I am curious, which window AC do you think is best and why? Also, there are links to everything you saw in this video in the video description so you can check them all out for yourself!
Great to see you compare these units. I am considering buying one and this is the comparison that I wanted to see. I wanted to see each of the comparisons that you did bc these are exactly what I wanted to compare. You covered all the things that would help ppl make a decision. Why pick a winner…? 🙂
I think I would go for the clear view ONLY because I enjoy watching the animals that visit my backyard, and love the idea of having my cake and eating it too 😆. Blessings and keep up the good work 👍🏼
I'd have to reach the same conclusion you did. I like the GE name, but the difference in price, plus the ongoing extra energy cost makes it. Although, if the warranties were drastically different, that could influence it.
I installed the Midea 12,000 a couple of months ago. Having to pump the condensate out of the GE was what sold me on the Midea. There's no way that set up isn't going to be an issue.
Nice to see a comparison, although when I went to look at the energy star info (to see what the cost is based on hours of service wise) using your links the Midea 12,000 energy star sticker says $64 and the GE didnt have one on its listing. I googled around and found the GE 12,200 ES sticker and it too says $64 a year which gives it a better efficiency rating (14.7 vs 15 for the Midea) because of the extra 200btu at the same cost. Also a company by the name of Fogatti makes similar units for RV windows.
I went with the Midea for 3 simple reasons. 1. I have young kids that would have played with the controls on the lower height system 2. The planned window is super deep as it doubles as a reading nook 3. The GE's condensate needed frequent cleaning where as the Midea didn't. Both were priced quite well and I'm sure both would have functioned well, but with these 3 things in mind the Midea was the better choice for me. 2yrs in I'm still loving in my patio addition. -S Florida
One thing I have done for temporary installations of ordinary window units, is mount them to plywood. Then mill a couple of 2x4’s to fit the window track. I place these two pieces in the track and set the a/c in the window with 4 screws. Great for hurricane season.
For Costco members: (Aug 1, 2024): Midea 12k, $380 shipping included. Also, I believe the GE needs a PUMP to send any condensed water up and over to outside. If pump clogs, you get a wet floor. Midea uses gravity, same as any window unit.
I have the 8300 BTU version of the GE. You are correct about the pump, I have only had the a/c in service for about a month but so far the pump works fine and there aren't any leaks. When the pump filter is pulled out for cleaning about a cup and a half of water needs to be drained into a pan to be taken to the sink and dumped down the drain. There are also two air filters on it -- one in front like normal and one that slides out of the back of the inside portion of the a/c. These aren't hard to clean but they do need to be cleaned about once a month. The a/c is quiet, cools nicely (I have mine in a 15 X 15 room) and the dry setting does actually dehumidify more than just running it on low (these are based on a mini split design so they work differently than a standard a/c). As long as the pump holds up I think this a/c will work fine with normal maintenance for several years at minimum.
Midea is a Chinese company making cheap products in China. *GE* is an American company and it's appliances & air conditioners are *ALL Made in America* 🇺🇸 Do you not care about supporting US workers?
I bought the 8000 btu midea and installed in a trailer. It works great. I run it off a solar system I put in the trailer. I did a test and without solar charging turned on, my battery bank ran it for 31 hours set to 70 degrees, I did precool the trailer to 70 before turning off the solar charge controllers, it was anywhere from 83 to 88 degrees outside in the day and got to around 70 at night, and the trailer is not insulated. It works great. Been running for 1.5 years with no issues. I have seen 1100 watts multiple times, but usually on 100 degree days. It usually runs between 400 and 600 when trying to maintain as it gets hotter out and runs around 200 watts when almost satisfied. The biggest issue to me is that the GE unit has to have a water pump inside it somewhere to pump the water to the outside, unless you have to drain it manually. Pumps get clogged and will at some point go bad. The Midea just uses a regular drain pan and drains into the back of the unit. It can clog and will eventually as well but all you have to do is clean it, nothing to replace. As a service tech I would rather go with a regular drain than a pump. I have worked on enough mini splits to know that is a big issue.
I had a little too much water in the outside tray of my Midea 8000 while being run in the 95 degree heat and 80% humidity. My fix was to put a 1/8" rivet head in the middle of the rubber drain plug with the pull pin removed (Insert from the bottom). It's located in the bottom right when facing the outdoor unit and has a warning label. It drains perfect now.
@@skiboskeeskiblets Not sure why there is a hole in your unit. I would have to check mine, but I have never seen a hole in mine. And it does not leak. Mine usually overflows on the outside and goes over the lip when it gets too much water and I have only seen that happen when it rains. You would have to plug and seal the hole if the hole is the issue. It could be a clogged drain. If it is leaking inside the house, then it is most likely overflowing the pan and leaking due to a clog. If it is outside, then I do not know where the hole came from, but you would have to seal it, JB weld would probably work well, but you will have to turn it off and let it set. The spot needs to be dry when you apply it. Could use silicone or caulk. Possibly need to uninstall it to access it depending on where it is located.
@@skiboskeeskiblets check your level... the unit has to be level left and right and front to back as per instructions. When the level is off, this can happen...
@@eddieellis677 I can hear my Midea 8000 sloshing... Midea says this is normal and helps cool unit coils and is meant to work this way. Old units from 10-20 years ago would get rid of all the water.....
I bought the Midea at Costco for $360, within two weeks it went on sale for $299. And I got my overpayment back.. had it in my work shed over the summer, also added a small box fan to additional air circulation and it’s amazing.. I also have a digital thermometer on the opposite side of the shed by the double door and it will drop the temp below 70* no problem.. I keep it running dehumidifier with the temp setting around 75, works wonderful.
We just installed the same Midea 12,000 btu at our daughters house. It’s much better than the 6 year old 8,000 btu unit she replaced. One concern my husband had was the wattage since her breaker couldn’t handle a bigger drain. Both of these units are so similar my decision would be made by where you are installing it. Hers is in the bedroom. The middle of three windows, so blocking her view wasn’t a concern, but the GE sits lower and then furniture placement comes into play. She has a desk and the Midea sits right where the old ac was. If you needed one for a living room you could still place a sofa under the unit. Good comparison! Thank you.
I put my unit in a window facing a stockade fence the neighbor installed on the property line along my driveway, less than ten feet from the window. Likewise, I have a unit in a window facing a hedge on the other end of the house. The view out these windows really isn't a problem.
@@martiriggs2003 i have Midea from 2023, rated as low power requirements. I have no way to measure operational power, except: no tripped power; my lights, tv, ceiling fans and other tools and electronics are on nearly 18 hours daily; 700 sq ft. As for bedroom, it runs quiet but i would be more concerned about being right up under it, directly when its actively blowing cold air.
@@dplj4428 adjust the vents to blow the air up, it’s basically the same as having any window ac unit. As for our house we have Mitsubishi mini splits so we got away from window ac.
I have read comments about the GE complaining about condensation pooling. It looks like there is a drain on the right side. I ultimately went with the Midea in our bonus room. It has worked well.
I didn't think about that originally when I saw the GE model in the store but it's not a great design. The Midea can naturally drain the condensation like a traditional window unit but the GE would need a pump or a container inside the house to catch the condensation, which makes the design more complicated and less efficient.
@@madmatt2024You don't need anything to catch the condensation. I clean my filter weekly and drain the water filter a the same time into a small bowl. So far no leaking or anything. I have both of these units and you can't go wrong with either.
Love love the Midea, quiet cool (my 8000 btu cools most of my 1000sf main floor & I blow upstairs to half story using pedestal fan). Amazing too that Midea included the rack, foam blocks & insulation in the box. If the store had one of the larger BTU units in stock I’d have chosen it but this is still amazing. IMPORTANT: Wouldn’t pick the GE reverse U since too many user complaints about water draining inside house ruining their drywall, carpet/padding, wood floor.
Your videos are always so informative. We really rely on you to give all of the information and you make it so very clear and concise. We appreciate it more than you will ever know.
They are good prices for a Ton/12kBTU. No one seems to talk about the elephant in the room-- the GE Clearview has a condensate pump. The water has to go somewhere. Most window units are designed to just drain it outside using gravity. The evaporator on the GE Clearview hangs below the window sill, so it has to be pumped up and over the window sill to the back. It's a potential problem because it's an extra part to go wrong. If it goes out, and it probably will, how easy is it to replace? Is it replaceable at all? I'd like to know if people have reported problems with this. Water dripping on your floor is a real problem.
"Most window units are designed to just drain it outside using gravity." The new A/Cs don't have drain holes anymore, instead they splash the water onto the condenser for better efficiency, the warm water then evaporates outside. There are some exceptions but for the most part no more drain holes except for an overflow port should the water level get too high.
