As temperatures soar over 95 degrees and your air conditioner struggles to keep you cool, you may find yourself wanting to end its misery. The poor old thing has been making strange sounds for years now — it’ll probably be out of commission by next summer. So you might as well get the quietest through-the-wall air conditioner you can find as soon as the seasonal discounts start rolling out.
Relying on fans won’t be possible for much longer. But what exactly makes through-the-wall air conditioners a better option than window units or portable devices? Let’s answer that question to start with!
QUIET THROUGH-THE-WALL ACS: TOP PICKS
Benefits of Getting a Through-the-Wall Air Conditioner
If you’ve been trying to find the quietest through-the-wall air conditioner for your home, you should know that many of the products you’ll run into are actually window-mounted units. The difference in design usually comes down to the window ACs having ventilation grilles on the sides, whereas wall ACs have them in the back of the unit.
Notably, window-mounted units also tend to be louder than wall ACs. And, on top of all that, they permanently block your access to your window. Even portable air conditioners tend to take up windows with their exhaust pipe setup — albeit temporarily. So if you live in an apartment that doesn’t have many windows to spare, that can be a real deal-breaker.
So really, built-in wall units are much better long-term solutions. On top of that, they’re also energy-efficient, durable, and easy to replace if you already have a universal wall sleeve. As long as that unit can fit into the 24.5–27-inch wide hole in your wall, you’ll be all set.
Ultimately, the only drawback people experience with through-the-wall units is the initial installation. But once you break that ice — or rather wall — you’ll be in for a lifetime of chill summers.
How to Find the Quietest Through-the-Wall Air Conditioner
Having established the superiority of through-the-wall air conditioners, let’s talk about the features you need to look out for when searching for the quietest one on the market.
Noise Level
First and foremost, let’s discuss the level of noise you might have to deal with. Typically, that depends on the cooling capacity of the unit — which we’ll soon discuss. The lower capacity units can achieve a volume of sound that’s well below 55 decibels. Since that’s close to the sound of mild rainfall, it shouldn’t get in the way of you living your life.
Even the more powerful units reviewed below don’t get much louder than 60 decibels. For comparison, that’s about the same as the volume you’d use to conduct a normal conversation. Before manufacturers started making an effort to produce quiet ACs, most people had to put up with 72–82-decibel units! That’s certainly not what you want from a device that’s supposed to run in the background all through the summer.
BTU and Room Capacity
Next up, you should really consider the cooling power you need from your wall AC. While shopping for the quietest through-the-wall unit on the market, you’ll see that most of them have a BTU number in their descriptions, if not the product names themselves. That can tell you how powerful a unit is, as well as the size of the space it can cool.
You see, BTU stands for British thermal unit, and it explains how many of those units your AC can process or remove within an hour. The higher that number is, the greater the square footage the device will be able to handle. So if you have a room in mind for your AC, start by measuring the floor.
Operating Modes and Settings
Most of the air conditioners on the market can cool and dehumidify your space. They usually have three fan speeds and three pre-set cooling modes to do that with. On top of that, some of them also have some amount of supplemental heating power that can help you boost the central heating in your building during the winter.
Many of the units you’ll see on the market also have Sleep Modes, which can adjust the operation of the device during the night to maintain the temperature you’ve selected. Additionally, you may have a Money Saving or Eco Mode that does something similar during the day. With that in mind, let’s get into the final feature you should consider before purchasing your AC.
Energy Efficiency
If you want to lower your electric bills, one way to do it would be to buy appliances that are energy efficient. In this case, that is represented by the EER — or energy efficiency ratio — of a unit. EER is essentially the ratio between the BTU of a unit and the power input or wattage necessary to run it.
A similar idea can also be expressed by the CEER or combined energy efficiency ratio. That number is calculated by measuring the BTU against the average energy input and standby power consumption in Watts.
For an AC unit to be energy efficient, you’d want it to have an EER above 10 or, ideally, 10.5. Anything below 10 isn’t enough for the unit to receive the coveted ENERGY STAR certificate.
