Home Improvement Product Reviews

Great Air Conditioner, But…, July 23, 2010

I am reviewing the Frigidaire FRA086AT7 8,000 BTU Mini Compact Window Air Conditioner. I am giving this AC a good review, but will mention a few things I didn’t like about it. All of the complaints are minor, except for one, which was a problem for me, but might not be for you. I’ll start with the background information, then list the features, and then list the good points and bad points.

Background Information:

This is a great AC with many features, good looks, digital display, remote control, and it cools the room very well. I’m using it installed in a window for my bedroom. Mine is 8,000 BTUs, but Frigidaire has similar models with different BTUs. It only comes in White. Even though it is described as “Mini Compact,” it appears very sturdy and well-made and isn’t really that small. Installation was a breeze because the unit weighs only about 50 lbs. It comes with the AC unit, a window installation kit, a nice manual, foam that you can put between the windows, and self-adhesive weatherstripping to cover any openings. All hardware is included. You just need a Phillips screwdriver to install it and a drill if you want to screw the top of the unit into your window. It is Energy-Star Compliant. The warranty is ONE YEAR Full Coverage and FIVE YEARS for the AC compressor.

Features:

* It has a green LED digital display with membrane button controls. You press buttons to control the unit. There are no knobs. Membrane means that all the buttons are covered by hard plastic and you press the label on the plastic that covers the buttons underneath. Each button press emits a beep, but if you hold the temperature/timer button down, it scrolls faster and only beeps once.

* It has buttons for On-Off, Mode, Fan Speed, Temp/Timer Up, Temp/Timer Down, Timer, Sleep, Filter Reset, and Clean Air.

* The Green Digital display shows the Temperature and Timer. Normally, when the unit is on Cool or Econ, it shows the temperature you have set, like a thermostat. However, when the fan only is on, it shows the actual temperature in the room. When you are setting the Timer, it displays the count-down timer.

* It has green LEDs for the 3 modes, the 4 fan speeds, whether the digital display is showing Fahrenheit, Centigrade, or Timer, Timer On, Sleep On, Filter Reset On, Clean Air On, and Remote Sensing On.

* You turn the unit on and off and it remembers your last settings. You press Mode to select from Cool, Econ, or Fan Only. Econ is Economy Mode that cycles the AC compressor on and off, once it reaches the set temperature, to conserve energy.

* Fan Speeds are Low, Med, High, so you have 3 speeds for both the AC and fan. The AC also has Auto Fan, which regulates the fan speed automatically for you. It comes on full blast when you first turn it on, then gradually lowers the fan speed as it reaches your desired temperature.

* The Up and Down buttons are used to set the temperature on the digital display. You can set it from 60 degrees to 90 degrees and display it as either Fahrenheit or Centigrade. These buttons are also used to set the Timer.

* The Timer button allows you to program the unit to either turn on or shut off one time over a 24 hour period.

* The Sleep button raises the temperature you have set by 2 degrees, one half hour after you activate it, and then by another 2 degrees, half an hour later. Then it keeps this temperature for the next 7 hours. It sounds more confusing than it is. Basically, you can activate the Sleep feature when you go to sleep. It assumes an 8-hour sleep cycle. So if you set the temperature for 72 degrees, then an hour after you go to sleep, it will be set for 76 degrees for the next 7 hours, and then go back to 72. The theory is that it you can fall asleep with the temperature you have set, and it can gradually get a bit warmer during the night, without it disturbing you, plus, it will prevent you from becoming too cold.

* Filter Reset has an LED that lights after every 250 hours of use. When it lights, it reminds you to clean the filter. After you clean it, you press the button to turn off the LED and reset it. Then it will remind you after the next 250 hours of use.

* Clean Air is a built-in Air Ionizer and Purifier. If you turn it on, it will automatically remove dust and impurities from the air while either the AC or fan is running.

* It has two separate air vent openings at the top that can be controlled independently.

* The enclosed remote (2 AAA batteries included) has an unlit LCD Display that shows the actual temperature at the remote, presumably that is where you are sitting. You can control everything from the remote, except the Filter Reset and the Clean Air Filter. A red LED blinks when you press a button. You can also turn Remote Sensing on and off from the remote. When it’s on, a corresponding LED blinks on the…

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Nice features, good price, 8000 BTU, October 4, 2010

The best thing about this little AC unit is the “remote sensing” feature. It has a thermometer on the remote control and can use that as the input for the thermostat, set the remote in the middle of the room and it will keep it at an even temperature. It also has an “econo mode” setting and a “clean air” ionic air filter. It is small, relatively quiet, and the 8000 BTU’s do a fantastic job keeping the place cool (it hardly ever runs in econo mode but still keeps it cold). This unit was only more than the equivalent 6000 BTU Frigidaire unit.

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Solid ac unit, August 29, 2010

I don’t have a lot of experience with window a/c units, but this little guy seems to do alright. I moved to Brooklyn recently in the midst of mid-90s heat, into an apt with 0 a/c. Units were sold out all over town (except in overpriced specialty stores) so I had this unit rush delivered. The quality seems pretty good, given the relative low cost. I have this installed in my bedroom and it keeps the entire room chilly (68 F) on the lowest fan setting. Another plus is that I’ve not been bothered by any water dripping inside or out of the unit, which has been a problem of mine in other units.

The one negative I have is the loudness of the lowest setting. I wish there was another setting lower that was a bit quieter.

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