How to make your dumb window air conditioner smart
Andrew Walker
Updated on March 20, 2026
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There are plenty of smart and affordable air conditioners that connect directly to your home’s Wi-Fi and can be controlled remotely via app. But what if you already own a perfectly good window unit that you want to make a bit smarter?
I had this exact problem with the compact Frigidaire window unit I’ve owned since 2016. It still works perfectly and is the ideal size for a studio apartment or small bedroom — but it only has two settings: high or low, and on or off.
In The Before Times, I felt wasteful leaving it on while at work, but I hated coming home to a swelteringly hot apartment after a long day. At night I’d either wake up freezing from the chilled air blowing on me for hours, or I’d be a sweaty mess from trying to keep it off the entire night.
I needed a solution that would make my old window unit work the way centralized AC does. That’s when I discovered the Sensibo Sky, a smart AC controller that turns any air conditioner into a smart air conditioner.
Sensibo works by connecting to your home’s Wi-Fi and intercepting your air conditioner’s infrared remote control system. In turn, the Sensibo app on your phone replaces the remote that came with your window AC, so you can control it from anywhere, anytime.
Sensibo has a built-in thermometer to regulate the temperature and has geofencing so it can turn off and on when you leave for work and arrive home. It’s also smart device-compatible, so you can simply ask Alexa, Siri or Google to adjust the temperature. (A handy capability for when you’re cozied up for bed and want to turn the air conditioning down for the evening).
Finally having the ability to control my air conditioning remotely and regulate the temperature solves a lot of problems, but what I find most useful is that it saves my wallet.
The Sensibo Sky system is about $120 on Amazon, but I found that it’ll practically pay for itself by the end of the summer with how much it trims from the electric bill.
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If you’re spending a lot more time at home thanks to Covid-19, the ability to control your appliances with your phone (or your voice) has likely become a lot more appealing. But you don’t necessarily have to replace all your gadgets with expensive smart versions to get those enhanced features — you might be able to retrofit them with affordable smart bridges — and while useful, that applies to much more than the ubiquitous smart plug. Here are a few ways to make your old tech smarter.
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Shopping Smart home tech on a budget? Here’s what to know about Wyze
Intelligently toggle any plug-in gadget with the TP-Link Kasa Smart Plug
If you have a device that plugs into the wall and uses a physical switch to turn on and off, you might be able to control it with a simple adapter like the Kasa Smart Plug Mini. (To see whether your device will work with a smart plug, just turn it on, unplug it, and plug it back in — if it turns back on without you touching the switch, you’re good to go).
The possibilities are nearly endless: You can set your coffee maker to turn on at a specific time, automate your humidifier or tell Alexa to turn on your box fan when it gets too hot. Kasa’s outdoor plug is great for things like backyard fountains and their power strip can control multiple devices from one outlet.
So you’ve started to think about moving toward making your multifamily building smart — but how can window air conditioning units fit into the equation? As it turns out, traditional window and through the wall AC units have much more to offer towards creating an intelligent system than most realize.
Up to now, users had to make the decision between leaving the AC on all day when no one is there, or coming home to a hot apartment and waiting hours for it to cool down. Which do they choose, comfort or waste? But now, buildings with those old units can be utilized in a much better way, with the simple addition of a load control module that connects to Embue’s smart thermostat via secure wireless connection to Embue’s building-wide mesh network.
Once connected, the unit can be monitored and controlled by building staff via Embue Super, unlocking a whole new realm of control over the unit and ensuring ideal, consistent temperatures while reducing energy waste. If desired, residents can even be given remote access via the Embue Remote app to ensure comfort, allowing them to turn their AC on shortly before arriving home, so residents can come home to a pre-cooled room, without wasting energy. For those residents who pay for electricity, this is a great solution. And Embue’s occupancy-prediction machine learning algorithms can sense whether residents are home or not, and turn the system on or off accordingly. It can also adapt to users’ schedules, turning on shortly before they arrive home.
This upgrade is applicable to all buildings with window AC units, including affordable and student housing. Air conditioning units are second only to heating as the most expensive appliance to run in the home, so making them more efficient is one of the first steps towards achieving a fully smart energy system that saves money, lowers energy usage, reduces carbon emissions and improves resident comfort and satisfaction.
With high temperatures and humidity levels that summer brings, you simply cannot deal with air conditioning problems. Moreover, nobody wants high energy costs! So, you might be wondering if there exists another way to cool down.
Well, you can opt for a DIY air conditioner!
While nothing beats the ice-cold air from an HVAC unit, a homemade air conditioner can help take the edge off on a hot day.
The best part: A homemade air conditioner only costs a few dollars and can be put together in a couple of hours at max!
This blog will show you how to make an air conditioner yourself using everyday items from around your house. So whether you are dealing with summer power outages (link) or just love simple DIY projects, this guide has you covered.
1. Styrofoam Air Conditioning
To create a DIY styrofoam air conditioner, all you need is a styrofoam box with a lid, a fan, and ice for this homemade air conditioner. As the ice melts away, you will feel the cool breeze coming your way!
Materials Required
- Polystyrene box
- Fan
- 2 small PVCs with a 90-degree bend
- Knife
- Ice cubes or frozen bottles
How to DIY Styrofoam Air Conditioning
- Gather all your materials.
- Place the small fan at the center of the box lid and trace around it for an opening.
- Use a knife to cut out the designated area.
- Take your 2 PVC pipes and place each on either side of the fan cutout. Again, trace the outline and take their cutouts.
- Insert the pipes in their relative places.
