Midea 8000 BTU U-shaped Air Conditioner review: energy efficient without sacrificing perfo...

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Midea's brilliantly designed U-shaped Air Conditioner is a fantastic way to cool a home without central air -- provided you can survive the installation process.

Midea U-Shaped Air Conditioner in window


In early July, I purchased my first home, which I've been dreaming about for my entire life. But, of course, I didn't have a crazy-high budget, so I knew I'd have to purchase an older home that needed some work.

The house I eventually bought was built in 1882, making it 140 years old as of this year. It's had some work done on it recently, but for the most part, it's still a fixer-upper.

As it is an older home, it didn't come equipped with central air. With the heat routinely leaping into the 90s, I knew I wouldn't last long without a window AC.

However, I didn't want to settle for just any air conditioner. I wanted something that wouldn't run up my electric bill and would work well for my space.

I did my research and landed on Midea's line of U-shaped Smart Air Conditioners. Not only are they ultra energy efficient, but they've developed a cult following.

So, I bit the bullet, charged my credit card, and brought one home.

Design

Midea's U-shaped Air Conditioners feature a unique design that allows the window to sit "inside" of the air conditioning unit. This has several advantages over the traditional style, where the window merely rests on top.

First, it means that your unit is incredibly stable. With the air conditioner locked in place by the pane of glass, it feels more secure.

The Midea U, viewed from the side | Image Credit: Midea
The Midea U, viewed from the side | Image Credit: Midea


Second, it also makes it extremely quiet. Locking the compressor behind the glass prevents you from hearing the compressor the way you would with a traditional window unit.

Midea says it's nine times quieter than a traditional window unit running at the same level. According to my ears, it's significantly quieter than the conventional window unit in my bedroom and even more subdued than the HVAC-based central air I had at my last apartment.

I haven't had any issues making phone calls or FaceTime calls in the same room as the air conditioner. I appreciated this, as turning off the AC to make an hour-long phone call when it's 90 degrees outside is hardly ideal.

Lastly, it's sealed off better. With traditional window units, you'll wind up fussing with one of those plastic accordions and trying to seal off any cracks with fussy pieces of weather seal.

With Midea's U-shaped Air Conditioner, you'll only be left with a small gap on either side at the bottom, which you can easily seal off with a thick piece of foam that Midea includes.

The entire design seems like the logical evolution of where window units should have ended up already.

Eco-friendlier

While it's a bit of a hard sell to claim that any electrical device can genuinely be "eco-friendly," the Midea U is currently the best option for electric usage.

When figuring out how energy efficient an air conditioner is, the US government uses a system called CEER, which stands for Combined Energy Efficiency Ratio.

The auto mode can slow fan speeds, saving energy and prevent overcooling of your space
The auto mode can slow fan speeds, saving energy and prevent overcooling of your space


CEER is defined as "The ratio of measured cooling output (in BTU per hour) to measured average electrical energy input (in Watts) and measured standby/off-mode power consumption (in Watts)."

That means the higher the CEER rating, the more energy efficient the device. For an 8,000 BTU air conditioner to be considered "good," it needs to have a CEER rating of at least 11. Energy Star models will have a CEER rating of 12.1 or higher.

The 8,000 BTU Midea U Air Conditioner has a CEER rating of 15. It won the Energy Star 2020's Most Efficient award -- the first window AC unit ever to do so. It uses 37.61% less energy than the US Federal Standard, too.

The estimated yearly cost of the Midea U is under $50, assuming that you're using it for 8 hours a day for three months, with the average electricity cost of 13 cents per kWh. But, of course, your mileage may vary.

Installation

While the design is fantastic, you must work to enjoy it. Installing this type of air conditioner is not as easy as Midea would have you believe.

I've installed window unit air conditioners myself in the past. Sure, it wasn't fun, but it's pretty straightforward.

Installing the Midea U was not like that -- at all. Not only did it require me to read the manual from front to back, but it also required me to call in additional help from my father.

The Midea U must sit on a bracket, unlike many other window units on the market
The Midea U must sit on a bracket, unlike many other window units on the market


Unlike any air conditioner we've installed before, the Midea U has a non-optional bracket that you'll need to use. This was a new experience, as it required us to assemble the bracket, attach it to the window, and place the unit on it.