Thank you for the video. I have the Media 12,000 BTU window air conditioner and I love it. However, I can see that some may want the U facing down to minimize window blockage. Our windows go fairly low and I wasn't sure about vacuuming under the unit. Our unit is low to the ground, if the window was on a second story, I'd definitely think more about the GE from a safety and installation standpoint. One aspect that you could not evaluate until later is how well do the units last. We bought when our central A/C was out and could not be fixed for a month. Definitely provided a cool breeze to where we watch TV and we also directed the flow to our bedroom. When air conditioning is needed we run our Media continually on the lowest settings. Here is what our meter is telling me right now: Run for 59 days (part in the late spring and in the late summer / early fall) for unrelated reasons, did not run in the summer. Total kwh used 93.38 Total variable cost at 0.14 / kwh = $12.90 Temperature set at 76, eco on, mode cool, low fan (auto had a mind of its own - don't use testing minimal cost to provide comfort to us) One sample 0.047 amps, 0.1 watts might be the meter - unit not blowing Second sample 0.17 ams, 11 watts - blowing but cooling might not be needed much (has a mind of its own) Which one would I buy again? I really want the direct solar and / or solar hybrid offered by the EG4 mini splits, but without the mini split. If Media U or GE U came out with a direct solar, I'd strongly consider buying either immediately and maybe more later. When the term inverter style was used by Media I got excited when I thought it ran from direct current, but I gather it means variable speed compressor - which is great, but didn't know what inverter meant. Consider me on the wait list for any brand window U shaped air conditioner that has a direct solar and / or solar hybrid option like the EG4 mini split (without the split and associated tubing). Dave
Another point for the GE Clearview is it will fit in a window that is too small for a regular AC unit as long as the lower sash is removeable. I put one in a single hung window that only opens 11 inches by removing the lower sash and replacing it after the unit was in place.
Same for me, narrow opening so removing the sliding part the GE slips right in then pop the sliding part back in. I like the weight resting on the house instead of window like traditional window unit. GE is pricey but super quiet so I'm happy with my GE.
Wow! Your video is so very informative and exactly what I have been looking for. The electricity has been going out more frequently at my house due to storms and whatnot. I have been looking for a small unit to be powered by my generator when the power goes out. I've not been impressed by the "regular" type window units and have held off buying one. This U shaped unit is exactly what I'm needing! Thank you thank you thank you for this video!!! It gave me the information that was most important to me - model characteristics, wattage use, installation difficulty, and price.
I got a midea 8k a month ago, super impressed! At first it didnt seem like much but once it got going wow. I cool my whole downstairs in a 3 br house with it. Gets ice cold once the room is cooled.
The GE design is hands-down better but the Midea price and remote make it the clear choice. Glad I got 2 of their 12K BTU models as a backup to my Central HVACs here in Florida.
This wasn’t discussed but another consideration for bedrooms is the amount of LIGHT coming into the room. The GE profile will allow you to pull a blackout shade all the way down to the top of the unit and cover the light. But the Madea will only allow a shade to hit the top of the AC unit so you will get light coming in through the bottom (where the “U” is)
i have both of these as well. There is a huge noise difference when the external wall is vinyl siding. The Midea remains near silent while the GE vibrates the wall as if there's a helicopter outside.
My girlfriend had the same helicopter comment after I installed the GE unit. We have wood siding but still get that thumping sound. Still happy with it though as we can cool the bedroom down without running the central unit for the entire house.
Many GE products are inferior to others. My moms GE kitchen appliances (OTR micro, frig, etc) have been nothing but trouble so she replaced them with other brands.
@@tabbott429 I have had 2 sets of full kitchen Profile appliances and have had great luck with them with the exception of the ice maker in the 1990s first set.
Thank you for the nice comparison. The temperature of the air coming out of these units doesn't tell us anything about their cooling capacity or how fast they chill down a room. They either deliver their rated BTU or they don't. Measuring the output temperature is pointless unless you also know the CFM being delivered.
It's worth noting that a an increase of 3db is 2x as loud. The Decibel scale is weird. I just bought this same Midea 12000BUT with Matter Support. Really like it although as soon as I set it up I got a notification in the Medea app that the app was being deprecated and to switch to the "Smart Home" app. Unfortunately doing so seems to lose the Apple Home Kit integration. I was able to get it back by adding the Unit into Home Assistant. Another neat feature is that you can have the Midea set to use the temperature at the remote. We live in a house that is a 1 & 1/4 story, meaning the upstairs has those slanted ceilings also meaning that the ceiling of those rooms is right against the roof line so it gets hot. We have a hall/stair landing and two rooms up there. We put the AC unit in the window of the hall/landing but keep the remote in my daughter's room. So the unit runs until my daughter's room gets to the desired temperature.
Keep your drain pan clean with antibacterial tablets and spray a vinegar solution on the pans. if it gets stopped up use a plastic zip ties under the coils on the pan to break up the gunk and suck it out with a siphon. A water house can also break apart the gunk from the outside.
Great review! Both are nice, I like the idea of the A/C being below the window, but I also like the idea of the dedicated bracket. I'd buy which was probably cheaper or in stock at the moment I was shopping. For me I put in a Pioneer mini split in my workshop about 8 years ago. I read up on it and bought the necessary tools. A bit more work but much more quiet than the window units available at the time. But being able to replace the whole unit in under an hour makes these new window units look pretty appealing. Thanks again for the info!
One thing few people look at is what direction the air exits the unit. After all, you're looking to cool all that hot air that rises, and if the A/C can't push cool air high enough to mix and cool it down you're never going to completely cool a large room.
I went with the GE and was super happy about the installation. I had no idea what I was doing and was still able to install it for the first time in like 30 minutes. Next year when I put it in again, I bet it'll take 10. I also like that it is supported by the side of the house. I put two rubber feet between the plastic screws and the house to eliminate all rattling and to prevent damage to my vinyl siding
We’ve had the 10k Midea unit for a couple of years now. We originally installed it as a back up AC in case of a Texas summer power outage but quickly found we can cool our master bedroom without having to cool the rest of the house at night. Works very well. Very happy with the Midea.
Loving the midea.... I have two keeping a 2,400 sq ft house cool in hot and humid Florida. One has been running nearly every day for two years. The new version has a drain hole in the back finally.
I just finally pulled the trigger on a midea 8,000btu unit.. got it from home depot.. it is a Newer version than the one you are testing here..there are a few notable differences: the front panel no longer uses press buttons but instead has touch sensitive ones...the max lowest temp is reduced to 60 degrees, the ceer rating is now 16.0 and there is a 3/4 " drain plug that can be removed in the right rear...These had issues with mold, for some it was serious although it may have in part been how the user setup the unit.. mine is set to tilt 1/2 to maybe 1" if measured at the rear.. never mout these level! with the drain plug removed, on a humid day I can see the water dripping out the back of the unit...even though midea says leave the plug in, why would you do that when there are mold concerns with their units? they say it makes the ac make even colder air by splashing the puddle that builds inside on the coils.. I'll pass on that and rather have no mold issues! the midea is Ice cold as far as air out. anyway, I am Literally blown away by the effortless cooling and that it can do it as quietly as this! its really like just using the central air, just a whisper and yet the energy it uses is far less...install was Intimidating and the unit was heavy for my 64 yr old disc damaged back! especially on a second story install...To have a chilly room on 108 degree days and have it do so in complete quiet, is something I didnt think possible..I can finally watch tv in the room and Hear it when the ac is on... My only complaint was regarding home depot..I deliberately chose a box that looked Undamaged, got it home, unboxed it only to see some substantial fin damage on the back in more than one area.. it was packaged perfectly so I dont know how this could have happened but I installed it anyway and contacted home depot after the fact, showed them pics of the damages and they would only allow 50 bucks off the price.. For the appearance damages, I told them 100.00 off or I'd just return it and get another but I'd rather not have to pull and rebox the unit ..anyway, they refused so I'll have to do a return sometime in my 90 day return window...that said, I'm gonna get the same one again and check it in store b4 leaving!... my gf also wants one..her window is a slider with a 21" gap.. it will fit but I need to cut a board to fit the above space... lastly, I saw another test and the midea was pulling 450 watts while cooling at its lowest temp.. Ive heard these can draw between 250 or less to 400 watts when temps are achieved and its just maintaining... Inverter tech is Incredible as far as ac units goes.. if you are getting a midea, make sure its the Newer version with touch sensitive buttons, thats the immediate visual cue that its the newer one..there may be Many other changes as well ,Ive only mentioned the obvious..hope this helps others
Mould is only an issue only if the inside remains damp. It is its normal function and was designed to pool water outside. They redesign ACs to address this issue, which can potentially afflict any improperly designed window AC: U-shaped, Saddle, Mini Split, whole-house or regular window box-type. Re: flattened fins: The fins can be pried open with a butter knife or tool from Temu or Amazon for this job, it shouldn't affect functioning appreciably if left crushed, although it is somewhat unsightly. Allowing water to pool in the outside tray to be splashed against the fins, as was designed, will result in the AC realizing its advertised energy efficiency, and will prolong the life of the unit as it will be less likely to overheat under load.
@@mikemotorbike4283 Beware of letting the water splash on the fins if you live in a large city with lots of traffic! The sulfur monoxide gas that exhaust produces changes to sulfuric acid when it hits water. This causes "fin rot" which is when the aluminum of the fins turns to a white powder. Later designed units claim to have a coating on the fins to prevent this but we will have to see if it works.
I've had two Media U-Shaped AC's and used them for 2 - 4 years. No complaints. I'd still have them, but moved into a house that doesn't have the right kind of windows for a window AC unit. I did have to return one because the fan was noisy right out of the box. Otherwise, they were great.
I have two Midea units that can keep my whole house comfortable. The “Dry” setting works great. They go a little overboard with screwing in all their brackets. The frame works great on it’s own and now i can install them in about 5 minutes each.
There are also many other U channel and saddle channel window air conditioners, not just Midea and GE. The fundamental difference between a U channel and a saddle channel is that a U channel only has to accomodate the width of the window pane in the channel whereas the saddle format has to accomodate the width of the wall in it's channel.