- Set aside the lid and move on to filling the box with ice cubes or frozen bottles.
- Put the lid back on and insert the fan in its place.
- Switch on the fan and tada, you’re all set with cool air coming your way from the PVC pipes. The more the ice, the longer your cooling will last.
2. Milk Carton Air Conditioner
Working from home is convenient until your home air conditioner dies down. Well, don’t fret, you can try making this super easy DIY air conditioner that requires a few supplies you already have on hand.
It is not designed to cool your entire room but can be a great option to place on your desk and enjoy the direct cool air while you work.
Materials Required
- Computer fan
- 12 AC adapter
- Knife
- Glue gun
- Milk carton
- Pen
- Shrink tube
- Ice cubes
How to DIY A Milk Carton AC
- Place the milk carton horizontally on a table.
- Put the computer fan at the bottom. Make an outline around the fan.
- Take a knife and make a cut around that outline.
- Then take the computer fan and insert it into the cutout of the milk carton.
- Seal all the gaps around the computer fan using a glue gun.
- After that, wire the computer fan to a 12-volt AC adaptor.
- Take ice cubes and fill the carton with them. You will require small, slender ice cubes to fit the opening of the carton.
You will feel the cold air blowing in no time!
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3. Fan & Ice Air Conditioner
Want to chill back and enjoy the benefits of air conditioning without hefty bills? You can try this DIY air conditioner with a fan. It requires a few simple items and the best part is that you can also use it to cool an entire room. You will just have to replace the desk fan with a pedestal fan for a larger area.
Materials Required
- 2 plastic bottles
- Small desk fan or pedestal fan
- Cutter
- Metal wire
- Plastic strap
- Soldering iron (optional)
How to DIY Fan Air Conditioner
- Take 2 plastic bottles and slice them halfway from the wider end to create an opening to insert your ice cubes.
- Take a soldering iron and punch multiple holes on the sides of the bottle at an equal distance.
- Insert a metal wire in the holes and create a mesh inside the bottles.
- Take a plastic strap or thin metal wire and attach the bottles to the fan. Keep the opening side up and the bottle cap facing the floor.
- Fill the bottles with the ice cubes.
Turn on the fan for a cool, breezy effect! You can release the melted water by placing a cup underneath and opening the bottle cap.
4. Copper Coil Air Conditioner
Copper coil air conditioner is a great air conditioning option for smaller areas. It uses an electric water pump used in aquariums which pumps the water through the coils.
Materials Required
- Aquarium pump
- Ice cooler
- 20 feet copper tubing
- 10 feet plastic tubing
- Ice cubes
- Hose clamps
- Small fan
How to DIY Copper Coil AC
- Start by adding copper tubing to the fan grid which is the outer casing of the fan. You basically have to form loops around the protective grid. Leave 1 or 2 feet of extra tubing at both ends.
- Secure the copper tubes with zip ties on four sides of the fan grid.
- Attach the loose ends of the copper tubes with the plastic tubes and secure them with hose clamps.
- Now attach one end of the plastic tube with the pump.
- Then insert the pump and another half of the plastic tube into the cooler.
- Add cold water and ice cubes to the cooler.
- Turn on the pump and check if water is running through the tubing.
And you have it! Turn on the fan and enjoy the cool air from your homemade copper coil aircon!
Make Your AC Smart
Cielo Breez Plus
Industry Best in Class Smart AC Controller with Local Controls
Is there a way to turn on my window air-conditioning units from my office, so my house isn’t hot when I get home?
If you had central air, the answer would be easy: Install a smart thermostat such as the Nest or Honeywell Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat. But even if you don’t have central HVAC, you can still control window air conditioners from afar, so you always arrive home at the end of a sweltering summer day to a comfortable and cool house.
To pull it off, you’ll need to plug your air conditioner into a smart outlet, which, in turn, plugs into your regular outlet. These can be controlled over the Internet via your smartphone or from Web portals. We like Belkin’s Wemo Switch (in spite of its name) for its compatibility with If This Then That (IFTTT), an automating service, and ThinkEco’s Modlet, which is used by some utility companies for demandresponse programs. As long as your a/c unit isn’t an industrial-size behemoth that requires 220 to 250 volts, and as long as it has either a manual control knob or, if it has digital controls, can restart after a power outage, it should work fine. Both Belkin and Modlet have smartphone apps that pair with their respective switches and let you flip them on and off from anywhere. Keep in mind that you must leave your a/c on for either smart switch to work, since it turns the entire outlet on and offstopping and starting the flow of electricitynot the specific device. (The same is true for other appliances, such as lights, that you plug into the Wemo.)
It has never been this easy to maintain your ideal temperature while simultaneously reducing electric bills
- Viber
- Viber
The Benefits of a Smart HVAC System
The world is going smart and smarter with every passing day. Smart devices offer improved performance, increased efficiency, and a tension-free life.
It’s time that you go smart with your air conditioning too!
Smart HVAC systems offer automated cooling and heating controls, improving your lifestyle with increased convenience and comfort.
Read on to find out how you can turn any dumb air conditioner smart and the benefits of having a smart HVAC system.
How to Make Your HVAC System Smart?
If owning a smart HVAC system sounds like a dream to you because they’re way out of your budget, then we’re here with a budget-friendly solution.
You might not own a smart HVAC system, but we’re sure you have an ordinary air conditioning unit in your home. Now, guess what? You can make your HVAC system smart by pairing it with a smart device.
Yes, you read that right!
You can pair your central air conditioning unit with a smart thermostat and your portable, mini-split, or window air conditioner with a smart AC controller . These devices are compatible with almost all AC brands and are way cheaper than a new smart HVAC system.