Best Quiet Through-the-Wall Air Conditioners
Now that we know the gist of shopping for the quietest through-the-wall air conditioners, let’s get into the reviews. The following products are listed in order of growing BTU. So if you’re looking to cool a bigger space, skip to the bottom of the list.
1. LG LT0816CER 8,000 BTU Wall Air Conditioner
This LG air conditioner has a cooling power of 8,000 BTU, which allows it to process an area of about 330–340 square feet. While the external section of the unit produces about 62 A-weighted decibels, the internal parts only produce 56 dBA. So both the interior and exterior noise levels will be in check with this device.
Having said that, let’s go over some of the basic information about this unit, starting with its size and electrical ratings. The 65-pound unit is 14.04 inches tall, 24 inches wide, and 20.1 inches deep. According to the manufacturer, the AC should fit any standard 26-inch wall sleeve.
The device has 750 Watts of cooling power and runs on 115V of electricity. If the power ever cuts off and comes back again, the unit will continue working automatically. So if you want it, just make sure you have the correct kind of wall plug. And it’ll have to be no more than 72 inches away since that’s the cord length you’re getting with this product.
This AC has 4-way air deflection and three fan speed settings you can use on their own or in conjunction with the unit’s cooling or heating features. You’ll even be able to adjust the settings, including the timer, with the remote control that comes with the unit. After a certain point, the unit will turn on the Clean Filter indicator, signaling that it’s time to wash the filter.
Features:
- 14.04 by 24 by 20.1 inches
- 8,000 BTU cools up to 340 square feet
- Produces up to 56 dBA
- ENERGY STAR certified
- Comes with a trim kit and remote control
2. Keystone KSTAT08-1HC 8,000 BTU Through-the-Wall Air Conditioner
While we’re on the subject of 8,000 BTU units, let’s talk about the first of three Keystone air conditioners we have on this list. Even though the brand seems to be overrepresented on the market right now, it seems like there’s a good reason for it. So let’s discover it together.
Measuring 14.5 inches tall, 24.2 inches wide, and 20.3 inches deep, this 76-pound unit should fit into a standard wall sleeve just as easily as the previous one. On top of that, it has the same 115V plug and is also capable of removing 2.1 pints of moisture from the air every hour. And since this unit has an internal evaporation system, the dehumidifier feature won’t cause leaks.
Ultimately, since these two units have the same BTU rating, it’s only natural to have these intersections. However, the other similarities are simply a result of these brands trying to be competitive. That’s why this unit is also capable of supplementing your heating needs during the winter. The manufacturer even specified that it has 4,200 BTU of heating power.
Additionally, this unit comes with a remote control that can detect where in the room you are and adjust the fan speed and temperature settings accordingly. You can also use it to delay the shutoff by as much as 24 hours. And when it’s time to clean the filter, removing it to vacuum or wash it will be a breeze.
Features:
- 14.5 by 24.2 by 20.3 inches
- 8,000 BTU cools up to 350 square feet
- Produces up to 57 dBA (51.8 on low speed)
- ENERGY STAR certified
- Comes with a trim kit and remote control
3. Friedrich Uni-Fit Series UCT10A30A 9,800 BTU Cool Only Air Conditioner
Friedrich’s Uni-Fit series of air conditioners was designed to fit wall sleeves measuring between 24.5 and 27 inches. The 9,800 BTU unit is 14.5 inches tall, 24.2 inches wide, and 20.3 inches deep. So it has similar dimensions to the previous two air conditioners we’ve reviewed. However, unlike those two, this model has 940W of cooling power and no heating features. On top of that, this unit also removes as much as 1.25 pints of moisture from the air every hour.
Since this unit has a higher BTU rating, it should be able to process an area between 400 and 450 square feet. While the manufacturer doesn’t mention the decibel level of this unit in the product description, it does claim to have included so-called QuietMaster Technology. Between the steel inner walls, high-density insulation foam padding, and vibration-dampening counterweights inside the unit, the appliance should be 25% quieter than the competitors’ products.