FYI: The 8000 BTU Midea U-Shaped air conditioner has an average of 419 watts of cooling power at max settings. I measured mine yesterday with the same exact meter that you are using. I measured my Midea in preparation for connecting it to two 400 watt solar panels (BougeRV 10BB, 23% panels) and an EcoFlow Delta Pro 3. After a hurricane and power being lost I should be able to stay comfortable and get a good night sleep, plus power my refrigerator!
Great review! I really appreciate this and I'm sure others will. Fwiw, Last year I picked up my Midea unit for $320 at Costco! This is a mind-blowing and amazing deal and they seem to do an $80 off deal every year through most of the summer. I did look at the GE online but it was way more expensive. I do like their approach of leaving the window unobscured but TBH the price difference is huge if you consider the additional discounts Costco gives you.
For a brief time there was a Canadian company selling what was in effect a mini-split window AC model, where the coolant tubing was flexible and what you routed it thru the window, hanging the compressor bits outside. But it was poorly rated. I’ve thought about simply buying a cheap real minisplit and routing the tubing thru a board mounted at the base or the top of the (double hung) window. No need to drill holes in the outside wall. Would have to route the 120 VAC power for the outside compressor unit back through the window as well since minisplit compressors want their power to be sourced from outside the home envelope.
I bought the Midea 12000BTU unit about 2 years ago to replace a noisy 10K BTU unit. Although definitely quieter, the Midea does not cool as well as the 10K unit. In fact, when we had a really hot streak recently, I pulled out the Midea and put the older 10K unit back in the window because it just wasn't doing the job well. BTUs don't tell the whole story in regards to cooling. The air coming out was certainly cold enough, but clearly there was not enough air to keep the place cool. Yes the filter was clean and nothing was blocking the unit. One of the reasons its quieter is because it does not move as much air due to a smaller fan.
I cool my whole downstairs, 800 sf with an 8k. You should do the thermostat trick. Move the thermo wire down through the hole and prop it by the small air gap on the rails. It will make it run at higher wattage then it would otherwise. It will think it's a few degrees warmer in the house. Keeping it running at higher power.
I have 8k versions of both of these window units. The Midea has worked flawlessly for 3 seasons in Connecticut. After less than 1 season, the GE got louder and less effective at cooling my very small (9x12) upstairs bedroom. I actually ended up removing the GE and put the Midea back in for the remainder of the summer. That said... The GE was great in that my blackout blinds went right down to the top of the unit, with no light leakage around the sides. Raising/lowering the window was a breeze, and the "clear view" to the outside was appreciated. The Midea obviously lets light in on the sides, would be a hassle if one had curtains instead of blinds and, as noted in the OP's review, impedes the view to the outside significantly more. If one rarely/never needed to remove the window unit, the GE would be the winner (*if* it worked reliably - mine didn't). My window comes pretty low to the floor, with an electric baseboard heater below. The bottom of the GE is barely above the top of the baseboard heater, making it difficult to remove condensate from the drain on the right of the unit without spilling water onto the heater and floor - a hassle. The Midea's design is more foolproof, in that condensate drains to the outside via gravity. The GE is *significantly* heavier and more bulky to handle. I can barely wrestle it to/from the window by myself. The Midea is usefully more compact and lightweight. In summary, the *idea* of the GE is great, but execution leaves something to be desired. The Midea just flat works. I'll be looking to sell the GE during the next heat wave.
I just got a Midea 8000 btu a month ago and it goes down to 60 degrees and is quiet but still hear a good fan noise I have to have that noise to sleep I use it for our bedroom just use it at night I give it five stars so far, thanks for all your videos.
Same here, I was so used to the hum of the older window ac and when I got a Midea it was hard to sleep without the noise so I got a white noise generator and after a few nights of tuning the generator to mimic the compressor hum it’s just like magic. Now if I can do something about my wife’s snoring 😂
Great video packed with info. Placement is a big factor of which to purchase - my kitchen has counters in front of window so ... no go on GE; living room, I can rearrange furniture to get more light with just 3 smaller windows. Additionally, if shape is not an issue, and it matters to anyone (like me), GE is manufactured in KY while Media is manufactured in Vietnam - according to google.
Window height makes a difference in installing the GE unit. Getting that sucker up to my shoulders then down to the still was a struggle. I didn't want to be drilling all kinds of holes in my windows though as you have to do with the Midea.
Curtains also seem a lot easier to manage with the GE versus the upright position of the Midea. I'm interested in putting A/C units in a upstairs bedroom and office (the outside wall gets lots of sun so those rooms get warmer than the rest of the house), so I want ease of install, which the GE seems to have.
Does one really want to drill holes in their windows ??!! That said, I really liked your comparisons and your videos!! You provide a lot of easy to understand clear information on your videos. Well done!!
Volume of air being blown per unit time also matters, not just how cold the air is. If the GE blows warmer air, but at a higher rate, it can help you feel cooler sooner. You should have tested the time needed by each to cool the room down by X degrees.
That is an excellent reminder, thank you. Also, how much cooled air is drawn immediately back in? Recirculating the previously just-cooled air is a trick to lower energy use because it's only effectively cooling the area in the immediate vicinity of the AC. Energy use should be taken over the whole day, and room temp measured with a non-infrared thermometer a distance from the unit, attached to a surface which stores heat, like a solid bed frame. And another thermometer in the air in the middle of the room, out of the air flow. I recommend always using a room fan to blow the air away from the unit. The built-in fan will either 1) not be strong enough to push the cooled air across the room, or; 2) The built-in fan will concentrate the cold air in one corner, making that corner too chilly while the other corners are still too warm.
The Midea has a 1" x 1" open channel for the condensate between the inside and outside parts. I like the simple no-pump design compared to the GE, but bugs do get through there inside the unit itself. At times in significant numbers. A small bug screen would be a great addition for that opening, removable for cleaning. Also an easy way to remove the squirrel cage for mold cleaning would be good.
I liked the Midea 12000 btu so much i purchased three of them. They were on sale at Costco for $299, with their early July sales. The price has gone up since my purchase to $389, still a great deal! My house is 3700 sq ft, and the central air was on its was out, did not have the $15k-$25k to replace it. Just in the first 30 days of use, my electric bill was down $75 a month, from my last years bill.
I also got mine from costco with the deal. I'm finding my 12k rumbles the whole wall sometimes, and also sometimes hear a clicking fan noise. Considering going for a replacement.
I don't think I'd want to give up how much quieter my 12,000 btu minisplit is than a window unit, but I'm only cooling a 1000 foot home, and it cost only something like $4000 USD including installation. If I was in your shoes, it would be really hard to argue against the massive cost savings of the window units. $900 versus $15k, hard to argue.
Now if they would just make them in a heat pump version. I've had the 8k Midea for years. It works great! It is much less drafty than the trad window unit that we had before. It keep the home office nice and cool!
A heat-pump reversing-valve option would save a ton of energy in the chilly seasons. In temperate climes, it could be run all winter, especially in the PNW. A high efficiency option would allow use below 42 deg F down to below freezing, which would save a bunch of money for many, without having to pay $5 -10 grand to install a mini-split. These units are essentially already effectively a one-piece mini split. The requirement of a heat option is being contemplated as mandatory to receive Energy Star Certification in the 2025 revision. We could put one in every room.
I wish I had a minisplit heatpump instead of a minisplit AC. Cost difference was negligible, and would have saved me a ton of money on winter heating (Canadian winters) but condo rules ban draining on the balcony. Making heatpump functionality mandatory for Energy Star certification is a great idea.
Midea didn't think at all about how to clean it. Yes, it works quietly, we bought it in May 2024, and we have been suffering from a mold smell for a month now. Midea didn't think about maintenance, it's impossible to reach contaminated areas and it's impossible to pull it out of the case like a regular AC. Customer service did not help at all.
We have 3 GE Clearview units at our mountain house, but if we put one in the kitchen, we will probably get the Midea because it doesn't stick out as far. So far, we love the our GE Clearviews and they are so quiet!
I think for people who need to remove the unit for the winter/cooler months, the GE Clearview seems to be the easier proposition as well. Also I'm confused as to who is sitting right by a window with cold air blowing on them, seems like a great way to catch a cold lol
I have the 8,000 BTU GE Clearview in my bedroom and it is nice and quiet when on low, but it's footprint actually takes up more room inside the house and outside as it sticks out. You do got two air filters you need to keep checking and check the water filter too and drain it so it doesn't blow humidity back into your home If you let it sit without draining it. My main concern is how long is the water pump going to work.
You should also test both of these on a generator with GFCI plugs. The Midea will trip the GFCI plug meaning you are hosed after a hurricane. I do not know if the GE will or not. BTW, The Midea is *very* quiet and it looks like (from my power bill) that it is indeed inexpensive to operate.
@@thernsa I'm using a 4750 watt generator. It's only the U shaped midea that had the problem and only with gfci plugs. Others have reported this issue. Classic midea units have no problem.
@@macmcleod1188 Does your generator have a built in gfci? If so, have you tried plugging the Midea into the generator with a simple 3 to 2 pin grounding plug (Homedepot/model # U-09) adapter? Eliminating having 2 gfci’s inline, might be the answer? I really want this to work!
@@thernsa no I haven't yet because that would require me to buy a second generator. And the only inexpensive generators I have seen all use gasoline which is a bit of a maintenance problem I did read on Reddit that this is a gap in the standards for GFCI plugs and should be resolved in the next couple of years.
@@thernsa I'm just saying heads up if you are going to buy a generator that this could be an issue with the Madea inverter technology air conditioners. I love mine. My power bill is this summer are lower than last summer with the new unit and it is whisper quiet. But if you're shopping for a generator, I would recommend getting one you know will work with the unit.