Smart controllers enable your dumb air conditioner to perform all the functions of a smart air conditioner and even more. They also let you control your AC from anywhere, anytime using your phone and set really cool automated commands.
Benefits of Having a Smart HVAC System
If you’re still confused about what good a smart HVAC system has to offer, then we’ll jump straight to the benefits it provides.
1. Low Energy Costs
Even before summers arrive, homeowners become more worried about the increased electric bills than the scorching heat of the sun. With a smart HVAC system, you can greatly reduce your air conditioning bills.
Smart AC units offer features such as geofencing and weekly scheduling that prevent your air conditioner from running at all times. Additionally, Comfy Mode allows users to set temperature or humidity triggers. Using these features, your air conditioner runs at the lowest possible setting without compromising efficiency.
If we talk in numbers, then smart controllers can save you as much as 25% energy costs each year. These energy savings are achieved by reducing the power at which your AC unit runs and setting the lowest possible setting to achieve your set temperature by optimizing different operating modes.
With this much saving, a smart AC controller would cover its own price in less than a year. Therefore, you won’t regret this investment at all.
2. Increased Efficiency
After reading about the energy savings offered by a smart HVAC system, you must be wondering that all these savings would mean a compromised cooling on a hot day. No, you’re totally wrong!
Smart AC units do not stop working to amplify your savings. Instead, they work intelligently.
Let’s consider a scenario! When summer is at its peak, you might want to leave your AC on all day so that you don’t come to a burning room temperature after a hectic day. Even if you don’t leave it on, you’d have to run it in full swing to regulate the temperature when you get back.
However, if you own a smart HVAC system, your air conditioner would know your location and turn it on minutes before you arrive home. This way, you won’t ever return to a hot, humid environment after a tiring day at work.
Moreover, location-based controls turn your AC off when you leave your home in case you forget to do so manually.
3. Better Control
Smart HVAC systems make your life super convenient. With the help of automated modes, you don’t have to change the temperatures throughout the day.
The best part is that you can set schedules and forget about changing temperatures at all. You can set weekly or daily schedules. Your air conditioner will be set to your desired settings before your go to bed, before you wake up or before you get back home.
If you have kids or pets at home, you can control the temperature remotely through the app using your smartphone.
Not just that, but if you always struggle to maintain indoor humidity levels, then using a smart controller, you can even set humidity triggers.
If you own a vacation rental, you can use Freeze Protection mode to prevent your pipes from bursting during extreme weather conditions.
4. Comfortable Environment
If you have to reach out for the AC remote every now and then because it either gets too hot or too cold, then owning a smart HVAC system will change your life. Smart ACs can read the room temperature and learn your preferences over time, making changes on their own to maintain your ideal indoor temperature .
Moreover, using smart controllers, you can create different zones. Zones allow you to have personalized temperature settings for different rooms as per the individual needs of your family members.
A smart HVAC system can be paired with your smart home systems like Amazon Alexa, Google Home, or Samsung SmartThings providing connectivity with other smart home devices and even voice-control compatibility. This way, different smart home devices can work in conjunction with each other.
5. Reduced Carbon Footprint
Air conditioners use 6% of the overall energy produced in the US, releasing approximately 117 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the air each year. With the effects of climate change and increased temperatures every year, the number is only growing.
This is an alarming situation and requires our active role to reduce our carbon footprint. True that smart ACs also contribute towards carbon emissions, but since air conditioning cannot be eliminated from our lives, at least at this point, we can only work to reduce its usage. Smarts HVAC systems offer great help in this regard.
Unlike conventional ACs, they can be programmed to run only when needed saving a lot of energy and carbon emission.
It goes without saying that smart HVAC systems take your lifestyle to another level. It has never been this easy to maintain your ideal temperature while simultaneously reducing electric bills. We’re sure after reading this article you’re all set to make your life easy by owning a smart HVAC system.
These AC window seals allow you to properly vent your air conditioner without having to leave a window open.
Home climate control has never been easier. With so many different types of air conditioners for your home on the market, you shouldn’t have an uncomfortable day, ever. However, portable AC units and some window units leave large gaps in our windows.
Needing to vent outside, unless you have a single hung window, you may be out of luck. Until now. This article will compare and review the various types of air conditioner window seals.
These AC window seals allow you to properly vent your air conditioner without having to leave a window open or be exposed to the elements. Read on to learn more.
Quick Guide – Our Top Picks
Best for Casement & Awning Window
Our Top Pick
Best for Slide & Hung Windows
6 Best Air Conditioner Window Seals Reviewed
In this section, we compare the 6 best air conditioner window seals, reviewed and rated just for you. Each type has distinct advantages (and disadvantages). Scroll through the list and find the best fit for your AC and window.
1. HOOMEE Universal Window Seal
- NO MORE HOT AIR INCOMES – HOOMEE window.
- INCREASE COOLING PERFORMANCE – Enjoy a.
- REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION – HOOMEE loves the.
- EASY TO INSTALL – NO NEED FOR DRILLING.
Our top pick for best air conditioner window seal is the HOOMEE Universal window seal. This cloth window seal is weather-resistant and waterproof to give you even better control.
You can install it with the included adhesive strip and hook loop fasteners. You won’t need to buy or use any other system to keep your portable AC hoses inline and venting outside. With a double zipper, this model also accommodates ACs with dual vent hoses.
While it is a universal fit, you still need to get the right size for your window. This particular model comes in 4 different sizes. The dimensions are measured as the circumference (in centimeters) around your window.