Another thing that’s unique to this line of products is that you can wirelessly control them through the Friedrich Go app. Alternatively, you can use the remote that comes with the unit.
The only thing you need to power this 230V air conditioner is a 250V-15A circuit breaker — or T-D fuse. Aside from that, you’ll just need to make sure that your power outlet is within 5 feet of the unit — since its cord is 4.75 feet long.
Features:
- 14.5 by 24.2 by 20.3 inches
- 9,800 BTU cools between 400 and 450 square feet
- QuietMaster Technology
- ENERGY STAR certified
- Comes with a trim ring and remote control
4. Keystone KSTAT10-1C 10,000 BTU Through-the-Wall Air Conditioner
The second Keystone unit on this list continues our trend of presenting air conditioners in order of growing BTU ratings. The model offers 10,000 BTU capable of cooling up to 450 square feet. But in many other aspects, it’s pretty similar to the previous Keystone product we’ve reviewed.
The 115V product can come with or without 10,600 BTU of supplemental heating power. We’ve chosen to feature the Cool Only version — which can also be made to suit a 230V outlet. All versions of the device come with an installation kit that includes foam seals that should let you retrofit your wall sleeve.
Overall, this model is fairly similar to the other Keystone product on our list in appearance as well as features. It has a 24-hour timer, three cooling modes, and three pre-programmed fan speeds allowing you to adjust the settings to your liking. Additionally, the ENERGY STAR-certified unit doubles as a dehumidifier capable of drawing up to 2.3 pints of moisture per hour.
When that becomes too much for the built-in filter inside the device, you’ll simply pop the front grille off and wash it. At peak performance, you’ll hear no more than 57.4 decibels from this air conditioner. Best of all, you’ll be able to control the unit with the same type of remote that comes with the other Keystone AC on our list. The company’s proprietary Follow Me technology allows the AC to track your movements around the room and adjust its operation mode accordingly.
Features:
- 14.5 by 24.2 by 20.3 inches
- 10,000 BTU cools up to 450 square feet
- Produces up to 57.4 dB
- ENERGY STAR certified
- Comes with an installation kit and remote control
5. Whirlpool WHAT101-HAW 10,000 BTU Through-the-Wall AC With Supplemental Heating
If you like the idea of having a 230V air conditioner with 10,000 BTU cooling and 10,600 BTU of supplemental heating power, you might like this unit from Whirlpool. The company behind this product is famous for making silent household appliances like washing machines and dishwashers. So the fact that this AC unit only produces between 54 and 58 decibels during regular operation shouldn’t come as a surprise.
As expected, the unit has three speed settings and a number of operation modes. While it doesn’t have a Quiet Mode per se, it does come with a pre-programmed Sleep Mode. Moreover, it even has an automatic shutoff feature — though you can just as easily delay the shutoff by 24 hours by using the timer setting.
Like Friedrich’s Uni-Fit series of air conditioners, Whirlpool’s product is capable of sending cool air in eight directions. The 75-pound unit can cover between 300 and 500 square feet. Just keep in mind that it needs to be within 4 feet of an electrical outlet. Luckily, you won’t have to be that close to change the settings since the device does come with remote control.
The only downside of this unit is that it has an EER of 9.7. That’s certainly lower than the 10.7 average ratio of the other products on this list. Unfortunately, that also means that this air conditioner isn’t ENERGY STAR certified. However, it does have an Eco Mode that should save you some money in the long run.
Features:
- 14.5 by 24.2 by 20.3 inches
- 10,000 BTU cools 300–500 square feet
- Produces up to 54 dB
- Eco Mode should lower the electric bill
- Comes with a trim kit and remote control
6. Keystone KSTAT12-1C 12,000 BTU Through-the-Wall Air Conditioner
The third and final Keystone unit on our list has a cooling power of 12,000 BTU capable of processing rooms of up to 550 square feet. The increased power also allows it to draw 2.5 pints of moisture from the air every hour. Moreover, like most of the units on this list, it also offers three fan speeds, three cooling modes, as well as a timer feature. It can even automatically shut down when it reaches a certain temperature.