We also had to do some fiddly work in the spot where the window slots into it. It's a 10+ step process, and even if you watch the included installation video, it may not be abundantly clear how to do certain steps.

Just keep returning to the manual because it will be instrumental in getting you through the installation.

Overall, it took us a full hour and a half from unboxing to switching it on for the first time -- about an hour longer than it took us to install the traditional window unit upstairs.

I advise that if you install one yourself, make sure you have at least two people, if possible. Not only did this make it easier to quickly check the manual, but the unit itself is also quite heavy -- just over 55 pounds -- and cumbersome to move around.

Performance

I have been using the Midea's U for nearly two weeks now, and I've been incredibly impressed with how well it's managed to keep pace during a hot stretch.

I opted to go with the 8,000 BTU unit, despite the warnings that it would be much too small to cool my downstairs.

However, I find that it manages to keep the entire downstairs of my two-story, 2000-square foot home comfortably at 73 degrees and doesn't need to run 24/7 to do so.

There's an app for that

As a bonus, the Midea app is pretty decent. It's not perfect, and it has a strange issue where it logs me out every 12 hours, but unlike many other smart device apps, it's actually intuitive.




You can change the settings on your air conditioner directly from the app, including fan speed, temperature settings, which mode you're in, the direction of the vent, and more.

You can also set up schedules, which can be very beneficial.

I didn't want to cool the spaces of my house that I wasn't actively using, as that would be a waste of electricity. At night, the AC turns off two hours before I go to bed, turning back on in the morning just as I wake up.

Size matters

Something I did not bank on was just how far the safety bracket of the air conditioner sticks out -- a full 18.5 inches from the window. While this may not be a problem for some people, it presents a huge problem for others.

I live in a neighborhood where the houses are positioned pretty close together, and I share an alleyway with my neighbors where we store our garbage and access our outdoor spigots.

The bracket sits a full 18.5 inches out from the window
The bracket sits a full 18.5 inches out from the window


If our houses were placed any closer, the air conditioner will probably obscure the path too much and would need to be moved to another window.

These air conditioners may not be advisable for those living in apartment buildings with fire escapes. After all, it's not worth it to obstruct your safety and the safety of others, no matter how well the air conditioner works.

Overall

The Midea U is one of the best window unit air conditioners I've had the pleasure of using. It's quiet, has fantastic app integration, and hasn't resulted in a multi-hundred-dollar electric bill.

If central air isn't an option for you -- or if you don't particularly like central air in the first place -- it would be hard to do better than a Midea U.

Midea 8000 BTU U-shaped Air Conditioner Score

It can be hard to determine one rating that would work for every user in every use case. Truthfully, it falls somewhere between a 3 and a 4 and depends on several factors.

4 out of 5 if:
  • you have standard or near-standard, double-hung windows
  • you are somewhat handy or are willing to dedicate time to learning on the fly
  • you have at least two people to help install it
3 out of 5 if:
  • you have windows that are much more narrow or much wider than average
  • you have a unique window situation, such as overhanging a fire escape or into a shared alley
  • you plan on installing this by yourself

Pros

  • Near silent operation, even at higher levels.
  • Highly energy efficient
  • Great app integration
  • Keeps large areas cool

Cons

  • Difficult, slow installation
  • May stick out too far for certain users

Where to buy

Midea's U-shaped Air Conditioner is available at Amazon in 8,000, 10,000, and 12,000 BTU capacities starting at $399, though the higher capacities tend to sell out faster.

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rundhvid

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 17
    cpsrocpsro Posts: 3,239member
    Is 73 necessary?
    welshdogwatto_cobraStrangeDays
  • Reply 2 of 17
    welshdogwelshdog Posts: 1,914member
    73º?
    That is shockingly low. Do you always wear long pants and shirts? Our central air system is set between 79º-81º depending on humidity and we are always comfortable. I have checked room temps against the thermostat setting and they match up. I see people posting low thermostat numbers like this all the time I can only assume they are inaccurate.

