Written My first thought was, "Why would they innovate?  Has there been a radical shift in the construction of windows?  Would the exteriors of houses built today be barely recognizable to someone from the '80's?"  Of course not, so why change?Then I thought about it more.  The reason you see no "innovation" in the window AC is because it is an entry level product for that market.  If you live in an apartment or small house without A/C, your first step is a box fan.  Your second step is a window A/C.  When you have the funds, you either move up to central air, a minisplit, a PTAC or some other permanently installed device.Therefore, the key to selling window A/C units is to make them cheap.  Similar to what I wrote in the question: Why are window air conditioning units so loud?, they could make a fashionable, quieter...whatever you want but in the end if it is $40 more expensive than the competitors, the majority of the market will buy the competitor's unit.My second answer is that you are simply wrong. 

There have been major changes in the manufacture of these devices, its just happened gradually over time and mostly internal to the case.The biggest innovation has been the increase in efficiency of the units.  Of course, most of this was mandated by the DOE.  parts of home ac unitEven so, many window units rival central air in energy efficiency.  water coming from ac unitBut this isn't seen from the outside.best ac window units 2014The other big one is in refrigerant selection.  Many units have traditionally used R-22.  Since 2010, that has been phased out causing a radical re-design of the refrigeration system.  Again, something you can't see from the outside.There are many subtle changes you don't catch, as well.  Believe it or not, those units have gotten smaller. 

Or maybe the cabinet is the same size but the refrigeration capacity has increased significantly.  So it can cool more space.The weight has dropped significantly.   In the spring I help my folks put in two units.  The first is a dinosaur from the 80's.  It takes two people and a lot of grunting.  The second is less than 10 years old and can be hoisted into place by just myself.Finally, really think hard back to the 70's and 80's unit.  On the inside, it probably had some sort of fake would paneling that would flip up to reveal the controls.  As you showed, there aren't many of those on the market.  They are all now the "sleek/industrial" look, which is of course cheaper to produce than the faux wood panel look.Written There has been innovation over the years with the SEER (energy efficiency).. Are you referring to the design of it? : Quirky + GE Aros Smart Window Air Conditioner: Home Improvement). The AC world is innovating every year. I just bought this mini split unit with a crazy high SEER and works with my smartphone (GREE Crown 9,000 BTU Ductless Mini Split Heat Pump System - 30.5 SEER (208/230V) Smart-home tech is becoming more popular every year.

You will start to see AC units will be more and more popular.I live in an apartment, currently an extremely cold-ass apartment. But even soul-crushing temps can’t keep me from gadget-crushing on this good-looking connected AC unit from Frigidaire. Seemingly pulling design cues from Sonos’ wifi speakers, the Gallery Cool Connect Room air conditioner is one of only a few smart-cooling options for apartment-dwellers. The unit comes with an iOS and Android app for controls and filter-cleaning. But the unit’s convenience doesn’t stop with mobile apps. The front drawer is also magnetized and easily removable, so cleaning that filter isn’t a complete pain in the ass. Frigidaire lifts a couple ideas from Quirky’s (RIP) Aros AC by placing vents on top of the unit, which pushing cool air up and then out. This awesome AC will cost you $330 for an 8,000 BTU unit, but sometimes looking nice is worth the price. [Frigidaire via Digital Trends] Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps

Friedrich Chill serie offers an air conditioner with a cooling capacity of 7500 BTU and provides electric heat with a heating capacity of 3850 BTU. Quiet operation and consistent air distribution is ... The most comfortable temperature is the one you never notice. Kühl uses five built-in environmental sensors to more accurately monitor indoor and outdoor temperatures so that it can maintain your ... Friedrich ZoneAire serie offers a compact portable air conditioner with a cooling capacity of 8000 BTU, heating and dehumidification. While one side offers cooling, simply turn the unit around and ... Friedrich, Kühl is the first window air conditioner to provide the programmability and convenience of a central air conditioning system. An advanced 7-day programmable thermostat lets you ...An advanced 7-day programmable thermostat lets you program up ...Those of you who read our articles regularly, know that we are a small, U.S. Veteran-Owned company in Southern California, and pride ourselves in giving people honest, straight answers to their questions.  

This will be no different.  So, what is dirty sock syndrome?  “Dirty Sock Syndrome” is when your air conditioner gives off a foul, moldy or mildew-like smell when you turn it on.  If you notice that your house smells like your son just put his gym socks into your air conditioner or if your house generally smells musky or like a gymnasium when your air conditioner kicks on, then you could have dirty sock syndrome.  I think it is important for me to point out at this point that no, I am not joking.  This is a real problem that people face and it is actually called ‘Dirty Sock Syndrome’ in the HVAC industry.  In Santa Clarita, we get questions about this from time-to-time, usually in the springtime when people are transitioning their HVAC units from heating to cooling mode.  So, what causes dirty sock syndrome, and is it dangerous to me or my family?  In this article we will briefly explain what it is, what causes it, if dirty sock syndrome is dangerous, and what you can do to fix it.