I have 2 of the 14000 BTU LG Inverter traditional style window units that I think are great. Quiet, powerful, and pretty cheap to run. One is maybe 4 years old and the other is 3. So far so good. Anyone looking for a through the wall replacement should look into the LG. Just my 2 cents.
Its also good to note that you have the old version of the Midea. The new one is not a black box but blue, you can connect it with matter app, it has a cost to run(only $1), and the buttons are all touch screen-like (same as the ge).
11:37 The Midea often goes on sale. /// Before purchasing, please download the manuals from hardware store. For both styles, measure how far out your outside ledge is. /// 12:49 The distance of outside ledge from window can be a problem for both. /// Window orientation,etc., too: Wood, plastic, aluminum, level or lower lip. /// For the GE's closeness to building. For Midea's, too far out OR too deep down for bracket legs to brace against outside. 13:34 // I have a Midea. Included bracket extends 21 inch from window. it was not enough distance for the legs, to clear ledge out far enough to drop around and down to steady against building. The bracket end must sit at an angle enough for condensation to drip to outside. Without the legs, you'll need to prop end of bracket on top of something (Best not to use wood!). /// Installs can be very easy. I watched a lot of certain TH-camrs doing the Midea and the Danby U-shape. They are basically twins of same design under the family of products from the same international corporation. I saw workshop installs, solar and off-grid installs. One guy even made something to hold his Midea in a window that slides horizontally. Even the 8,000 capacity can blow very cold through a one bedroom apartment. Quickly reduces humidity from bathroom. Combined with a floor fan and ceiling fans, I get air pulled into bedroom whose doorway otherwise isn't in direct path. It is very efficient. We've had big humid rainy days. One week my apartment had some problem and couldn't use AC. the 100s nearly fried my brain! My electric bill is much lower compared to when i used the traditional form. Depending on your budget and obligations $400 -$600 might seem high. Maybe meanwhile you do $150 standard. But, save up for a unit like this. Lower bill after I got mine.
The reason for it blowing colder than a central air conditioner is a different type of refrigerant. Also you should always test temperature drop from supply air and return air, that will give a more accurate picture of cooling ability.
Would also be curious to see how much air each of those actually pushes. The Midea could be cooler but if it's pushing half the CFM than the GE, then it's isn't being very efficient with using it's cooler air.
Turn your fan speed to manual & and high. If you leave on auto, the fan does adjust by itself. Costco had a great deal 2 months ago, $289 for the 12k, we just love this unit, very quiet for bedroom.
Whatever, it doesn't matter! I have two of the 8000 btu units and they cool the rooms just fine. The air direction is not adjustable (the little fin gizmos in the exit vents don't work well) so the air mostly blows straight out and upwards. This can be less than ideal if your window is located next to a wall.
I have two of the Media units... one in my living room and one upstairs in my finished attic room. The one in the living room pretty much cools the living room and the kitchen. The one upstairs is a real marvel! It is one open room and is normally so hot in the summer, that no one would want to even go up there for a few minutes, much less sleep up there! Now, however, the A/C keeps the entire space nice and cool! I want to get another Media for my bedroom. I currently have a little 5K BTU conventional unit in there but it is on it's last legs. I just wish that Media made a lower BTU unit for smaller rooms like my bedroom. The 8K BTU is kind of an overkill for that small room. It's all about the $$$.
Thanks for doing the comparison between the two types of units but I still don't understand the purpose of the Midea U-shaped unit. Sure, it may use inverter technology but so does the GE and many of the standard window units now. Yes, you can open the window with this type where you can't with a standard window unit but since the unit pretty much blocks most of the window and lower sash anyway, what would be the point. Unless the window is fully open, the unit still blocks most of the air flow and view. At least the GE gives you your view back and allows you to actually open the window and get airflow. A quick custom screen and you have pretty much full use of the window with the GE unit. As others have said and is a good point is that airflow also has to be measured along with output temp. Increased airflow will cause the temp to rise but is also more effective at cooling larger areas so without measuring both temp and flow, you really can't say which unit is more effective at cooling a room. The cost to run is also worthless as there is no industry standard that I am aware of that they are using to make that determination so they kinda just make that up. The cost of the units and the install difficulty is a fair comparison between them as well as the space in the room and positioning when installed. If you want to place a table or chair under that window or there is no clearance under the window, then the GE will not work well there if at all but I really don't see any real advantage of the Midea over a standard window unit. They both block the window by about the same amount and both the standard window unit as well as the GE are MUCH easier to install.
I’m glad I’m not alone in this thought about the Midea. I guess the advantage the Midea has over a traditional window unit is that the gaps on either side are smaller. To me the GE seems to have an advantage in ease of installation and in preserving more of the view.
I have the GE Profile Clearview 12,000 btu. And it’s as cold if not colder than my 15,000 btu GE unit that it replaced. Not to mention the fact that it is insanely quiet.
We have an 8k and 10k midea. We have a 3 bed single that is 100% off grid. These do well keeping temps under 77° during the 100°+ and 80%+ humdity weather of Maryland. Once set temp is achieved they use only around 100-200watts to maintain conditions. We have an small air mover to help even the temps across such a starched out floor plan. We will be switching to the heatpump window units to supplement our wood stove this season.
@@saratemp790 they are heat pumps. The risk of fire is extremely low. As far as I have been told a heating coil won't be passable with the limitations of a typical North American 15amp outlet
"The best" is the one that doesn't have condensate pump which can (and already did, if you will read actual reviews at online places like Home Depot/Amazon) fail in a way that will damage your flooring/walls or at the very least will leave you without working AC at the most crucial times.
I acquired the Midea Ushape AC 12000 BTU, set it up, it was operational and providing cool air. After a brief absence, I returned to find that it had stopped running completely. I unplugged it, attempted to reset it, and contacted customer service for assistance. Despite repeating the steps I had already taken, the issue persisted. The customer service representative advised me to return the unit to the store.
We owned the 10kbtu Midea for a couple seasons - then it failed so it lasted only two seasons, in a northern midwestern state. Midea was no help whatsoever. “Luckily” we bought it at Costco but are having some reluctance to return it outside of warranty. Both GE (Appliances, is now Haier) and Midea are Chinese companies so likely pretty comparable quality. The GE was not available, so we (“fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me?”) bought another Midea at Costco this May. Ironically less expensive, $280, vs $339 we paid for the first one. And the new one is a 12kbtu unit vs 10kbtu for the first one! Hoping we have better luck this time… BTW, the Midea is kind of a pain to install - more so than should be necessary.
I have a 1200BTU Midea & have been very happy with it. I originally wanted a GE, but I live in a late 1800s brick house and the walls are too thick to use with the GE. (Just something for people with thick walls to be aware of.)
3 degrees cooler is a big difference, and the Midea achieves that at a lower wattage. The room will cool down quicker and the AC will cycle less often, making it even more efficient than the GE. And to top it all off, it's cheaper to buy. The fact that it mounts higher than the GE is a win as well since the height advantage will help to produce a better distribution of cool air. The Midea wins by a large margin. The only advantage that the GE has is that the lower mount looks cleaner. But reliability is a more important factor for me, so the question is which will last longer?
So, have you tried running either of these units from a small (2kw) solar power station? I went with an 8k BTU Midea just because I saw online videos which showed it running from such a solar power station. I was a little concerned about going to a higher BTU unit because of current surge needed at startup, and I needed something I knew that I could run during a power outage, (I live in hurricane country). I tested the 8k BTU unit from the power station and it ran fine. I have a 10k BTU GE unit which I have not tested yet.
I know that this is going to sound strange, but my 3-ton Central AC unit went out and they said I would need the new outside compressor PLUS a new inside blower unit (cost - $6,000) We couldn't afford the $6,000, so we purchased (3) 12,000BTU Midea Window AC units for a total of $1,266. We figured that would hold us for the summer until we could afford to replace the Central Air System. Long story short....That was 4 years ago! Our electric bill was lower every summer, and we now have No Intention of replacing the Central Air Unit. Not only fell in love with the Midea units, but I realized that IF one of these units ever fail, I'll just replace it for under $500! No need to call a service company AND I'll still have 2 units running while waiting for the replacement. Central Air-conditioning just 'may' be the largest scam of the century!
I still have to live with my older LG in my living room because it has the old fashioned eco mode where it stay off for hours and hours until it senses the temp is higher than the setting. Unlike one in the bedroom that only stays off for like 15 minutes and then starts up to circulate the air and test the temp to see if it needs to start the compressor. That stopping and starting wakes me and my wife up so we just put it in cool mode and let it run the whole night.