    On the Midea unit: Seems like they designed it upside down? The u-shape would have been more desireable if it put the inside and outside parts hanging below the window sill - opposite of what they have produced. There would still be a fairly thick "bridge" part that traverses the sill, connecting the inner and outer sections, but it would allow you to see out and even use the window.
    edited July 2022 watto_cobra
  • Reply 3 of 17
    thttht Posts: 5,709member
    The estimated yearly cost of the Midea U is under $50, assuming that you're using it for 8 hours a day for three months, with the average electricity cost of 13 cents per kWh. But, of course, your mileage may vary.
    That cost must be for the USA northeast, or perhaps USA north above 40° latitudes. Very modest needs for AC. 

    At 20° to 35° latitudes, this unit would probably be running $50 per month on average depending on location. Or $600 per year in electricity costs. 

    Eventually, solar+storage and heat pumps will be commoditized such that you can get a single room AC and heater unit, a few solar panels and a battery which would reduce your grid load to near zero. Eventually. 


    watto_cobra
  • Reply 4 of 17
    MalcolmOwenMalcolmOwen Posts: 30member, editor
    welshdog said:
    73º?
    That is shockingly low. Do you always wear long pants and shirts? Our central air system is set between 79º-81º depending on humidity and we are always comfortable. I have checked room temps against the thermostat setting and they match up. I see people posting low thermostat numbers like this all the time I can only assume they are inaccurate.
    [Converts 73F into C]
    I'm lucky enough to have an aircon unit in the UK, a country where they are often used in places of business, but not that much at home. 
    Our recent heatwave pushed temperatures above 30C, and while the aircon could go down to 16C, it struggled to go below 24C, and that was unbearable. 
    At least where I live, 73F isn't considered shockingly low. Not by a long stretch. 
    darkvaderwatto_cobra
  • Reply 5 of 17
    darkvaderdarkvader Posts: 1,146member
    welshdog said:
    73º?
    That is shockingly low. Do you always wear long pants and shirts? Our central air system is set between 79º-81º depending on humidity and we are always comfortable. I have checked room temps against the thermostat setting and they match up. I see people posting low thermostat numbers like this all the time I can only assume they are inaccurate.

    On the Midea unit: Seems like they designed it upside down? The u-shape would have been more desireable if it put the inside and outside parts hanging below the window sill - opposite of what they have produced. There would still be a fairly thick "bridge" part that traverses the sill, connecting the inner and outer sections, but it would allow you to see out and even use the window.

    Shockingly low?  It's too hot, I wouldn't be able to sleep.  I keep it set to 67, that's shorts and t-shirt comfortable.

    For winter I keep the heat at 62.
  • Reply 6 of 17
    darkvaderdarkvader Posts: 1,146member
    cpsro said:
    Is 73 necessary?
    It's too hot.
  • Reply 7 of 17
    entropysentropys Posts: 4,313member
    welshdog said:
    73º?
    That is shockingly low. Do you always wear long pants and shirts? Our central air system is set between 79º-81º depending on humidity and we are always comfortable. I have checked room temps against the thermostat setting and they match up. I see people posting low thermostat numbers like this all the time I can only assume they are inaccurate.
    [Converts 73F into C]
    I'm lucky enough to have an aircon unit in the UK, a country where they are often used in places of business, but not that much at home. 
    Our recent heatwave pushed temperatures above 30C, and while the aircon could go down to 16C, it struggled to go below 24C, and that was unbearable. 
    At least where I live, 73F isn't considered shockingly low. Not by a long stretch. 
    Ah the English (or more so, the scots!).  
    This made me recall a Glasgow visitor (sister of immigrant friends) who visited us on the Gold Coast in the middle of one winter about five years ago. The temperature had plummeted to 19°C and a cold wind was blowing in from the distant mountains. Anyway, she still went into the surf, explaining it was just like Glasgow’s summer. We could not believe it. 

    30° is not unusual for us by the beginning of spring. A decent temperature. We wouldn’t even think of turning on the AC until it got above 32°C. And even then we would not put it below 24°C. That is just wasteful of energy.
  • Reply 8 of 17
    MalcolmOwenMalcolmOwen Posts: 30member, editor
    entropys said:

    Ah the English (or more so, the scots!).  
    So close. Welsh...
  • Reply 9 of 17
    Weakest Ac I've ever encountered in my whole life. If you live anywhere it gets hot DO NOT waste your time and money
  • Reply 10 of 17
    JP234 said:
    Is there anything Madea can't do? 😉
    I first read it as a Madea Air Conditioner and thought it was the next movie in the Madea series!
  • Reply 11 of 17
    mike1mike1 Posts: 3,442member
    welshdog said:
    73º?
    That is shockingly low. Do you always wear long pants and shirts? Our central air system is set between 79º-81º depending on humidity and we are always comfortable. I have checked room temps against the thermostat setting and they match up. I see people posting low thermostat numbers like this all the time I can only assume they are inaccurate.

