nonedude's Full Review: Frigidaire FAA086P7A Thru-Wall/Window Air Conditio...
Background Information / Scenario which led to purchase
I own a 3 bedroom rancher with a full size basement. Basement has a brand new door which I installed and shut when Frigidaire air conditioner is running. Simply, because cold air drops and warm air rises. I have no need to air condition the basement during warm months. A draft guard helps to ensure cold air stays on the ground floor of my rancher.
I purchased 2 of these Window air conditioner units when I first moved into my home, prior to the summer of 2006. They have been used for both the summer of 2006 and 2007.
They were on sale at my local Lowe’s Hardware Store and I did no prior research (should have) prior to purchase. Sale price was $189 (pre-tax) per unit.
I had one Kenmore Air Conditioner unit (unsure of model#) installed in house upon purchase. This unit was well over 10 years old and falling apart. It was barely working and very heavy.
I was highly curious what today’s technology would bring me in a new air conditioner unit. I looked around at Lowe’s and Home Depot. At the time, I wanted the most bang for the buck a $200 air conditioner could provide. I saw the sale at Lowe’s and noticed this Frigidaire is 8,000 BTU and had a decent looking remote control with multiple buttons. I bought this unit based on the following hunches:
1) Remote Included
2) 8,000 BTU for under $200
3) Name Brand in Frigidaire
I should have done more research prior to purchasing
I should mention a $200 air conditioner unit budget does not provide one with many choices and I was previously living in a central air conditioned environment.
CONS
Before I get into any further detail, I want to start with the cons of using this product. If you make it to the other sections of this review, more power to you.
This unit is heavy (62 lbs) prior to condensation building up and increasing weight via water. Water should drip through exterior pan connected to bottom of unit, and it does so, but very poorly.
The built in pan drip hole is small and easily clogs (1/2 inch diameter). I live in a wooded development and had leaves, and spider webs build up in the hole each year of usage and decrease water flow. The drip hole is wide open, no mesh or screening to assist in keeping unclogged. Last summer I carefully installed a small plastic tube with caulk in an attempt to keep drip hole clog free. This did make a small difference.
Unit is poorly engineered. I leveled the unit in window and drip pan still holds excessive amounts of condensation in drip pan, even when clean and post drip tubing installed. I had to reinstall unit so it would slightly tilt towards exterior of my house. By doing so, I still had condensation in pan to act as a cooling agent during fan operation and avoided sloshy sound of excessive water in pan and poor drainage.
Unit is loud. Fan speed range is 10 minimum to 99 maximum. On a setting of 10 fan speed, noise is tolerable. Increasing speed to as low as 30 and you have some loud noise which can carry.
Example: My TV is located 30 ft and 7 inches away (and 1 room away) from the window where unit is installed. At a low fan speed of “ 30 ”, I must turn the TV up at least 4 notches of volume to hear a broadcast. Louder if I want to drown out the annoyingly loud fan of this unit. If I had installed this unit in the Family Room where my TV is located, I would lose my mind and probably have many headaches.
Remote control has all the options you need and works well, but....
Absolutely any button you press on remote will be acknowledged by air conditioner with one loud high pitched beeping noise. No, you can’t avoid this beep by pressing buttons on the air conditioner instead of the remote control.. I really wonder why this beeping noise can’t be turned off and what the heck the engineers were thinking when they designed this annoying feature.
Turn on the unit LOUD BEEP NOISE
Turn off the unit LOUD BEEP NOISE
Turn the temperature down one degree LOUD BEEP NOISE
Turn the temperature down 5 degrees 5 LOUD BEEPING NOISES
Turn the fan speed up 40 notches 40 LOUD BEEPING NOISES
Sliding Panels which are intended to block warm air from entering your home around sides of air conditioner are almost useless. They will warm up to the touch from outside air and you can feel a warm draft working it’s way through the panels when installed properly. If you buy this unit, I highly suggest also buying foam insulation specifically made by “Frost King” for better insulation from warm air around panels.
Built in Ionizer/Electrostatic air cleaner is included in this unit. Ionized air produces ozone and can be harmful! Please Google "Ionized Air" for more information
If none of the above mentioned cons are disturbing to you, how about this one:
Located on the cord is a white tag with black text, which I will now quote.
BEGIN QUOTE:
Warning
This product contains chemicals, including lead, known to the State of California to cause cancer, or birth defects and other reproductive harm.
Wash hands after handling.
END QUOTE
I don’t know, maybe all air conditioner units say this. I’m not an HVAC expert. It would be nice if this warning was a little more informative. Which part of the air conditioner is most dangerous to touch? Can I touch the cord without washing my hands? If I touch the filter do I have lead residue on my hands? Help me out here Frigidaire!
The Box
Included in the box are the following:
A lot of Styrofoam, Air Conditioner Unit, Installation Instructions, Manual, Remote Control, Mounting Hardware (Top Rail, Sash Lock Plate, Lock Frame Plate, 3/8 inch screws and 3/4 inch screws), Sliding Panels.
