go earlier than these requirements had been in place, you’ll discover that AC effectivity swiftly declines, which implies much more noise and better vitality payments.
Older ACs—notably these made earlier than 2010 (PDF)—are additionally extra probably to make use of hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) refrigerants like HCFC-22 (also called R-22). Whereas these are arguably preferable to the older refrigerants that helped bore a gap within the ozone layer, HCFCs nonetheless aren’t nice for the planet, and so they have an especially excessive international warming potential. Because of this, some widespread HCFCs have additionally been unlawful (PDF) to provide inside or import to america since 2020 (with the remainder to comply with in 2030). This might pose some issues should you ever want a refrigerant refill. Most ACs could have the refrigerant kind listed on a label on the facet of the machine. Should you can’t work out how outdated the air conditioner is, or the vendor doesn’t know once they purchased it, you need to at the very least strive to ensure it doesn’t use R-22.
What else to search for
Make certain the AC matches your window. Most window air conditioners have expandable plastic facet panels, which are supposed to fill the width of your window and maintain cooled air in. Sadly, they’re vulnerable to breaking; that would make it harder to get an hermetic seal (and you would lose all that air you simply cooled). Should you don’t have hung home windows (the sort that slide up and down), chances are you’ll must go for a conveyable air conditioner. These ACs are sometimes much less environment friendly than window models and take up more room inside your house, however they provide more-flexible set up choices.
Ensure you’re getting sufficient energy. The AC unit ought to have the proper energy load to chill the scale of the room. In most conditions—like to chill a 200- to 400-square-foot room—a 6,000- or 8,000-Btu unit ought to do the trick. Should you get a much bigger AC than you want, it can nonetheless cool the room, but it surely gained’t dehumidify it correctly, leaving you feeling chilly, damp, and clammy. Nonetheless, that’s preferable to an undersize AC, which is able to run up your electrical invoice with out offering any aid from the warmth. Should you’re undecided which measurement AC you want, the EPA’s Vitality Star program has a useful chart that can assist you out.
At all times examine the filter. Each air conditioner has an air filter, and it needs to be simple to take away and clear. Take a peek at it before you purchase a unit. A dirty filter isn’t a dealbreaker by itself; a bit of cleaning soap and elbow grease ought to maintain regular mud and gunk. However should you see or scent one thing funky—similar to mould, ash, mildew—it could possibly be an indication that one thing worse is festering contained in the machine.
Ask about warranties (simply don’t anticipate to get one). Most new air conditioners include a guaranty that lasts for less than a yr or two, and it sometimes isn’t transferable to a secondhand purchaser. Nevertheless it doesn’t harm to ask the vendor, particularly should you’re shopping for from an expert used-appliance supplier. Some sellers, similar to BackMarket, provide warranties on refurbished merchandise. In fact, they may additionally cost you greater than that random dude on Craigslist. Typically that’s the trade-off.
What to keep away from
Be careful for ice. Aren’t air conditioners presupposed to make issues chilly? Sure, however the machine shouldn’t get so chilly that ice or frost begins forming on the {hardware}. Should you see this, it’s an indication of a refrigerant leak. And that spells bother. A leak will have an effect on the effectivity of your AC—so it may not cool the air in any respect—and it could possibly be poisonous and hurt you or the atmosphere.
Don’t purchase a unit with a discolored management panel. If an AC’s management panel (on the entrance) has yellowed (or browned, or greened), there’s an opportunity you would be bringing some nasty stuff into your house. (The least-worst motive for any yellowing can be that the unit is greater than 10 years outdated, so that you in all probability shouldn’t be utilizing it anyway.) Bear in mind, you’re going to be respiration the air this factor places out. And that features no matter smoke, should, or mildew remains to be trapped within it. (Should you see grime or discoloration on the a part of the AC that sits exterior the constructing, that’s regular.)
Sharp edges could possibly be a dealbreaker. Air conditioners are hefty machines that may deal with just a few dings and dents. You may in all probability cope with some damaged plastic items on the entrance grille, too. But when the metallic chassis is beat up sufficient that it has cracks or kinks, chances are you’ll need to depart it alone. They might have an effect on the seal across the window or the movement of air contained in the unit, or they may create air flow or filtration issues.
The exceptions to the sharp-edge rule are these metallic exhaust fins on the again of the unit. They’re presupposed to be sharp. However they will get flattened, bent, or acquire gunk and particles. If that occurs, it’s a simple repair. Simply scrub them clear with a wire grill brush or a can of compressed air, or fastidiously twist the blades again into form, and the air will probably be flowing usually very quickly.
This text was edited by Katie Okamoto and Harry Sawyers.