    On the Midea unit: Seems like they designed it upside down? The u-shape would have been more desireable if it put the inside and outside parts hanging below the window sill - opposite of what they have produced. There would still be a fairly thick "bridge" part that traverses the sill, connecting the inner and outer sections, but it would allow you to see out and even use the window.
    79 - 81 degrees?! Why bother with an air conditioner at all?
    My AC is set between 70 - 72 degrees all summer long and that's a shorts and t-shirt setting. LOL

    Also, that temp is what the AC unit is trying to achieve. Depending on the actual air temp and room size, it may never get that low.


  • Reply 12 of 17
    My third summer with this unit, having backed it on Indiegogo back in 2020. I love how quiet it is. I did have to buy the 10,000BTU only because the idiot neighbor downstairs likes to keep his windows sealed and unshaded, with no fans or A/C. So I have to get rid of more than two apartments worth of heat, as he's living in a greenhouse. My electric bill still goes up by only $15-20 per month with thermostat at 80.
  • Reply 13 of 17
    welshdog said:
    On the Midea unit: Seems like they designed it upside down? The u-shape would have been more desireable if it put the inside and outside parts hanging below the window sill - opposite of what they have produced. There would still be a fairly thick "bridge" part that traverses the sill, connecting the inner and outer sections, but it would allow you to see out and even use the window.
    The problem is that walls are a lot thicker than windows. Inverted-U A/C units exist, but the connection between condenser and air handling units has to be pretty long to reach both sides of the walls. And you can't be sure if there might be something below the internal window sill, like a radiator. It was better to design it this way, where you know there's nothing above the window sill. And actually, that is one of the selling points of the unit that you can open the window and get fresh air if you want, since it's supported by the bracket and there's open space on the sides. You can't do that with a regular window A/C if you don't have a bracket, since you need the window to hold the top of the unit.
    StrangeDays
  • Reply 14 of 17
    mike1 said:
    79 - 81 degrees?! Why bother with an air conditioner at all?
    My AC is set between 70 - 72 degrees all summer long and that's a shorts and t-shirt setting. LOL
    And people wonder why we're suffering climate change and overtaxed electric grids.
    StrangeDays
  • Reply 15 of 17
    davgregdavgreg Posts: 1,048member
    Glad you got your own home and are staying cool.
    An option in many parts of the country in older buildings would be a through the wall unit, like is commonly used in motels and some other applications. 

    You would have someone modify your wall - likely below a window - and plug it in. They are fairly quiet, reliable and easily interchangeable as there is a standard size. An 8,000 BTU unit is available for less than $1,000 and can not only cool your home, it can act as back up or accessory heat. And unlike a window unit - you can get an HVAC person to work on them. And these units also offer Wi-Fi control.

    Another good option is a MiniSplit system - very efficient and very quiet. Easy to maintain.
    rundhvid
  • Reply 16 of 17
    StrangeDaysStrangeDays Posts: 13,111member
    welshdog said:

    On the Midea unit: Seems like they designed it upside down? The u-shape would have been more desireable if it put the inside and outside parts hanging below the window sill - opposite of what they have produced. There would still be a fairly thick "bridge" part that traverses the sill, connecting the inner and outer sections, but it would allow you to see out and even use the window.
    No, they did it the right way. Home walls are variably thick and often have trim and ledges. The window panes are much thinner and better for a slightly-variable design. (I just got this unit)
    edited July 2023
  • Reply 17 of 17
    Dealing with the summer heat can be brutal, especially without central air. I totally get it. That's why finding the right air conditioner is crucial. I've heard some nice things about HikaiHome Air Dehumidifier Manufacturer. Now, here's a pro-tip for you: considering your older home, it might also be worth looking into an air dehumidifier. Older homes tend to have more moisture, which can lead to musty smells and potential mold issues. An air dehumidifier can help create a more comfortable and healthier environment by reducing excess moisture.
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