Tools necessary to complete installation: Phillips Screwdriver and a drill, that’s all.
Specs / With Many of My Own Observations Thrown-In
Weighs 62lbs
Energy Rating (EER) 10.8
8,000 BTU/HR
Recommended Room Cooling Size: up to 350 square feet
Width 18.5 in
Depth 15.5 in
Height 12.5 in
Can be used as a window or wall unit.
Includes Remote Control
Has 2 vents, both are adjustable for controlling direction of air flow (up/down, left/right, diagonal flow)
Unit can draw outside air or recirculate interior air while cooling.
Unit can be used as a fan only, or as an air conditioner.
Unit has built in plug monitoring device (Test/Reset Button on plug – Note: Not Listed as GFCI)
Unit has timer feature.
Unit has a check filter indicator (LED will light up when filter is need of cleaning/replacement)
Unit has an “Energy Saver” Operation Mode for cooling.
Unit has “Sleep” Operating Mode
Unit has digital display for viewing Fan Speed or Temp Setting.
Unit is an Off-White color.
Unit front is made of durable plastic and sides and backing are all made of metal (presumably Aluminum, am unsure)
Additional Notes Regarding The Above:
Unit is not white! It is an off-white semi gray coloring all the way around. I would best describe as “Gainsboro”. Google “Gainsboro Color” to get a better idea of true color.
Any function which can be applied to air conditioner via unit buttons can also be applied with remote control. There is no digital display on remote so you can’t view temp or fan speed on remote. Remote takes two “AA’ batteries to operate.
Manual
Manual is informative but I have issues with it. Before I get to the issues here is what the manual contains:
11 pages in English / 11 pages in Spanish
Warranty Statement………………. on page 1
Product Registration Info………… on page 2
Table of Contents .….…………….. on page 2
Normal Sounds Description…. .….. on page 2
Safety Instructions ………………… on page 3
Operation of current device (plug)… on page 3
Features …………………………… on page 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9
Care and Cleaning ………………… on page 10
Energy Saving Ideas ………………. on page 10
Avoid Service Checklist ……….…. on page 11
My issues with manual:
Manual is all of 11 pages and has some issues. Electrical specs are nowhere in the manual. The manual instructs you to look on the air conditioner at the serial plate. The “Serial Plate” is a sticker located on the side of unit (near front right). The vast majority of electronic equipment I buy always has electrical specs in the manual. Why did Frigidaire decide against this? What if my sticker gets ripped, torn, or weathered? Also the use of the word plate is deceiving. A sticker is a sticker, not a plate.
Manual page 11 lists some troubleshooting advice. Why does Frigidaire call it the “Avoid Service Checklist”. Technically they are correct in calling this section by such a name, but it indicates to me that they do not want to service your unit.
I found a typo in the manual:
…………..at which time the compressor turns back on and cooling stars.
The word stars should obviously be “starts”.
Hey Frigidaire, you are a major corporation. You mass produced an air conditioner for consumers. You provided an 11 page manual. Yet, didn’t include electrical specs in manual and you have a typo. Yes, I’m brutal on a company when I find lack of details.
Also located on Electrical Specs Sticker on Unit:
Made in China
Date of Manufacture: appears as “ 11/05 ”, obviously November 2005.
Refrig 22
16.9 oz.
Remote Control
4 inches long by 1 3/4 inches wide by 1 inch deep.
Remote is easy to grip and nicely designed.
It has the following buttons: Power, Temp/Timer Up, Temp/Timer Down, Fan Faster, Fan Slower, Cool, Energy Saver, Fan Only, Sleep, Auto Temp, & Timer.
I own two of these Frigidaire units. I can use one remote for both units. This tells me that the remote control works on the same frequency no matter how many units you have located in your house.
Remote has good range. It can easily work from a 10 foot line of sight or more from unit. Remote will not work through walls.
Previously Mentioned: Takes 2 “AA” batteries and can control all aspects of air conditioner.
Warranty
Full 5 year in home warranty is provided through Frigidaire authorized service personnel.
For service call:1- 800-444-4944
In Canada: 1-866-213-9397
Both phone numbers are toll-free.
Pro’s Described
I intentionally listed the pro’s section at the bottom of this review because I wanted everything else to come first.
After two full years of usage, the remote control is in perfect shape and so is the air conditioner. Both have no issues with buttons working. Unit does provide nice cold air. Cleaning the air filter is very easy and it is re-usable. I have the original filter still installed. It can be cleaned with warm water and dish detergent per manual or even vacuumed instead. Sliding panels are still operable and in original condition, even though they are terrible at blocking warm air from entering home as described in the Cons section.
Important Things to Consider
Electrical plug on unit is strictly designed to be used in conjunction with a grounded outlet (3 prongs on plug).
Unit must be used on a circuit with at least 15 amps to operate per manual.
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