rgathright's Full Review: Frigidaire FAS156N1A Thru-Wall/Window Air Conditio...
The Frigidaire FAS156N1 is the largest 120VAC air conditioner I could find. Measuring 25"x18"x26", putting out 15,100BTU and tipping the scales at 113Lbs, the air conditioner screams cooling! Featuring ionization and an air filter replacement warning light, you should be able to expect years of consistent service.
After just two summer months of usage, the Frigidaire FAS156N1 has become another hassle for me. A month after purchase the unit started randomly changing temperature, a problem I wrote off as a glitch in the control panel logic. However, one day, a week ago, the unit would not shut off. The remote did not work either. The control panel on the air conditioner did not respond to any input. To turn it on, I plug it in the off condition is the opposite. The unit is stuck at 60F. Fine for me since, I like a cold room.
Warranty Repair Blog
Since the air conditioner was still under its one year full warranty.
10/1/2007 5:15 PM I called the Frigidaire service hotline and found it easy to use. Using the automated voice menu, I was given three repair companies in my town and their phone numbers. The second company called answered and they said a technician would call my cel tomorrow morning.
10/2/2007 4:30 PM The technician called and said he was arriving in 15 minutes. Once there he determined that the control panel was water logged! Condensation was building up on the back of the panel. He said this is a common problem in the Lake Charles market. In fact, he has personally made ten house calls for this issue alone. After looking at the panel, I figured out that air coming out of the vent blows behind the control panel. Since the air is so cold condensation builds up on the board causing it to short out. Several solutions exist to fix the problem; the easiest is to put duct tape around the control panel before placing the front cover on the air conditioner. Another option would be to seal the control panel with caulk or silicone compound, however this would void your warranty. The technician told me that the replacement part could take over two weeks to arrive.
10/22/2007 4:45 PM 20 days later, The technician called and came by to install the replacement control board. He said the manufacturer has released no new product bulletins about protecting the control board from moisture. He also said his company would be liable if he installs anything not recommended by Frigidaire. In fact, if I were to install duct tape to cover the rear of the panel that would void my product warranty. I have a feeling the control board will go out again real soon.
More Updates Promised As They Occur
Remote Control
The remote control is very nice. A centrally located LCD display reads the current room temperature. Almost like a video game pad you can click right or left for fan control and up and down for temperature settings. Using just 2xAAA batteries the remote is rugged enough to fall on the floor several times.
Noise
The air conditioner makes less noise than any other 12,000+ BTU unit I have ever had. Notably, you cannot hear the compressor turn on or off.
Ionizer
You will be able to tell the effect of the ionizer immediately. The room smelled fresher a few hours after the unit was first turned on.
Installation
To install this air conditioner you must remove the core from the outer metal case. Next you mount the metal case in your window. Finally, you push the core into the case from inside your room.
When installing a window AC of this size you need to:
1) Make sure the window/wall can support a 120+lb, vibrating load.
2) Purchase some foam sealant to increase the efficiency of the unit.
3) Make sure a grounded power outlet is nearby. Preferably on it's own 20 amp breaker to handle the strator current generated when the AC compressor is started. Using an extension cord is not recommended with this unit because you will be restricting the amperage delivered to the unit. Additionally, you run the risk of over extending the extension cord, heating it up and possibly creating a fire hazard.
*4) Place duct tape around the control panel to keep condensation from building up.
Living in Southwest Louisiana can give any window air conditioner a run for its money. The combination of triple digit temperatures, tropical insects and humidity levels reaching 92% on a daily basis can make for the harshest testing environment for any finely tuned piece of machinery. My window sill has become the place where air conditioners come to break. My craft of air conditioner carnage has become refined to an art over the past eight years.
For example, rather than simply letting them stew in their own condensation. I drill holes in the floor of the unit allow rapid draining of any collected H20. If you have a window unit and you hear a rustling sound like leaves in fall, chances are the sound is actually water being blown by the rear exhaust fan. Water and aluminum fins do not mix well with heat. Expect accelerated fin deterioration and premature rusting of the ball bearings in your fan motor as a result.
Specifications
15,100 BTUH cooling capacity
Cools room sizes up to 880 sq. ft.
Energy Efficiency Ratio: 10.7
Variable Speed Fan
Ionizer/Electrostatic Clean Air Filtration
Summary
Sadly, I would not recommend this air conditioner to anyone. After owning three window units, this will be my first time to solicit a warranty repair. An experience that I was dreading because of the time and effort required to show proof of ownership and working with tech support over the phone. You can avoid all of these problems by simply moving on to another AC. Yes, the air conditioner is the most efficient model tested so far and its remote is really cool, but are you willing to risk encountering my problems?
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