Great review of two very similar products. Please be careful about how you test and make conclusions about A/C duct temperature. Not only is the scfm being delivered important to consider, but so is the ambient room temperature, the outside ambient temperature, and any solar heating of the external portion of the A/C unit. I would have also liked to hear if these units had similar warranty coverage. Overall I think you do some of the very best product reviews on TH-cam. Keep up the great work! 👍
To comment on ease of installation: I give the Midea bonus points because while the initial setup is a bit more involved (measure the support structure, cutting things to size, and so on), once you're past that future installations are rather simple and can be easily be done by a single person (which is especially nice if you have this on the 2nd floor or higher). You just screw in the support structure and then slide the AC onto it.
the window in my house is only 22" wide, was able to install a midea 12000 unit, despite that instructions call for min 24" at the national chain warehouse store these sell for about 100$ less than price quoted in video
It sounds like both of these AC's are much better than the standard window AC. It's no surprise that buyers of each are happy with what they have. I bought a Midea AC a few weeks ago and am very happy with it. It is working much better than the AC it replaced, although for me in my location I would not say that it's great at reducing humidity. It does reduce it from maybe 75-90% outside to about 60% inside, but I then run a dehumidifier to bring that down to below 50%. And if I stop running the dehumidifier, then the humidity drifts back up to 60% within a few hours. Perhaps my house is not as air-tight as it should be. In my case, installing the Midea took closer to 90 minutes, but maybe I'm overly fussy about things. I must remove the entire AC before winter arrives, so I am also uneasy about how much trouble it will be to reinstall next year. If I consider just the *shape* of the AC's, I strongly prefer the saddle-shape to the upwards-U shape. However, there's one thing about the GE which makes it a problem for me. As mentioned in this comparison, you have to go outside to make some adjustments to installing the AC. I will need to install an AC on the second-floor of my house, in a window which is a hassle to reach from the outside. There are steps in the Midea install process which are much easier to do from outside the window, but the whole process *can* be done from inside. I do wish the Midea was easier and less time-consuming to install, but other than that I'm very happy with it. I'm about a week away from receiving my first electric bill after installing this, but I wanted to reply to this video before I forget about it! The local weather service reported that this July was the 8th hottest July on record where I live, and this AC did an excellent job of keeping one floor of my house comfortable. I expect I'll be tempted to buy a second Midea AC next year for the other floor.
... I'll add that I didn't realize that there's a cellphone app for the Midea. I'm not sure that I'll use it, but it looks interesting. I'm a little surprised that you didn't include a link to your video on _"The COLDEST And QUIETEST AC Unit Ever Made! Still Use Your Window!"_ in the info for this video. I don't need it right now, of course, but I'm going to save a link to that for reference when I go to reinstall my AC for next summer. 🙂
In northern Alabama; I see the same things; but my house is fairly tight. If I run the dehumidifier ( a large Midea dehumidifier - cube thing ) - it puts a load on the air conditioner- as it's a heat source. With that, I can keep it towards 45% - I consider 45% comfortable. But during hot days, where the outside temp is above 90 F, I have to turn off the dehumidifier to lighten the load on the central air, so I turn that off about 9 AM till 7 PM. By about 4 or 5 PM, humidity will rise to about 53% to 55%. If I put in a window air conditioner, either the conventional window air conditioner, or portable one, the one with a hose kit, at best, I've seen 50% in the room it's in; but more often it's 60 to 63%. Adding a window AC does indeed make inside humidity rise much faster; no matter how well I try to seal it. The better tact is to bring the humidity down at night towards 45% and let it rise slowly with no window AC installed & turning off the humidifier during the day. Not as comfortable. It's been a hot 3 months down here this year. Note I noticed this effect with window AC & humidity last year; and even this year, putting in and yanking AC's, the house is substantially better sealed without the window AC's installed. At times, I've also noted that the indoor humidity is actually HIGHER than the warmer outside humidity unless I'm running a dehumidifier. There are also the single and dual hose portables; I hear the 2 hose models are better; but to me, far easier to install as I'm not lifting them ; just rolling the AC unit into position. Currently have a single hose unit; may try a dual hose next year, along with a dehumidifier in the room. As every plug in that room is apparently on a single 15 A circuit, I'll have to figure out how to power it without tripping the circuit breakers. FWIW, I don't think that your house is leaky; I think just adding in a Window AC does allow some leakage - which is what you are seeing; as I see this no matter which AC type I've used. Seal wise- fwiw: the conventional AC and the portable AC ( with the hose ) - both are close to about the same operating - upper 50's to low 60% humidity when running and properly sealed up; with the single hose unit actually a bit better when I built a custom frame for the window frame it sits in. The biggest advantage I see - is the wife loves the house at a warmer temp, and I prefer cooler, so I can retreat into that room and enjoy some cooler, but moister air.
@@MrPir84free - My house is 100 years old, with 100-year-old windows. I know it's leaky! I've already replaced about 12 of the windows and that has helped a lot. But there are still more which need to be replaced, including one that's in the same room as I have the dehumidifier in. In that room the humidity will rise from 40% to 60% within 3-4 hours. It'd be up to 65% if I left the humidifier off all day. I did feel a bit better to hear that your experience is somewhat similar to what I'm seeing, even though our houses are different.
I have the 8,000 midea and I do wish that after you set a temperature that the display within then switch to what the current temperature of the room is at instead of staring at the set temperature
FYI, no, that is different black foam that I only briefly showed in this video that has adhesive on it. The foam strip I showed going between the top of the sliding window and the window behind it is supposed to go there. I said this was not a permanent install for me so I did not use all of the foam supplied with the AC.
@drowningblue again it was not a permanent install and I mentioned this in the video. I wasn’t going to cut the adhesive foam to fit that window when it was going somewhere else. In fact I used a door seal there temporarily. Which actually worked quite well. But this was not an install video.
If you could, a comparison with the cheapest available window unit that has a single stage compressor would be handy. Got a 5000BTU single stage unit on my window and I'm hesitant to change for inverter technology as the current just runs and provides great value for money. Efficiency seems to be decent with an energy efficient rating of 9 while the Midea has 11 . Also not too noisy A dream would be a mini split but that isn't so easy to get approved in a multistory appartment building
Your installation was really the first-time-setup only. I take my window unit out every year and re-install it when Summer starts. Therefore the first-time took me 45 minutes with the new bracket, but the second time I installed it under 10 minutes because I marked the bracket. So I would say the long-term Installation might go to Midea.
I ordered a Midea 8,000 btu. It was defective on arrival, kept blowing GFCI outlets but was quite. The replacement Midea unit was also defective; useless - throwing error codes right out of the box. I replaced that w/ a GE. It works good BUT is certainly loud for having a quiet rating. Much louder than one wants for sleeping. It also ices up rapidly. EVERYDAY I run it on fan for a few hrs to thaw out the ice. If I don’t it will definitely ice up by the second day, requiring the thaw. That at 90s temp w/ humidity in the 30% range. I found GE support to be terrible. The manual instructions for dealing with icing is also terrible. I fingered out how to deal w/ that by trial and error. The GE is very energy efficient. It’s a bit over 600 watts
I am curious, which window AC do you think is best and why? Also, there are links to everything you saw in this video in the video description so you can check them all out for yourself!
Great to see you compare these units. I am considering buying one and this is the comparison that I wanted to see. I wanted to see each of the comparisons that you did bc these are exactly what I wanted to compare.
You covered all the things that would help ppl make a decision. Why pick a winner…? 🙂
I think I would go for the clear view ONLY because I enjoy watching the animals that visit my backyard, and love the idea of having my cake and eating it too 😆. Blessings and keep up the good work 👍🏼
I'd have to reach the same conclusion you did. I like the GE name, but the difference in price, plus the ongoing extra energy cost makes it. Although, if the warranties were drastically different, that could influence it.
I installed the Midea 12,000 a couple of months ago. Having to pump the condensate out of the GE was what sold me on the Midea. There's no way that set up isn't going to be an issue.
Nice to see a comparison, although when I went to look at the energy star info (to see what the cost is based on hours of service wise) using your links the Midea 12,000 energy star sticker says $64 and the GE didnt have one on its listing. I googled around and found the GE 12,200 ES sticker and it too says $64 a year which gives it a better efficiency rating (14.7 vs 15 for the Midea) because of the extra 200btu at the same cost. Also a company by the name of Fogatti makes similar units for RV windows.
I went with the Midea for 3 simple reasons.
1. I have young kids that would have played with the controls on the lower height system
2. The planned window is super deep as it doubles as a reading nook
3. The GE's condensate needed frequent cleaning where as the Midea didn't.
Both were priced quite well and I'm sure both would have functioned well, but with these 3 things in mind the Midea was the better choice for me. 2yrs in I'm still loving in my patio addition.
-S Florida
Thank you for a very good review... The only thing missing is air flow and sound level at 'normal settings'.
One thing I have done for temporary installations of ordinary window units, is mount them to plywood. Then mill a couple of 2x4’s to fit the window track. I place these two pieces in the track and set the a/c in the window with 4 screws. Great for hurricane season.
For Costco members: (Aug 1, 2024): Midea 12k, $380 shipping included. Also, I believe the GE needs a PUMP to send any condensed water up and over to outside. If pump clogs, you get a wet floor. Midea uses gravity, same as any window unit.
Thanks for posting this -
I have the 8300 BTU version of the GE. You are correct about the pump, I have only had the a/c in service for about a month but so far the pump works fine and there aren't any leaks. When the pump filter is pulled out for cleaning about a cup and a half of water needs to be drained into a pan to be taken to the sink and dumped down the drain. There are also two air filters on it -- one in front like normal and one that slides out of the back of the inside portion of the a/c. These aren't hard to clean but they do need to be cleaned about once a month. The a/c is quiet, cools nicely (I have mine in a 15 X 15 room) and the dry setting does actually dehumidify more than just running it on low (these are based on a mini split design so they work differently than a standard a/c). As long as the pump holds up I think this a/c will work fine with normal maintenance for several years at minimum.
For lucky Costco members, the midea unit was sold for $329 in early summer.
home depot in Irving texas has the midea for like $324 might check y'alls local home depot
Midea is a Chinese company making cheap products in China. *GE* is an American company and it's appliances & air conditioners are *ALL Made in America* 🇺🇸 Do you not care about supporting US workers?
