Pros & Cons
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- Stylish design
- Works with Alexa and Google voice
- Easy installation
- Fast, quiet cooling
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- Does not support IFTTT or HomeKit
- Lacks power usage reports
Windmill AC Specs
| BTUs | 8,300 |
| Product Category | Smart Home |
| Style | Window Unit |
| Voice Control | Amazon Alexa |
| Voice Control | Google Assistant |
The Windmill AC ($395) is a Wi-Fi enabled window air conditioner that delivers fast, quiet cooling and looks good doing it. It works with Alexa and Google voice commands and is easy to install, and it comes with a user-friendly mobile app that lets you create cooling schedules and control the unit from your phone. That said, it’s not quite as smart as our Editors’ Choice, the GE Energy Star 115-Volt Electronic Room Air Conditioner AHC08LY, which adds Apple HomeKit and IFTTT support.
Design and Features
An uncluttered matte white front grill with rounded corners and auto-dimming LEDs gives the Windmill AC a decidedly high-tech look. It measures 13.2 by 19.3 by 19.4 inches (HWD) and weighs 60.1 pounds. The window frame and side panels are preinstalled on the unit for easy installation in any double hung window with a minimum opening height of 14 inches and a width of 23 to 37 inches. Its 8,300BTU rating is suitable for mid-size rooms up to 350 square feet.
Near the top of the front grill is an LED readout that tells you the current room and set temperatures, current mode, and Wi-Fi status. The LED will automatically go dark after 60 seconds. To the right of the LED, facing up, are small buttons for setting the temperature, selecting the fan speed (Low, Medium, High, Auto), selecting the Mode (Fan, Cool, Eco), and turning the unit on and off. There’s also a Wi-Fi setup button and an LED that lights up when it’s time to clean the filter. As with the Frigidaire Cool Connect 8000 BTU Smart Room Air Conditioner, the Windmill blows air upward rather than outward.
The Windmill comes with foam installation panels and adhesive strips, decorative side panels, an installation guide, and a 3.5 inch 4-button remote that lets you do everything the on-board buttons do.
You can also use the mobile app (iOS and Android) to control the air conditioner. The app opens to a home screen with panels for all installed Windmill air conditioners. Each panel displays the name of the device and has a power button. Tapping a panel opens a screen where you can set the temperature, view the current temperature, turn the AC on and off, select a fan speed, and change modes. In the upper right corner are two icons: a calendar and a gear. The calendar icon lets you create automatic on/off schedules. The gear icon lets you enable online notifications, share the device with other users, check your network connection, and update the unit’s firmware.
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Read Our Review
The Windmill AC supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands, but it lacks the support for Apple HomeKit that you get with the GE Energy Star 115-Volt Electronic Room Air Conditioner AHC08LY. It also doesn't support IFTTT applets that allow it to integrate with third party smart devices, or tell you how much energy it’s using (both features of the GE air conditioner).
Installation and Performance
Installing the Windmill was fairly easy, but it does weigh 60 pounds, so you may want to have an assistant help you when it comes time to place it in the window frame. The AC comes with the window frame and side panels pre-installed, so all you have to do is apply the insulation strips to the top, bottom, and sides of the window frame, place the unit in the window, center it and make sure the bottom bar is inside the window sill, and secure it using the included screws. Slide the side panels out until they are flush with the sides of the window frame, attach the decorative panels, and fill in any openings with the remaining foam insulation.
Next, plug in the air conditioner, download the mobile app, and press the Wi-Fi button for five seconds until the Wi-Fi indicator begins flashing rapidly. Follow the instructions to pair the Windmill with the app, connect it to your home network, and give it a name to complete the installation.
The Windmill is a solid performer. It needed around half an hour to cool a 360 square foot room to 68 degrees from its previous temperature of 78 degrees. It was relatively quiet, too, but not as quiet as the Midea 8,000BTU U-shaped Air Conditioner, which uses a unique design that helps dampen noise from the compressor. The unit responded quickly to Alexa voice commands and mobile app commands, and followed my on/off schedules without issue.
Conclusion
Good looks, great cooling power, and quiet operation are all strong reasons to consider the Windmill AC for your next in-window air conditioner. It did a fantastic job of cooling down a 360 square foot room in our testing and was fairly easy to install, and it responded quickly to Alexa voice and mobile app commands. That said, if you require a window air conditioner that works with lots of other smart devices, the GE Energy Star 115-Volt Electronic Room Air Conditioner AHC08LY is your best bet. It supports Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant voice commands, works with HomeKit and IFTTT applets, and tells you how much power it is using. As such, it remains our Editors’ Choice for smart air conditioners.