The standard size is 300cm, but they also offer a 400 and 560cm window unit and a 36 x 83 inch model for use around doors.
The cloth material and waterproof zipper prevent warm air, insects, and weather from entering your home while in use. Best of all, you don’t need to remove the system to use the window.
If you decide you don’t want to use the AC, you can remove the hoses, open the zippers and use your window as usual.
It also collapses when you close the window, so there is no need to remove it. This fit will work on casement, single and double-hung windows, as well as top or bottom mount skylights, awning windows, and doors.
Published August 3, 2020
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It is a timeworn custom of mine that, after enduring a few weeks of the inferno that is high summer in New York City, when the scorched streets shimmer with heat and a funky reek blankets the air, I tear my hair and rage at myself for not living in a place with central air conditioning. Like many other city dwellers, I depend instead on a ragtag band of window air conditioners, but running from room to room turning them on and off all day and night in hopes of not being bankrupted by the power company is a full-time job. As with many other modern conveniences, however, it turns out that you can use a few easy smart-home tricks—automated actions like Routines and Schedules—to make these machines more efficiently and comfortably cool your home by mimicking a whole-home system. (And yes, you can enlist Alexa’s help, too.)
If, like me, you already own several window units, the quickest path to smartening them up is simply to buy a smart plug-in outlet (also called a smart plug or smart switch) for each unit. You can find tons of models to choose from, but be sure to buy only the kind that is capable of handling the often high amperage draw of an AC unit—we like Wemo smart plugs for that reason (and a lot of other reasons; you can see them all in our guide to the best plug-in smart outlets). Once you set your smart switches up with your smartphone, you plug your ACs in and turn them on—and then the smart-home magic begins. At the most basic level, you can turn any or all of your ACs on and off, from anywhere you like, using a smartphone app. In fact, you can also use your voice to do that, via your phone or any smart speaker—Amazon Echo, Apple HomePod, or Google Nest. You can’t adjust the temperature or change the cooling modes this way, but you can preset your ACs to a specific setting so that they cool each room to its own temperature. (That’s usually impossible with central air, but a mini-split system can pull it off.)
You can also have all your switches react to the same command at once by going into the smartphone app and connecting them together as a Group; or you might even make a few Groups, called Upstairs and Downstairs, for instance, or Bedrooms. That way you can turn a select bunch of devices on or off all at once rather than individually.
A step up from controlling your ACs one at a time or as a Group is to automate your plug-in outlets so that each AC runs more or less on its own, without your needing to turn devices on and off at all. Using the smartphone app (or a compatible smart-home platform like Alexa, Apple’s HomeKit, or Google Assistant, among many others) you can create a Schedule, which is like the digital version of a traditional lighting timer: You set the switch to turn on and off at specific times throughout the day. That way you might have one Group of ACs turn on during the day, have the Bedroom Group of ACs turn on an hour before bed, and then have them turn off again in the middle of the night. But wait—we’re just getting started!
Things get even more sophisticated if you incorporate Routines (using Alexa) or Automations (using Apple HomeKit), which are automated actions based on a host of other factors: the time of day, the temperature, motion, other smart devices, your location, and so on. Using the Alexa app or Apple Home app, in about a minute you can set things up so that your smart switches turn off when you leave the house and turn back on when you return. Using Alexa you can create custom voice commands, as well. When I walk in the house and it’s hotter than Hades, I can choose the nuclear option: I bellow “Alexa, chill this house out,” all four AC units kick on, and Alexa responds with “Keeping things cool like Fonzie.” Correctamundo!
Smart plugs are the simplest option, but for a more permanent setup you might consider installing a smart electrical outlet, which functionally works the same but is more streamlined and less likely to get unplugged accidentally (we don’t have a pick in this category yet, but we have used an iDevices model with both Alexa and HomeKit, and it works well).
And if you haven’t already purchased a window AC or are looking to upgrade, you can now find several models that have smart capabilities built in. We especially like the Midea smart window AC, which you can fully control— including altering the temperature and cooling mode—by remote through its smartphone app but also through voice or Routines in Alexa. See our guide to the best air conditioners for a full rundown of its performance.
Until a few years back, no one had imagined that your mobile phone would be used for almost anything other than simple phone calls and text messages. But in the present day, your smartphone is much more than just a regular voice-call device! It’s everything that you need in this advanced world of technology.
You can achieve total connectivity now only with a few taps on your smartphone. This connectivity is not only with friends and family but is now also possible with home appliances! From smart switches and lights to washing machines and air conditioners, home appliances have become easy to reach from anywhere, at any time, all thanks to modern technology and IoT. The air conditioning industry is not left behind in this digital revolution and lies at the forefront of introducing smart cooling or heating to households across the world.
Functions such as turning your air conditioner or heat pump on/off, selecting between different operating modes, changing temperatures, etc., can all now be performed easily using your smartphone. But this is not all, apart from the convenience brought about by these simple features you can utilize advanced triggers and put your heating or cooling on auto-pilot! This means that you can set location-based controls, weekly scheduling, intelligent modes, and more to help save energy and enhance your comfort! Moreover, you can connect your air conditioner to smart home platforms for voice control and enhanced automation!
Wondering how all this is done? You can either purchase a smart air conditioner or make a very small investment in smart AC controllers such as Cielo Breez smart AC controllers and convert any mini-split, portable, or window air conditioner into a smart AC!