I bought the 8000 btu midea and installed in a trailer. It works great. I run it off a solar system I put in the trailer. I did a test and without solar charging turned on, my battery bank ran it for 31 hours set to 70 degrees, I did precool the trailer to 70 before turning off the solar charge controllers, it was anywhere from 83 to 88 degrees outside in the day and got to around 70 at night, and the trailer is not insulated. It works great. Been running for 1.5 years with no issues. I have seen 1100 watts multiple times, but usually on 100 degree days. It usually runs between 400 and 600 when trying to maintain as it gets hotter out and runs around 200 watts when almost satisfied.
The biggest issue to me is that the GE unit has to have a water pump inside it somewhere to pump the water to the outside, unless you have to drain it manually. Pumps get clogged and will at some point go bad. The Midea just uses a regular drain pan and drains into the back of the unit. It can clog and will eventually as well but all you have to do is clean it, nothing to replace. As a service tech I would rather go with a regular drain than a pump. I have worked on enough mini splits to know that is a big issue.
I had a little too much water in the outside tray of my Midea 8000 while being run in the 95 degree heat and 80% humidity. My fix was to put a 1/8" rivet head in the middle of the rubber drain plug with the pull pin removed (Insert from the bottom). It's located in the bottom right when facing the outdoor unit and has a warning label. It drains perfect now.
My midea leaks from a hole towards the middle front right(ends up on the window sill).still trying to figure out to stop it
@@skiboskeeskiblets Not sure why there is a hole in your unit. I would have to check mine, but I have never seen a hole in mine. And it does not leak. Mine usually overflows on the outside and goes over the lip when it gets too much water and I have only seen that happen when it rains. You would have to plug and seal the hole if the hole is the issue. It could be a clogged drain. If it is leaking inside the house, then it is most likely overflowing the pan and leaking due to a clog. If it is outside, then I do not know where the hole came from, but you would have to seal it, JB weld would probably work well, but you will have to turn it off and let it set. The spot needs to be dry when you apply it. Could use silicone or caulk. Possibly need to uninstall it to access it depending on where it is located.
@@skiboskeeskiblets check your level... the unit has to be level left and right and front to back as per instructions. When the level is off, this can happen...
@@eddieellis677 I can hear my Midea 8000 sloshing... Midea says this is normal and helps cool unit coils and is meant to work this way. Old units from 10-20 years ago would get rid of all the water.....
I bought the Midea at Costco for $360, within two weeks it went on sale for $299. And I got my overpayment back.. had it in my work shed over the summer, also added a small box fan to additional air circulation and it’s amazing.. I also have a digital thermometer on the opposite side of the shed by the double door and it will drop the temp below 70* no problem.. I keep it running dehumidifier with the temp setting around 75, works wonderful.
We just installed the same Midea 12,000 btu at our daughters house. It’s much better than the 6 year old 8,000 btu unit she replaced. One concern my husband had was the wattage since her breaker couldn’t handle a bigger drain. Both of these units are so similar my decision would be made by where you are installing it. Hers is in the bedroom. The middle of three windows, so blocking her view wasn’t a concern, but the GE sits lower and then furniture placement comes into play. She has a desk and the Midea sits right where the old ac was. If you needed one for a living room you could still place a sofa under the unit. Good comparison! Thank you.
I put my unit in a window facing a stockade fence the neighbor installed on the property line along my driveway, less than ten feet from the window. Likewise, I have a unit in a window facing a hedge on the other end of the house.
The view out these windows really isn't a problem.
@@martiriggs2003 i have Midea from 2023, rated as low power requirements. I have no way to measure operational power, except: no tripped power; my lights, tv, ceiling fans and other tools and electronics are on nearly 18 hours daily; 700 sq ft.
As for bedroom, it runs quiet but i would be more concerned about being right up under it, directly when its actively blowing cold air.
@@dplj4428 adjust the vents to blow the air up, it’s basically the same as having any window ac unit. As for our house we have Mitsubishi mini splits so we got away from window ac.
I am worried about tripping breakers in my RV.
Did the 12000 btu trip your breakers?
I have read comments about the GE complaining about condensation pooling. It looks like there is a drain on the right side. I ultimately went with the Midea in our bonus room. It has worked well.
You have to make sure the GE stays clean or it will clog up the water pump and then it will start to spill over when the water tray becomes too full.
I didn't think about that originally when I saw the GE model in the store but it's not a great design. The Midea can naturally drain the condensation like a traditional window unit but the GE would need a pump or a container inside the house to catch the condensation, which makes the design more complicated and less efficient.
@@madmatt2024You don't need anything to catch the condensation. I clean my filter weekly and drain the water filter a the same time into a small bowl. So far no leaking or anything. I have both of these units and you can't go wrong with either.
Love love the Midea, quiet cool (my 8000 btu cools most of my 1000sf main floor & I blow upstairs to half story using pedestal fan). Amazing too that Midea included the rack, foam blocks & insulation in the box. If the store had one of the larger BTU units in stock I’d have chosen it but this is still amazing.
IMPORTANT: Wouldn’t pick the GE reverse U since too many user complaints about water draining inside house ruining their drywall, carpet/padding, wood floor.
Your videos are always so informative. We really rely on you to give all of the information and you make it so very clear and concise. We appreciate it more than you will ever know.
They are good prices for a Ton/12kBTU. No one seems to talk about the elephant in the room-- the GE Clearview has a condensate pump. The water has to go somewhere. Most window units are designed to just drain it outside using gravity. The evaporator on the GE Clearview hangs below the window sill, so it has to be pumped up and over the window sill to the back. It's a potential problem because it's an extra part to go wrong. If it goes out, and it probably will, how easy is it to replace? Is it replaceable at all? I'd like to know if people have reported problems with this. Water dripping on your floor is a real problem.
We have mini split systems in data closets where I work and the condensate pumps frequently clog and overflow.
I prefer pump
I've had mine coming up on 3 years & I have never had any drainage problems.
I was wondering how they handled this. Yeah, definitely will plug if not maintained/deep cleaned.
"Most window units are designed to just drain it outside using gravity."
The new A/Cs don't have drain holes anymore, instead they splash the water onto the condenser for better efficiency, the warm water then evaporates outside. There are some exceptions but for the most part no more drain holes except for an overflow port should the water level get too high.
Thank you for the video. I have the Media 12,000 BTU window air conditioner and I love it. However, I can see that some may want the U facing down to minimize window blockage. Our windows go fairly low and I wasn't sure about vacuuming under the unit. Our unit is low to the ground, if the window was on a second story, I'd definitely think more about the GE from a safety and installation standpoint.
One aspect that you could not evaluate until later is how well do the units last.
We bought when our central A/C was out and could not be fixed for a month. Definitely provided a cool breeze to where we watch TV and we also directed the flow to our bedroom. When air conditioning is needed we run our Media continually on the lowest settings. Here is what our meter is telling me right now:
Run for 59 days (part in the late spring and in the late summer / early fall) for unrelated reasons, did not run in the summer.
Total kwh used 93.38
Total variable cost at 0.14 / kwh = $12.90
Temperature set at 76, eco on, mode cool, low fan (auto had a mind of its own - don't use testing minimal cost to provide comfort to us)
One sample 0.047 amps, 0.1 watts might be the meter - unit not blowing
Second sample 0.17 ams, 11 watts - blowing but cooling might not be needed much (has a mind of its own)
Which one would I buy again? I really want the direct solar and / or solar hybrid offered by the EG4 mini splits, but without the mini split. If Media U or GE U came out with a direct solar, I'd strongly consider buying either immediately and maybe more later. When the term inverter style was used by Media I got excited when I thought it ran from direct current, but I gather it means variable speed compressor - which is great, but didn't know what inverter meant.
Consider me on the wait list for any brand window U shaped air conditioner that has a direct solar and / or solar hybrid option like the EG4 mini split (without the split and associated tubing).
Dave
Another point for the GE Clearview is it will fit in a window that is too small for a regular AC unit as long as the lower sash is removeable. I put one in a single hung window that only opens 11 inches by removing the lower sash and replacing it after the unit was in place.
Same for me, narrow opening so removing the sliding part the GE slips right in then pop the sliding part back in. I like the weight resting on the house instead of window like traditional window unit. GE is pricey but super quiet so I'm happy with my GE.
Wow! Your video is so very informative and exactly what I have been looking for. The electricity has been going out more frequently at my house due to storms and whatnot. I have been looking for a small unit to be powered by my generator when the power goes out. I've not been impressed by the "regular" type window units and have held off buying one. This U shaped unit is exactly what I'm needing! Thank you thank you thank you for this video!!! It gave me the information that was most important to me - model characteristics, wattage use, installation difficulty, and price.
I got a midea 8k a month ago, super impressed! At first it didnt seem like much but once it got going wow. I cool my whole downstairs in a 3 br house with it. Gets ice cold once the room is cooled.
The GE design is hands-down better but the Midea price and remote make it the clear choice. Glad I got 2 of their 12K BTU models as a backup to my Central HVACs here in Florida.
Bought the Midea 12K about 4 months ago . We love it. Big bonus, it was 360.00 at Costco!
Just ordered mine from Costco today. $400 with tax and shipping.
This wasn’t discussed but another consideration for bedrooms is the amount of LIGHT coming into the room. The GE profile will allow you to pull a blackout shade all the way down to the top of the unit and cover the light. But the Madea will only allow a shade to hit the top of the AC unit so you will get light coming in through the bottom (where the “U” is)
i have both of these as well.
There is a huge noise difference when the external wall is vinyl siding.
