Just Chillin'
Written: Jul 02 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Timer option, remote control, digital display, energy efficiency, unobtrusive design.
Cons: Cost money to run unit.
The Bottom Line: The Kenmore Air Conditioner 71055 has every option an air conditioner should have, yet isn't overloaded with unnecessary features. You set the temperature desired and the A/C does the work.
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Last year we bought an adorable money pit. Unfortunately, our money pit did not have central air. This wasn't really a drawback for my husband and I because we never grew up with central air. Heat doesn't bother me much, but the humidity just kills me. We live in one of those states that hits you with a combination one-two: Heat + Humidity.
With this in mind, before the summer began, we purchased three air-conditioners. One was an 18,000 BTU for the downstairs. The other two air conditioners were the Kenmore Room Air Conditioner 71055. Both were placed in bedrooms.
When we went to purchase the Kenmore Room Air Conditioner 71055, we were looking for a couple options: digital display, energy efficiency, adequate size/BTUs, dependability, and user friendliness. We found all of the above in the Kenmore 71055. The energy efficiency is rated from a scale of 8 to 10 in comparison with other similar models. Ten being the most efficient and 8 being the least efficient. The Kenmore 71055 was rated an 11. The cost per year to operate was estimated at $33.00, which was based on a 1995 U.S. Government national average cost of 8.67 cents per kWh. Definitely out of date now, but at least it gives you a ballpark figure.
The Kenmore 71055 has a 5,600 BTU capacity. This translates to approximately 200-250 square feet. You can find an Advisor Guide on the Sears.com website. There is a chart of various scenarios and BTU requirements.
-Appearance-
The air conditioner is white with a very light gray operating panel in the upper left-hand corner. The top-middle and -right section sports a long, 4-way louver. The louvers allow you to direct air flow where ever it is needed. The 4-way louver also has a Vent Pull which allows you to circulate fresh air. There are 2 positions: Vent and Fresh Air. The Fresh Air position allows outside air to be moved indoors. The Vent allows inside air to be moved outdoors, but may only be used in the Fan Only mode.
The model is unobtrusive in design and doesn't necessarily detract from any decor. There is an air filter that needs to be checked once a month and is easily cleaned with warm soapy water or can be vacuumed. As with any other A/C, an annual maintenance schedule should be kept. The plug is 3-prong and is grounded. The unit came with an installation kit.
We placed the units on side windows for appearance reasons. Personally, I prefer the front of the house to be unencumbered by air conditioner compressors hanging out of the windows. This may or may not be possible in all home types, especially apartments. An added bonus to air conditioners, is that they create marvelous white noise. The traffic out front is not noticeable when the units are in use.
-Control Panel-
The control panel is simple to use and full of options. Obviously, there is an on/off button. The temperature you designate is displayed digitally. There is an up arrow and a down arrow to adjust your chosen temp. The fan speed has four settings, three speeds: High, Medium, Low, and One Touch. The one touch setting will adjust the fan's speed automatically as the temperature in the room rises or falls. For example, if the room is hot, the fan will click to High. When the temperature is being reached, the fan will change to medium speed, and eventually will end up on low speed.
The Mode has three choices: Cool (A/C), Power Saver, and Fan Only (no A/C). The power saver mode will allow the fan to run for 3 minutes after the compressor shuts off, and then the unit shuts down. The unit will come on every 15 minutes for 3 minutes intervals. During these 3 minutes, the A/C's temperature sensor will decide if the room needs to be cooled or not. If you're a light sleeper, this is extremely annoying! We only use this feature during waking hours. We have never utilized the fan mode.
A neat feature is the Timer. It may be set two ways. One, to turn on in a set number of hours. -Or- Two, to turn off after a set number of hours. For up to 10 hours, you may designate time in half hour increments. After 10 hours, you may designate up to a 24 hour delay in hourly increments.
We have used both the timer turn off and timer turn on feature (it's one button). I truly love this option. For those Spring and Fall times when the day is hot, but the nights are cool, we put on the A/C. After the A/C is turned on, we set the timer for 3 hours. (We live right off of a major street and are unable to open windows at night due to the noise level.) During the summer months, we set the timer for 1 hour before bedtime. To do this, when the unit is off, you press the timer button and select the time. This allows the room to be cool at bedtime. It's wonderful!
-Remote Control-
My husband is a remote control junkie. Everything MUST have a remote. The unit comes with one. I never use it. The remote has the same capabilities as the operating panel and takes 2 AA batteries.
-Warranty-
The Kenmore Room Air Conditioner 71055 comes with a full 1-year warranty and a 5-year warranty on the refrigeration system only.
We had to replaced the 18,000 BTUs after only 11 months of use due to a bad thermostat. The two original Kenmore 71055s are still going strong. I don't know how we would live without them.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 208.99
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Epinions.com ID:
xmasbaby
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Member: Elizabeth
Location: Pennsylvania
Reviews written: 22
Trusted by: 15 members
About Me:
The things I cherish in life are children, love and lasting friendships.
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