Smart AC Controllers: Make Any Air Conditioner Smart
As evident from the name, smart AC controllers convert your previously “dumb” air conditioner to a “smart” air conditioner. They allow your air conditioner to connect to your WiFi network, and be controlled through your Android phone or any smartphone instead of a regular remote control. They also enable you to set intelligent cooling or heating commands!
Functioning as a bridge between the air conditioner and your Android smartphone, a smart AC controller connects to your AC through infrared, while it “talks” to the smartphone over WiFi. The commands are sent over to the controller through a free and user-friendly mobile application.
The Bridge: Android Mobile App
The point of contact between a user and the air conditioner is the mobile app. For the Cielo Breez range of devices, the Cielo Home app enables smart air conditioning controls. The app is available for free on the Google Play Store! It is easy to use and helps set intelligent modes and triggers. Moreover, you can also track your air conditioner’s usage and receive notifications when it’s time for maintenance.
Cielo Breez Smart AC Controllers – Features and Benefits
Cielo Breez Plus with on-device local controls and Cielo Breez Eco the more economical option, are your best choices for comfortable home cooling and heating with a ductless unit!
Stay Comfortable with Comfy Mode
An important feature of the Cielo ecosystem is the Comfy Mode . It helps achieve your desired room temperature and humidity levels. You can simply input your desired range and sit back and relax while your AC automatically turns on and off to maintain the perfect temperature. This also greatly helps save energy as your air conditioner does not run unnecessarily. Inbuilt sensors detect current room conditions, and if they fall above or below the specified range, Cielo Breez controllers command the air conditioner to operate as per pre-set modes to keep the room environment stable.
As an example, the comfy mode can be set between 72 and 76 o F. If the temperature goes below 72 o F, the AC turns off, and if above 76 o F, it can into cooling mode. Fan speed, specific mode, swing position, and even schedules can be altered within the comfy mode. The procedure for maintaining comfortable humidity levels is exactly the same.
Making Life Easier with Weekly Scheduling
The week-long schedules with the Cielo Home app let you configure your air conditioning for the whole week at one time, and then allow you to be carefree! Schedules can be set up to run along with comfy mode to achieve ultimate convenience.
For instance, you can have a schedule to operate your AC in fan mode at 7 AM, just as you get up in the morning. Progressing through the day, the AC can be set up to cool down your house to 76 degrees until 6 PM. You can similarly set your preferences for the temperature of your choice for evenings and bedtime!
Let Your Air Conditioner Know Where You Are with Geofencing
Location-based controls operate the air conditioner based on your proximity to your home or any place where you have installed Cielo controllers. Through your Android smartphone, the controller knows how far you are from your air conditioner. If you step out of your home without turning your AC off, the controller will do that for you.
Similarly, you can command your AC to turn on automatically upon return when you are only 3 miles away. This allows you to save energy and have the best home temperature.
Everything in One Place with Smart Home Integration
Building a smart home and wish to turn on multiple appliances at once? You can easily integrate Cielo controllers with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Siri Shortcuts, and Samsung SmartThings. This allows you to control your air conditioner with voice commands and routines/skills.
Enjoy Savings by Reducing Energy Consumption
You can save up to 25% on your energy bills by using Cielo Breez smart AC controllers. These reductions in utility bills are achieved by using intelligent controllers to not waste electricity. You can achieve the perfect room climate by using minimal energy!
Thanks to in-built sensors, the controller knows when the temperature is getting too hot or too cold, and when the desired point is achieved, it adjusts the AC accordingly, thus saving energy.
Easy Access and Simple to Use
Cielo Breez controllers take less than two minutes to set up using your Android phone. You easily view important information using the Cielo Home app and even make zones to group multiple air conditioners together.
Cielo Home app’s main screen presents important information at a glance to the user. It shows the different air conditioners that are registered against the user account, their current status, and also different zones, which can be made throughout the home. By tapping on the specific AC you want to modify, you can enter a much more detailed menu from where you can change each and every setting as per your desire.
Enjoy Comfort and Convenience!
Making your air conditioner WiFi compatible will allow you to automate indoor temperature! Through Cielo Breez smart AC controllers, you can have not only have access to global controls but also numerous intelligent features to control your home climate! Make your air conditioner smart for energy savings and complete comfort.
We look at how to quiet a noisy window air conditioner and provide useful tips about checking the decibels of your unit and how to soundproof it.
A little bit of white noise from a window air conditioner is completely normal, but if your unit is excessively noisy, it can be disruptive and annoying. Also, it could be an indicator of a potential problem that needs to be addressed.
This is a common problem with window air conditioners, whether you have a large unit or a smaller sized window AC, but thankfully, there are some things you can try to quiet the noise.
In this article, we’ll be looking at how to quiet a noisy window air conditioner and provide useful tips about checking the decibels of your unit, how to soundproof it, and how to know when it’s time for a replacement.
Understanding Air Conditioner Decibel Levels
In order to work out if there is a problem with your window air conditioner, you first need to work out how loud the noise actually is. To do this, you can take a decibel measurement for your unit when it is switched on. Learning about how window air conditioners work is also recommended as you will understand which parts are making noise.
Decibels are measured using a logarithmic system. This means that each addition of 10 decibels doubles the loudness of a noise. For example, if your air conditioner emits a 60-decibel noise, it is 2x as loud as one that emits a 50-decibel noise.
The average air conditioner makes around 40 decibels of noise. Some air conditioners can be as quiet as 25 decibels or as loud as 55 decibels.
Although window air conditioners can sometimes be at the top end of this range, if your air conditioner is making noise that exceeds 50-60 decibels, it could be an indication that something isn’t quite right with your unit.