The Midea remains near silent while the GE vibrates the wall as if there's a helicopter outside.
My girlfriend had the same helicopter comment after I installed the GE unit. We have wood siding but still get that thumping sound. Still happy with it though as we can cool the bedroom down without running the central unit for the entire house.
Thanks for your comment. Definitely helped me decide.
Many GE products are inferior to others. My moms GE kitchen appliances (OTR micro, frig, etc) have been nothing but trouble so she replaced them with other brands.
Our two G.E. FRIDGE,, ARE 16 YEARS OLD. STILL ICE COLD OUR G E. MICRO. WAVE,, IS 12 YEARS OLD. AND WORKS PERFECT@@tabbott429
@@tabbott429 I have had 2 sets of full kitchen Profile appliances and have had great luck with them with the exception of the ice maker in the 1990s first set.
Thank you for the nice comparison. The temperature of the air coming out of these units doesn't tell us anything about their cooling capacity or how fast they chill down a room. They either deliver their rated BTU or they don't. Measuring the output temperature is pointless unless you also know the CFM being delivered.
It's worth noting that a an increase of 3db is 2x as loud. The Decibel scale is weird.
I just bought this same Midea 12000BUT with Matter Support. Really like it although as soon as I set it up I got a notification in the Medea app that the app was being deprecated and to switch to the "Smart Home" app. Unfortunately doing so seems to lose the Apple Home Kit integration. I was able to get it back by adding the Unit into Home Assistant.
Another neat feature is that you can have the Midea set to use the temperature at the remote. We live in a house that is a 1 & 1/4 story, meaning the upstairs has those slanted ceilings also meaning that the ceiling of those rooms is right against the roof line so it gets hot. We have a hall/stair landing and two rooms up there. We put the AC unit in the window of the hall/landing but keep the remote in my daughter's room. So the unit runs until my daughter's room gets to the desired temperature.
For every 3db the sound waves have twice as high of an amplitude, but it takes 10db for the human brain to think it SOUNDS twice as loud.
@@zoobiewa Thanks for the clarification, I did not know that part.
Keep your drain pan clean with antibacterial tablets and spray a vinegar solution on the pans. if it gets stopped up use a plastic zip ties under the coils on the pan to break up the gunk and suck it out with a siphon. A water house can also break apart the gunk from the outside.
Great review! Both are nice, I like the idea of the A/C being below the window, but I also like the idea of the dedicated bracket. I'd buy which was probably cheaper or in stock at the moment I was shopping. For me I put in a Pioneer mini split in my workshop about 8 years ago. I read up on it and bought the necessary tools. A bit more work but much more quiet than the window units available at the time. But being able to replace the whole unit in under an hour makes these new window units look pretty appealing. Thanks again for the info!
One thing few people look at is what direction the air exits the unit. After all, you're looking to cool all that hot air that rises, and if the A/C can't push cool air high enough to mix and cool it down you're never going to completely cool a large room.
I went with the GE and was super happy about the installation. I had no idea what I was doing and was still able to install it for the first time in like 30 minutes. Next year when I put it in again, I bet it'll take 10. I also like that it is supported by the side of the house. I put two rubber feet between the plastic screws and the house to eliminate all rattling and to prevent damage to my vinyl siding
We’ve had the 10k Midea unit for a couple of years now. We originally installed it as a back up AC in case of a Texas summer power outage but quickly found we can cool our master bedroom without having to cool the rest of the house at night. Works very well. Very happy with the Midea.
Loving the midea.... I have two keeping a 2,400 sq ft house cool in hot and humid Florida. One has been running nearly every day for two years. The new version has a drain hole in the back finally.
I just finally pulled the trigger on a midea 8,000btu unit.. got it from home depot.. it is a Newer version than the one you are testing here..there are a few notable differences: the front panel no longer uses press buttons but instead has touch sensitive ones...the max lowest temp is reduced to 60 degrees, the ceer rating is now 16.0 and there is a 3/4 " drain plug that can be removed in the right rear...These had issues with mold, for some it was serious although it may have in part been how the user setup the unit.. mine is set to tilt 1/2 to maybe 1" if measured at the rear.. never mout these level! with the drain plug removed, on a humid day I can see the water dripping out the back of the unit...even though midea says leave the plug in, why would you do that when there are mold concerns with their units? they say it makes the ac make even colder air by splashing the puddle that builds inside on the coils.. I'll pass on that and rather have no mold issues! the midea is Ice cold as far as air out.
anyway, I am Literally blown away by the effortless cooling and that it can do it as quietly as this! its really like just using the central air, just a whisper and yet the energy it uses is far less...install was Intimidating and the unit was heavy for my 64 yr old disc damaged back! especially on a second story install...To have a chilly room on 108 degree days and have it do so in complete quiet, is something I didnt think possible..I can finally watch tv in the room and Hear it when the ac is on... My only complaint was regarding home depot..I deliberately chose a box that looked Undamaged, got it home, unboxed it only to see some substantial fin damage on the back in more than one area.. it was packaged perfectly so I dont know how this could have happened but I installed it anyway and contacted home depot after the fact, showed them pics of the damages and they would only allow 50 bucks off the price.. For the appearance damages, I told them 100.00 off or I'd just return it and get another but I'd rather not have to pull and rebox the unit ..anyway, they refused so I'll have to do a return sometime in my 90 day return window...that said, I'm gonna get the same one again and check it in store b4 leaving!... my gf also wants one..her window is a slider with a 21" gap.. it will fit but I need to cut a board to fit the above space... lastly, I saw another test and the midea was pulling 450 watts while cooling at its lowest temp.. Ive heard these can draw between 250 or less to 400 watts when temps are achieved and its just maintaining... Inverter tech is Incredible as far as ac units goes.. if you are getting a midea, make sure its the Newer version with touch sensitive buttons, thats the immediate visual cue that its the newer one..there may be Many other changes as well ,Ive only mentioned the obvious..hope this helps others
Mould is only an issue only if the inside remains damp. It is its normal function and was designed to pool water outside. They redesign ACs to address this issue, which can potentially afflict any improperly designed window AC: U-shaped, Saddle, Mini Split, whole-house or regular window box-type. Re: flattened fins: The fins can be pried open with a butter knife or tool from Temu or Amazon for this job, it shouldn't affect functioning appreciably if left crushed, although it is somewhat unsightly. Allowing water to pool in the outside tray to be splashed against the fins, as was designed, will result in the AC realizing its advertised energy efficiency, and will prolong the life of the unit as it will be less likely to overheat under load.
@@mikemotorbike4283 Beware of letting the water splash on the fins if you live in a large city with lots of traffic! The sulfur monoxide gas that exhaust produces changes to sulfuric acid when it hits water. This causes "fin rot" which is when the aluminum of the fins turns to a white powder. Later designed units claim to have a coating on the fins to prevent this but we will have to see if it works.
I've had two Media U-Shaped AC's and used them for 2 - 4 years. No complaints. I'd still have them, but moved into a house that doesn't have the right kind of windows for a window AC unit. I did have to return one because the fan was noisy right out of the box. Otherwise, they were great.
I have two Midea units that can keep my whole house comfortable. The “Dry” setting works great. They go a little overboard with screwing in all their brackets. The frame works great on it’s own and now i can install them in about 5 minutes each.
There are also many other U channel and saddle channel window air conditioners, not just Midea and GE. The fundamental difference between a U channel and a saddle channel is that a U channel only has to accomodate the width of the window pane in the channel whereas the saddle format has to accomodate the width of the wall in it's channel.
FYI: The 8000 BTU Midea U-Shaped air conditioner has an average of 419 watts of cooling power at max settings. I measured mine yesterday with the same exact meter that you are using.
I measured my Midea in preparation for connecting it to two 400 watt solar panels (BougeRV 10BB, 23% panels) and an EcoFlow Delta Pro 3. After a hurricane and power being lost I should be able to stay comfortable and get a good night sleep, plus power my refrigerator!
Great review! I really appreciate this and I'm sure others will. Fwiw, Last year I picked up my Midea unit for $320 at Costco! This is a mind-blowing and amazing deal and they seem to do an $80 off deal every year through most of the summer. I did look at the GE online but it was way more expensive. I do like their approach of leaving the window unobscured but TBH the price difference is huge if you consider the additional discounts Costco gives you.
That was a great video, amigo. Well done.
For a brief time there was a Canadian company selling what was in effect a mini-split window AC model, where the coolant tubing was flexible and what you routed it thru the window, hanging the compressor bits outside. But it was poorly rated.
I’ve thought about simply buying a cheap real minisplit and routing the tubing thru a board mounted at the base or the top of the (double hung) window. No need to drill holes in the outside wall. Would have to route the 120 VAC power for the outside compressor unit back through the window as well since minisplit compressors want their power to be sourced from outside the home envelope.
I bought the Midea 12000BTU unit about 2 years ago to replace a noisy 10K BTU unit. Although definitely quieter, the Midea does not cool as well as the 10K unit. In fact, when we had a really hot streak recently, I pulled out the Midea and put the older 10K unit back in the window because it just wasn't doing the job well. BTUs don't tell the whole story in regards to cooling. The air coming out was certainly cold enough, but clearly there was not enough air to keep the place cool. Yes the filter was clean and nothing was blocking the unit. One of the reasons its quieter is because it does not move as much air due to a smaller fan.
I cool my whole downstairs, 800 sf with an 8k. You should do the thermostat trick. Move the thermo wire down through the hole and prop it by the small air gap on the rails. It will make it run at higher wattage then it would otherwise. It will think it's a few degrees warmer in the house. Keeping it running at higher power.
