Friedrich A/C - It Cools Like It's Big!
Written: Feb 14 '03
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Pros: Extra small size, but cools like it's big! Energy efficient! Very quiet!
Cons: none
The Bottom Line: This unit really puts out the cold air even though it is small. And it is backed by the Friedrich warranty.
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| neldaintexas's Full Review: Friedrich ZStar ZQ08A10A Thru-Wall/Window Air Cond... |
Winter is here now, but before we know it our weather will once again be warm! And in South Texas, warm really means hot and time to turn on the A/C! I actually prefer not to use air-conditioning during the daytime unless the heat is unbearable, but at night it's a necessity! During the day, I really like to open the windows except for the hottest part of the summer.
My house has two window units which I have had mounted into the back walls of the house. For the past 3 years, one of the units periodically had symptoms that the blower might "go out" at any time, so I was not surprised when it did. I had purchased this unit 17 years ago, so it was not worth a costly repair. This unit cools the living-room, dining area and kitchen, which is an all-open area, and it is used mostly in the late afternoon and evening hours.
I have always purchased Carrier units, so my original intention was to just go buy another Carrier and get it installed within a couple of days. But it wasn't so simple this time, and it took me a couple of weeks to find an A/C like what I needed for the spot where it would be installed. I just felt lucky that the old one didn't go out during the hottest part of the summer when I needed it the most!
The place where this unit goes is a somewhat "problem spot". On the part that goes outside, there is another outside wall on one side. Outside vents on a window unit need plenty of breathing space or the unit will overheat and shut-off or it can even shorten the life of the compressor. So I have always bought the solid side units that are designed to not need outside side vents. These units are always more pricey, so I was expecting to have to spend $500-$600 with the installation. And of course, I wanted another unit that had a decent efficiency rating!
Carrier has always made units with these specifications, so I started my search for a new unit by calling a Carrier dealer. Much to my surprise, the Carrier dealers in this area no longer stock window units and none wanted to bother to get one for me. One dealer finally agreed to get what I needed but then quoted me a price of over $700. I use only the 115 volt A/Cs and needed an 8,000 to 10,000 BTU, so this was a ridiculous price. So I had to look farther...
It was a real job trying to find a unit that would work in this spot! The other brands with solid sides were either an inch or two larger than the hole in the wall, or their energy rating was poor! A few friends helped me with my search...even epinion's Dunkjam and her husband helped from far away!
Finally, one of the appliance salesmen I had been in contact with mentioned a Friedrich unit that was so much smaller than most units that it might work even though it had side vents on the outside. We checked all the measurements, etc, and this would work!!! There would be enough room outside between this little unit and the other outside wall that it would have enough ventilation space for its side vents. And it had Friedrich's good name on it! I was so happy to find this!
Friedrich is an old name when it comes to air-conditioning and known for their high quality. They have always been proud of the products they make in San Antonio, Texas. But like many other companies they have started making a few things outside of the US, and this A/C is one of them. But they back it with their good name and their same warranty. so I figured it must be good! And it is!
I had this small unit installed a few days later.
The price was $299. With the tax and installation, I got a great air-conditioner and still spent only $400!
This very small unit is only 18 1/2 inches wide and 14 inches high! The front of it is white and it blends in well with my antique white interior walls. The design of the front is very pleasing.
It has a temperature control that can be set anywhere between the warmer and the cooler temperatures. Its mode switch has three settings - high, med, and low cool. This unit is always very quiet, and the low setting is extremely quiet. It also has an energy saver switch that can be turned on or off. When this switch is turned on, the fan will cycle on and off with the compressor. Otherwise, the fan will run when the compressor turns off. Sometimes I like to have this energy saver turned off so the fan will keep circulating the air.
Last fall when I bought this air-conditioner, it cooled so well that I had to set the temperature control at less than the mid point. This unit should be able to handle the extreme heat of the summer with no problem! Besides cooling so well, it does a great job of removing the humidity from the air. This water is used to help cool the coils. It has a nice washable filter that is easy to remove when it needs to be cleaned.
This unit doesn't use a lot of energy, and in my area costs about 7 or 8 cents per hour to operate. Friedrich makes this unit in an 8000BTU with a 10EER, and also makes an almost identical 10,000BTU with a 9.8EER. Friedrich's warranty is good - parts and labor on everything the first year, and parts and labor on the sealed refrigerant system for five years. It was definitely worth the time and hassle to find this unit. I am very happy with it!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 299
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Epinions.com ID:
neldaintexas
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Location: South Texas
Reviews written: 43
Trusted by: 41 members
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