Even at a glance, you could probably tell that this unit has many things in common with other Keystone ACs. Still, we’ll go over its most significant features, starting with the amount of noise it’s capable of producing. Namely, even though this AC typically operates at about 56.5 decibels, it can go up to 60 decibels. But really, that shouldn’t overpower the sound of quiet conversation.
Unlike the previous product on this list, this model has an EER of 10.5 which was enough to earn it the ENERGY STAR certificate. It even has a washable filter that should reduce the ecological footprint of the model. The 115V unit has a 7-foot long power cord, which is something you ought to keep in mind.
Other than that, the only other thing you should know is that this model also comes with a remote. As we have established, Keystone’s Follow Me technology essentially allows the AC to adjust its operating mode according to the remote’s in the room.
Features:
- 14.5 by 24.2 by 20.3 inches
- 12,000 BTU cools up to 550 square feet
- Produces up to 60 dB
- ENERGY STAR certified
- Comes with a trim kit and remote control
7. Emerson Quiet Kool 14,000 BTU Through-the-Wall Heat & Cool Combo Air Conditioner
Last but not least, we have a through-the-wall air conditioner with a cooling capacity of 14,000 BTU and 10,600 BTU of supplemental heating power. Suffice it to say, if you’re looking to bring the temperature down in a 700 square foot area, this unit should have you covered. Better still, it’ll work to dehumidify your space at a rate of 3.8 pints per hour. As long as it’s within 4.8 feet of a 230V power outlet, it should be fine.
On top of that, the device should fit any standard size wall sleeve — though of course that’s not included in the purchase. Instead, all you get is the washable and reusable filter, a trim kit, and remote control. The unit itself has all the standard features, including three fan speeds that work in conjunction with 8-directional louvers. Other than that, you can also adjust the 24-hour timer or engage the Sleep Mode.
Regrettably, with an EER of 9.4, this device is not ENERGY STAR certified. However, it does have an Energy Saver mode you can use to maintain a set room temperature.
Ultimately, the real selling point of this unit is its quiet operation. Naturally, the amount of power it requires prevents it from being able to hit the low 50-decibel range. But still, it should be no louder than 60 decibels.
Features:
- 14.5 by 24.2 by 20.3 inches
- 14,000 BTU cools up to 700 square feet
- Produces between 57 and 60 dB
- Energy Saver mode in lieu of an ENERGY STAR certificate
- Comes with a trim kit and remote control
Choose and Install the Best Quiet Through-the-Wall Air Conditioner for Your Home
To find your way to the quietest through-the-wall air conditioner that suits your home, you’ll start by determining the voltage you need. As you have seen, these appliances have a voltage of 115 or 230. That means you’ll need to find out whether your power outlets are connected to a 120V or 240V system.
If you don’t have an existing wall sleeve, you might want to get an HVAC professional over to examine the thickness of your wall. They’ll be able to tell you what kind of sleeve you’ll need — and help you find the right AC for it. Of course, as we have seen, that’s pretty standardized at this point.
Even if you don’t need anyone to punch a hole through your wall, you’ll still benefit from the presence of an HVAC pro. Of course, in that case, the installation process might look something like this.
After removing the decorative edge around the AC, you’ll simply slide the existing unit out of the wall. There will be more steps involved when bringing the new unit in. You’ll have to work with the trim kit and adjust the ground wire too. But all those instructions should come with the device.
Enjoy a Soothing Cool Breeze
There’s something about waking up on a bright August morning in a puddle of sweat that gets us wondering how we’re going to survive another humid summer in the city. Even if so far, we’ve made do with fans and portable air conditioners, we all know they won’t keep us cool for much longer.
So why not invest in a device that can give us the comfort we need? Through-the-wall conditioners are the way to go — especially if you already have a universal wall sleeve. Even if you don’t, it’s better to make one than to block a window with portable or window units.
If nothing else, wall units are typically much quieter than those alternatives. So you’re sure to find what you’re looking for. And once you do, you’ll be cool as a cucumber even in the midst of a heatwave.
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