Measuring the decibel level of your air conditioner is pretty easy. You can download smartphone apps that do it for you. Here are some examples of apps you could use:
Most Common Loud AC Noises & Their Causes
- Banging and Clanking Sounds
Banging or clanking usually indicates that there is a loose part within the system. Identifying which part is loose can be a little tricky without contacting a professional. Banging sounds could mean a loose rod or piston, and clanking could be caused by a loose or faulty compressor. Clicking Sounds
A little clicking sound from your aircon here and there is nothing to worry about, but if it is making a clicking sound regularly, then it could be a sign that there is a fault. Usually, clicking sounds mean there is a problem with the thermostat. Humming Sounds
Humming is a fairly common sound for air conditioners to make, and all window air conditioners will hum quietly while turned on. However, if the hum is louder than usual, it could be a sign that there is a loose part in the unit or that there is an electrical issue. Rattling Sounds
Loud rattling sounds coming from the air conditioner are a cause for concern and should be addressed as soon as possible. They are usually a sign that wear and tear is causing parts to become loose or that the internal fan is hitting other parts within the unit. Screaming Sounds
Screaming or whistling sounds from window air conditioners are extremely common, and the most likely cause is a refrigerant leak. Refrigerant leaks can be quite dangerous, so it’s a good idea to discontinue use until you can get it fixed by a professional. Popping Sounds
Popping sounds coming from your window AC unit could be due to condensation or ice forming on the coils. This may be because the thermostat is set too low. It could also be caused by a drainage issue. Water Sounds
Water sounds coming from inside your air conditioning unit are usually nothing to worry about. Air conditioners remove the moisture from the warm air drawn in from the outside as they cool it. This water is then collected and evaporated, but as it evaporates, you may hear sloshing or splashing noises. Squealing Sounds
When you first turn your air conditioner on, a slight squealing sound is normal. However, if this persists, it could indicate a motor issue or a problem with the blower.
Does Your Window Air Conditioner Let in Outside Noise?
Although there can be a variety of reasons your AC unit is making noise, it could be the case that the noise you are hearing is actually coming from outside the window through the aircon unit.
Think about it, if you took out any style window air-con unit, what would you be left with? A great big hole that noise can easily pass through.
Window air conditioners with light frames are notorious for letting in outdoor noises. If you suspect the noise is coming from outside your home rather than inside your unit, there are some things you can do.
Firstly, you could try covering the frame around the unit with insulated foam. Squeezing the foam into any gaps around the unit will help to reduce the outdoor noise being let in. Additionally, you can cover the unit itself with insulating foam to reduce noise that is seeping in through the unit itself.
However, both of these methods only work when the AC is off. When you have the AC running, the foam will need to be removed so that the unit can access the air from the outside properly.
How To Quiet A Noisy Window Air Conditioner (Soundproofing Tips)
A noisy air conditioner doesn’t have to be the end of the world, and if you just want a good night’s sleep, there are some things you can try to rectify the problem. Aside from the foam panel option we mentioned above, here are some steps you can take to try and quiet a noisy window air conditioner.
Check the Installation
If you want to know how to quiet a noisy air conditioner, the first step you should take is to check the unit installation. Poor installation can cause noise to leak in from outside, but it can also cause unwanted vibrations and rattling. Use a spirit level to check if the unit is level and also check if there are any gaps unnecessary gaps.
Another way to reduce any rattling or squeaking sounds is to tighten the screws on the air conditioner unit. You can tighten the screws using a screwdriver, but be careful not to over-tighten them, as this can cause damage to the window frame.
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- Screws
- Window sash lock
- Scissors
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Will This Work With My Window?
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There are now a few HomeKit-enabled window mounted air conditioners on the market, but what about the millions of installed and working dumb air conditioners already in homes and apartments? Does it make sense to trash a perfectly good air conditioner just to get a smart one?
Perhaps! But an Israeli-based company called Sensibo has a quicker/easier/better solution. For most air conditioners with a remote, the Sensibo Sky is will add an app/web controlled and timer equipped thermostat to your air conditioner in minutes, and today it is $99 as part of Amazon’s Prime Day.
Sensibo Sky Hardware
The Sensibo unit is a 5V/1A micro USB powered dongle that is placed near or on the legacy air conditioner. Inside, it has a Wi-Fi chip to connect it to the web and an infrared output to control your air conditioner. It also contains temperature and humidity sensors to guide its thermostat features. On the bottom is a double-sided tape-like surface that will affix it to your air conditioner or somewhere nearby.
Sensibo App
Sensibo is available for iOS or Android and even has a web app if you want to control it from your Mac/PC/Chromebook. That’s a nice touch for those of us that don’t want to leave the desktop to control our IoT devices. The app isn’t beautiful, but it is very easy to use and understand.
Sensibo Set Up
Set up was fairly easy and more importantly straightforward. I generally rate devices where I don’t need to look at an instruction booklet much higher than ones that require following pages and pages of reading. Here’s how it goes down.
- Plug in the Sensibo to the Wall – a blue light will start blinking, install the app and open it, create an account.
- The app will ask you to take a picture of the small 2D code on the back or enter a 10 digit code
- You’ll then set it to use your local Wi-Fi connection
- You’ll need to identify the remote control by pointing it at the Sensibo or identify the AC model number from a list. (I chose the list option which worked on my LG AC)
- Set up preferences like geo location where the AC turns on automatically when you get home, high and low temperatures and voice support.
Sensibo Homekit/Alexa/Google Home support?