Dirty sock syndrome is the foul, moldy smelling odor that comes from your air conditioner when you first turn it on.  It is caused by the build up of mold and bacteria on your evaporator coil.  Mold and mildew can grow due to the moisture that builds up on your coil through continued use, is fueled by the dust that collects in your air conditioner over time from inadequate filtration and is especially common when your unit goes from a period of heating to cooling.  Especially in the Springtime in Southern California and the southern states, it is not uncommon for the heat to be on in the night and morning, only to transition to a period of cooling later in the day.  This heat mixed with dust and moisture in the darkness of your AC unit is the perfect recipe for dirty sock syndrome.  These are some of the reasons that it is so important to prevent mold and to provide adequate filtration for the air entering your air conditioner.  In fact, did you know that the air conditioning filter that you replace every few months is actually for your air conditioner, not for you?  

Here are a couple of articles on preventing mold in your AC unit and how to properly choose your air conditioning filter: How Do You Prevent Mold? These 5 Tips Can Help. Air Conditioning Filter – How Dirt and Debris Can Affect Your Air Conditioning System. Before going to general quarters, it is important to rule out some other possibilities before jumping to the conclusion that you have dirty sock syndrome.  Here are a few things to rule out before calling your local HVAC contractor: If you have done these things and are still suffering from moldy, noxious smells when your air conditioner kicks on, then it might be time to call your local HVAC contractor.  For information on choosing the right contractor, make sure you take a look at: How to Choose a Contractor – 5 Tips You Must Know. The short answer is, it depends.  Usually the answer is no, dirty sock syndrome is not dangerous.  Dirty sock syndrome is caused by a variety of bacteria and mildews, none of which are harmful to your health under normal circumstances (normal immune system, etc).  

Where you can get into a dangerous area is if mold gets introduced into your HVAC system and begins to grow.  Mold can be a health risk to you and your family and should be handled appropriately.  Don’t go crazy just yet though – as a general rule, the CDC reports that most molds are only mildly toxic to humans and that symptoms in even heavily infested homes rarely progress past chronic coughing and wheezing.  This is obviously not desirable though, so mold should be reported to your landlord or properly handled as soon as possible.  After I just got your blood pressure up, it is important to keep in mind that just because you have dirty sock syndrome doesn’t mean that you have mold, so don’t go off the deep end; just open up your system and see what you’re dealing with. Where we start to run into problems with dirty sock syndrome is if someone in your family suffers from asthma, severe allergies or has a compromised immune system (chemotherapy, etc).  For instance, my wife suffers from moderate asthma and we take mold and allergens very seriously because we have to, using only high-quality air filters and I even clean our evaporator coil once every few months (I’ll show you how to do this in the next section).  

We’ve added a stand-alone air purifier to our bedroom and a UV air purifier to the air conditioner as well just to be safe and it works pretty well for us.  You have customizable options – your household might be different, so it is worth a little looking into (if you have questions, just give us a call and ask).  Dirty sock syndrome doesn’t automatically mean that you have mold, but it does mean that your AC unit is providing the right conditions for mold to grow and thrive, so keep an eye on it.  We will address how to deal with it in the next section. Dirty sock syndrome isn’t usually dangerous and it isn’t going to kill you, but you should still address it if it becomes a problem to say nothing of the fact that it just plain stinks!  For more information on mold and possible side affects of living with mold, take a look at the CDC: If you have a loved one who suffers from severe allergies or from asthma, try reading up on this: How to Reduce Asthma Symptoms and How Your Air Conditioner Can Help.

The most important factor in preventing dirty sock syndrome is to make sure that you choose a high-quality air conditioning filter.  Mold, mildew and bacteria need dust and other porous substances to thrive.  Removing these from the air before they get into your coils is one of the key ways to prevent dirty sock syndrome. The second way to prevent mold and bacteria from growing on your cooling coils (called evaporator could) is to use a UV air purifier.  These air purifiers have been used in hospitals for decades and quickly kill bacteria, mold and it’s spores.  At All Systems Mechanical, we install a UV air purifier on any job where our client reports allergy, asthma problems or a compromised immune system, so it might be worth asking your HVAC contractor if you have a problem with these as well.  There are several companies on the market that make UV air purifiers, but I have always been a fan of Honeywell.  They make quality products and are reliable.  A list of their UV air purifiers can be found below:

Start by checking your drainage pan for standing water and make sure it is draining properly.  You can buy dissolvable tablets at a hardware store or online that will keep these drains clear.  After ruling out the drainage pan and other possible contributing factors, you should start by adding the preventative measures listed above (quality air filter and UV air purifier) as these are key to keeping it from coming back (what’s the point of cleaning it if it is just going to be back in a few months).  Then, you’ll have to clean your evaporator coil to get rid of the dirt, mold and bacteria that is already there – here’s how: Is dirty sock syndrome dangerous?  Not usually, but it can be annoying and downright embarrassing.  After all, who wants their house to smell like a locker room?  These smells and odors are a direct result of the mold and bacteria that can collect in your air conditioner, but there are several ways to prevent and treat them.  If something your contractor is telling you doesn’t seem quite right, or you need a second opinion, consider using our Online Air Conditioning Consultation Service.