Official Sensibo Sky HomeKit support is coming around the holidays according to Sensibo or via third-party now. It supports Amazon Alexa or Google Home out of the box. I didn’t try the HomeKit hack since I have both Google Home and Alexa in my house, but if you want to use Siri to control your AC this summer, you’ll need to use HomeBridge. I’m definitely going to hook up HomeKit for next year.
Conclusion:
I wasn’t really looking for smart support in my remote office/cottage. When it is hot I just turn my AC on and I try to turn it off when I leave.
However after just a week of Sensibo, I’m already loving the advantages:
- With the thermostat feature I can put in my comfort range, even if it is just a few degrees, and don’t have to worry about adjusting the AC every few minutes.
- I have now set it to turn on when I get close geographically so I don’t even need to really think about it.
- When I want to get the place primed on a particularly hot day, I just bring up the app and turn it on.
- Boy is this thing going to save me time and money. I imagine it will pay for itself in a season or two. How? By turning off when I’m not in the office, not overcooling and allowing me to remotely turn it on and off instead of just letting it run all day.
Some things that could use some improvement:
- I wasn’t initially able to set up the AC by pointing a remote at it. That needs to be improved. It was easy however just to select my make from a list and have it work instantly.
- HomeKit ASAP. “December 2018” is OK but I want HomeKit out of the box.
- More integrated than a dongle. I’m not in love with how this looks in my place (below).
Sensibo Sky $99 at Amazon Prime Day only. Be sure to check out more Amazon Prime Day Specials.
Window Air Conditioner Security
How to secure a window AC unit…
During the summer months, window AC security is important. When the weather warms up, it’s time to install your window air conditioners. But they can become a target for burglars.
A burglar could get into your home through a window after pushing in the air conditioner on the 1st-floor. Or the burglar might just steal it!
Here’s what you can do about it. I’m going to list a number of tips and things you can do to help with window air conditioner security.
Read on for several up-to-date suggestions!
Screw the Top Mounting Rail Window AC unit into Sash
This works for wood windows (see below for vinyl or metal), and other options.
Most window air conditioners are installed and simply held in place by gravity. It’s tucked behind the window sash which keeps it from falling out. Maybe there’s a small screw holding the top rail and a few on the side for the accordion side-panels.
Many people don’t even install a single support screw into the top rail because the air conditioner is held in place by gravity and its downward force against the window sash. Good enough, right?
So, what can you do to better secure your window air-conditioner?
At least install a screw through the air-conditioner’s top mounting rail into the window sash. Most window air conditioners include a drilled-out hole in the top center to accommodate this.
Consider drilling additional holes through the same top mounting rail to accommodate more screws into the lower window sash (see illustration below).
UPDATE: If you cannot screw into the window, there are several alternate ways to secure the air conditioner which I’ve listed below. One of which is this clever little bracket that will keep the AC unit from being pushed out:
To install the security bracket, the AC was positioned properly in the window and the small u-shaped end of the bracket was placed over the upper flange (support bar) of the air conditioner.
The window was then closed over the large u-shaped end of the bracket.
Thin weather stripping was placed between the window sash and the upper flange of the air conditioner to seal the small gap (due to the thickness of the bracket).
The bracket was secured to the flange of the air conditioner by tightening the provided bolt through the bottom hole. The bolt wasn’t overly tightened since it essentially prevents the bracket from sliding too much forward and back.
(I didn’t use the bolt in the top hole since the air conditioner flange was too high.)
Although the bracket looks to be a bit loose, it can’t be removed and the air conditioner can’t be pushed out of the window unless the bottom sash is raised.
The provided window locks didn’t work for my windows, so I used the Windobully Window Lock to prevent the sashes from being raised or lowered.
from a product review
Install Security Window Lock for your Portable Air Conditioner
A convenient window lock for air conditioner security: (Sliding Window Lock, Window Stop, Window Restrict)
A window lock will prevent or deter the burglar from pushing and forcing up the window.
The AC unit may be screwed to the sash, but if the window itself isn’t locked it’s still possible to force open and reach in and shove the air conditioner. Install window frame locks to prevent this.
AC Window Lock – Vinyl & Aluminum
For Vinyl Windows – you might consider this popular window lock as shown below:
Window Security Wedge
Another clever idea is a window wedge.
Window Air Conditioner Security Bars
This adjustable window security bar is designed to fit between the window and the top frame to prevent it from opening beyond an adjustable opening distance. Perfect for when a portable AC is installed.
The security bar fits into the gap. Measure the gap and be sure you purchase the right security bar for that measurement.
Here’s an example of what I’m talking about:
(Measure the gap with the AC installed to determine which security bar will fit)
Here’s another one:
‘Do It Yourself’ Window Security Bar:
While the air conditioner is mounted in the window, measure the distance from top of the lower window frame to the very top of the double-hung frame itself (with AC installed). Cut a wooden dowel to snugly fit – which can be wedged to prohibit the window from opening further…
Window Air Conditioner Bracket
It’s also a good idea to get a window air conditioner bracket. It makes it harder for the burglar to get the air conditioner out from the outside. You could also secure the portable AC unit to the bracket in various ways.
Stick-on Window Alarm
Here’s a great product that will absolutely deter a would-be burglar.
The second they begin to force open the window, this cleverly designed window alarm will alert (based on motion/vibration sensing).
It simply ‘sticks’ onto the window, inside. Small, only about 3″ diameter. It has an ‘on/off’ switch for your convenience when opening the window yourself…
Stick-on Burglar Alarm Security Window Sticker Decal
Deterrence! On the window with the air conditioner, stick on a home security window decal where it will be plainly visible.
This alone may be enough to prevent a break-in as the burglar may move along to an easier target.
Window AC Accordion Side Panels
Depending on the width of the window air conditioner, the ‘accordion’ side panels may be extended fairly wide, or maybe not. This is an obvious weak point of entry for a burglar to punch through and gain leverage to shoving the air conditioner itself.
While the aforementioned suggestions will slow down or deter a burglar (likely to the extent of giving up without attracting attention), you might consider to (do it yourself) build wooden side panels to replace the plastic ‘accordion’ panels.
Window Air Conditioner Security Tips
Ultimately, you are not going to stop a determined burglar. But you will probably stop the majority of amateur burglars who are looking for quick and easy entry.
If one of them happens to pick your home because they see a window air-conditioner hanging out of a 1st-floor window, when given a hard push and it doesn’t budge, they will probably move on.
If the burglar pulls or pushes on the air conditioner while attempting to lift the window sash, it will not readily come if you’ve taken the precautions mentioned above.
Burglar Proof Tips
Okay, maybe more accurately stated, burglar resistant…
Tip: Consider removing any 1st-floor window air-conditioners when going on an extended vacation. A few minutes effort may be worth it…
Tip: You could plant thorny bushes… rose bushes, blackberry bushes etc. just below your windows…
Replace the side panels with plywood between the sash and jamb.
A wire cage to cover the outside of the AC unit.
Amazon Recommends this Air Conditioner:
Perfect for a bedroom, a small room, great reviews:
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Out in the sticks of Bangladesh, the threat of flooding means that 70 percent of the population live in corrugated tin huts, most of which aren’t hooked up to an electricity supply. In the heat of the summer, this can practically turn these houses into ovens.
However, a project called Eco-Cooler is spreading knowledge of a cheap and electricity-free method to cool down houses throughout Bangladesh. The beauty of the project is it needs little more than a few plastic bottles and a board. It was started through a collaboration between advertising agency Grey Dhaka and Grameen Intel Social Business Ltd.
Here’s how it works: Plastic bottles are cut in half and then mounted into a grid through bottleneck-sized holes. This grid can then be placed over a window, with the narrower top end of the bottle facing inwards to the house. As wind blows through the bottles, cool air is funneled into the hut. Eco-Cooler say it is possible for this technique to decrease the temperature in the house by up to 5°C – although this figure varies widely based on outdoor conditions…
Not only does it not require any electricity, it also makes good use of disposed plastic bottles. The project has been put online for free, in hopes it can reach as many people as possible. Their initiative has already taken root throughout nearly 25,000 households in villages across Nilphamari, Daulatdia, Paturia, Modonhati, and Khaleya…
“After initial tests, blueprints of the Eco-Cooler were put up online for everyone to download for free,” Syed Gousul Alam Shaon, chief creative officer at Grey Dhaka, said in a statement. “Raw materials are easily available, therefore, making Eco-Coolers a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly solution.” (Via IFLScience)
Check out the video below to see it in action…
If you like this idea, be sure to share it with your friends and inspire someone you know. Anything becomes possible with just a little inspiration…
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(26) comments
Pamela Allen Schultz Grantham
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us bottles that have a more narrower neck so that the air flows inward smoother with less turbulence and make sure that the whole board is used more efficiently by connecting all of the bottles together and leaving no spaces !
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Lee Tyner, for the Patch. Watch the video. The air that’s gone through the bottles is about 9F cooler than the outside air because it’s been compressed.
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That is way cool.
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KJ Tullis: As a gas and compression expert, I’m curious if you have any comments.
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Since there is a relationship between temperature, pressure, and volume of a gas, I presume that the principle is that the air expands and drops in pressure as it leaves the neck of the bottle, causing a temperature drop. In essence it becomes an expansion orifice. The air in the large part of the bottle is slightly compressed by the wind. This would cause a pressure increase and a corresponding temperature rise in that area, but I would imagine the large surface area of the main body of the bottles acts as a pretty good heat exchanger. Therefore some of the heat generated by the increased pressure is dissipated. I might say that the video is slightly incorrect when it says that the compression cools the air. Compression of air will increase temperature but release of the air to a lower pressure area will cause the temperature to drop. You might think that the net effect would be nil, but if the heat of compression is dissipated before the air goes through the bottleneck, then the net temperature downstream of the neck will be lower than ambient air. This is the basic principle of an air conditioner. The refrigerant is compressed, which raises its temperature and pressure. This hot gas goes through a heat exchanger coil to remove some of the heat (condenser, the unit on the outside of your house), at which point a major part of it goes back to liquid phase. This liquid is flashed through an orifice into another coil (the evaporator, the part in you furnace closet), causing a major temperature drop. I would think this bottle air conditioner could be made more efficient by shading the portion of the bottles outside from the sun. Anything to induce more rapid heat transfer from the large part of the bottle to the surrounding outside air.
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That’s an interesting (and well written) reply. I have another question or two, but it can wait for pizza.
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Well I’m impressed at KJ’s response! Whodda thunk? And, Lee, remember how I told you I was convinced the air from my bed fan felt cooler than the room temp air, but I knew it couldn’t be possible. Well, I guess I was wrong and my first thought that the air was actually cooler was indeed correct! BINGO!
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At some point giving your wife a way to instantaneously cool herself at night may be the difference between life (and your) death. Bed Fan with Wireless Remote
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Fantastic! Thank you Physics .
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It would make it very dark inside – maybe clear perspex would be better as a backing, especially since they don’t have electricity for lighting.
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I was just going to say they would need to cut a new window or use a clear material