Sometimes oversized AC unit never makes room comfortable, so that might have been the issue.
The saddle unit could be at a disadvantage in an older home where heating radiators are frequently mounted below windows.
I have 8k versions of both of these window units. The Midea has worked flawlessly for 3 seasons in Connecticut. After less than 1 season, the GE got louder and less effective at cooling my very small (9x12) upstairs bedroom. I actually ended up removing the GE and put the Midea back in for the remainder of the summer. That said...
The GE was great in that my blackout blinds went right down to the top of the unit, with no light leakage around the sides. Raising/lowering the window was a breeze, and the "clear view" to the outside was appreciated. The Midea obviously lets light in on the sides, would be a hassle if one had curtains instead of blinds and, as noted in the OP's review, impedes the view to the outside significantly more. If one rarely/never needed to remove the window unit, the GE would be the winner (*if* it worked reliably - mine didn't).
My window comes pretty low to the floor, with an electric baseboard heater below. The bottom of the GE is barely above the top of the baseboard heater, making it difficult to remove condensate from the drain on the right of the unit without spilling water onto the heater and floor - a hassle. The Midea's design is more foolproof, in that condensate drains to the outside via gravity.
The GE is *significantly* heavier and more bulky to handle. I can barely wrestle it to/from the window by myself. The Midea is usefully more compact and lightweight.
In summary, the *idea* of the GE is great, but execution leaves something to be desired. The Midea just flat works. I'll be looking to sell the GE during the next heat wave.
I just got a Midea 8000 btu a month ago and it goes down to 60 degrees and is quiet but still hear a good fan noise I have to have that noise to sleep I use it for our bedroom just use it at night I give it five stars so far, thanks for all your videos.
Same here, I was so used to the hum of the older window ac and when I got a Midea it was hard to sleep without the noise so I got a white noise generator and after a few nights of tuning the generator to mimic the compressor hum it’s just like magic. Now if I can do something about my wife’s snoring 😂
Great video packed with info. Placement is a big factor of which to purchase - my kitchen has counters in front of window so ... no go on GE; living room, I can rearrange furniture to get more light with just 3 smaller windows. Additionally, if shape is not an issue, and it matters to anyone (like me), GE is manufactured in KY while Media is manufactured in Vietnam - according to google.
I put in a Midea knock off (Mr Cool but looks exactly like Midea) for my tenant last year and he loves it. He says it keeps the room very cool.
great video, I have the Midea 12000 BTU and it cools a 750SQF area and I absolutely love it, and FYI my Midea's lowest setting is 60 degrees not 64
I cool 800 sf with an 8k no problem 👍, even in 90s+...But it doesnt stay that hot constantly here in IL.
Window height makes a difference in installing the GE unit. Getting that sucker up to my shoulders then down to the still was a struggle. I didn't want to be drilling all kinds of holes in my windows though as you have to do with the Midea.
Curtains also seem a lot easier to manage with the GE versus the upright position of the Midea. I'm interested in putting A/C units in a upstairs bedroom and office (the outside wall gets lots of sun so those rooms get warmer than the rest of the house), so I want ease of install, which the GE seems to have.
Does one really want to drill holes in their windows ??!! That said, I really liked your comparisons and your videos!! You provide a lot of easy to understand clear information on your videos. Well done!!
Volume of air being blown per unit time also matters, not just how cold the air is. If the GE blows warmer air, but at a higher rate, it can help you feel cooler sooner. You should have tested the time needed by each to cool the room down by X degrees.
The BTU/hr rating (if correct) really says it all, no? Agreed tho, temperature is somewhat irrelevant.
@@qwaqwa1960 Yeah, why test any claim at all? /s
Yep, I suspect that the reason the temperature and power draw diffs can probably be explained by air flow rate.
That is an excellent reminder, thank you. Also, how much cooled air is drawn immediately back in? Recirculating the previously just-cooled air is a trick to lower energy use because it's only effectively cooling the area in the immediate vicinity of the AC. Energy use should be taken over the whole day, and room temp measured with a non-infrared thermometer a distance from the unit, attached to a surface which stores heat, like a solid bed frame. And another thermometer in the air in the middle of the room, out of the air flow. I recommend always using a room fan to blow the air away from the unit. The built-in fan will either 1) not be strong enough to push the cooled air across the room, or; 2) The built-in fan will concentrate the cold air in one corner, making that corner too chilly while the other corners are still too warm.
@@baarbacoa And 1dB extra noise on the GE.
The Midea has a 1" x 1" open channel for the condensate between the inside and outside parts. I like the simple no-pump design compared to the GE, but bugs do get through there inside the unit itself. At times in significant numbers. A small bug screen would be a great addition for that opening, removable for cleaning. Also an easy way to remove the squirrel cage for mold cleaning would be good.
Excellent Review, Thank you for the time and effort in making it.
Thanks again
I liked the Midea 12000 btu so much i purchased three of them. They were on sale at Costco for $299, with their early July sales. The price has gone up since my purchase to $389, still a great deal! My house is 3700 sq ft, and the central air was on its was out, did not have the $15k-$25k to replace it. Just in the first 30 days of use, my electric bill was down $75 a month, from my last years bill.
The warehouse price is 299.00
I bought it on sale for 219.00 in May 2024.
I got it on sale at Costco and a month ago for $289.99.
I also got mine from costco with the deal. I'm finding my 12k rumbles the whole wall sometimes, and also sometimes hear a clicking fan noise. Considering going for a replacement.
I don't think I'd want to give up how much quieter my 12,000 btu minisplit is than a window unit, but I'm only cooling a 1000 foot home, and it cost only something like $4000 USD including installation. If I was in your shoes, it would be really hard to argue against the massive cost savings of the window units. $900 versus $15k, hard to argue.
@@guspaz
Her's is 3600 BTU for 900 dollars.😉
Mine runs for free on my solar.
Your first Midea video convinced me, and this one reinforced that. THANKS!
Now if they would just make them in a heat pump version. I've had the 8k Midea for years. It works great! It is much less drafty than the trad window unit that we had before. It keep the home office nice and cool!
Next year they are supposed to have a heat pump version.
A heat-pump reversing-valve option would save a ton of energy in the chilly seasons. In temperate climes, it could be run all winter, especially in the PNW. A high efficiency option would allow use below 42 deg F down to below freezing, which would save a bunch of money for many, without having to pay $5 -10 grand to install a mini-split. These units are essentially already effectively a one-piece mini split. The requirement of a heat option is being contemplated as mandatory to receive Energy Star Certification in the 2025 revision. We could put one in every room.
I wish I had a minisplit heatpump instead of a minisplit AC. Cost difference was negligible, and would have saved me a ton of money on winter heating (Canadian winters) but condo rules ban draining on the balcony. Making heatpump functionality mandatory for Energy Star certification is a great idea.
Midea didn't think at all about how to clean it. Yes, it works quietly, we bought it in May 2024, and we have been suffering from a mold smell for a month now. Midea didn't think about maintenance, it's impossible to reach contaminated areas and it's impossible to pull it out of the case like a regular AC. Customer service did not help at all.
We have 3 GE Clearview units at our mountain house, but if we put one in the kitchen, we will probably get the Midea because it doesn't stick out as far. So far, we love the our GE Clearviews and they are so quiet!
Got the GE Clearview air conditioner, and it's wonderful.
I think for people who need to remove the unit for the winter/cooler months, the GE Clearview seems to be the easier proposition as well. Also I'm confused as to who is sitting right by a window with cold air blowing on them, seems like a great way to catch a cold lol
I have the 8,000 BTU GE Clearview in my bedroom and it is nice and quiet when on low, but it's footprint actually takes up more room inside the house and outside as it sticks out. You do got two air filters you need to keep checking and check the water filter too and drain it so it doesn't blow humidity back into your home If you let it sit without draining it. My main concern is how long is the water pump going to work.
You should also test both of these on a generator with GFCI plugs. The Midea will trip the GFCI plug meaning you are hosed after a hurricane. I do not know if the GE will or not.
BTW, The Midea is *very* quiet and it looks like (from my power bill) that it is indeed inexpensive to operate.
I see lots of videos using a generator with the Midea’s. What wattage generator are you using?
@@thernsa I'm using a 4750 watt generator. It's only the U shaped midea that had the problem and only with gfci plugs. Others have reported this issue. Classic midea units have no problem.
@@macmcleod1188 Does your generator have a built in gfci? If so, have you tried plugging the Midea into the generator with a simple 3 to 2 pin grounding plug (Homedepot/model # U-09) adapter? Eliminating having 2 gfci’s inline, might be the answer?
I really want this to work!
@@thernsa no I haven't yet because that would require me to buy a second generator.
And the only inexpensive generators I have seen all use gasoline which is a bit of a maintenance problem
I did read on Reddit that this is a gap in the standards for GFCI plugs and should be resolved in the next couple of years.
@@thernsa I'm just saying heads up if you are going to buy a generator that this could be an issue with the Madea inverter technology air conditioners.
I love mine. My power bill is this summer are lower than last summer with the new unit and it is whisper quiet. But if you're shopping for a generator, I would recommend getting one you know will work with the unit.
Thanks, I got a lot of useful info without all the usual BS of other info videos.
I have 2 of the 14000 BTU LG Inverter traditional style window units that I think are great. Quiet, powerful, and pretty cheap to run. One is maybe 4 years old and the other is 3. So far so good. Anyone looking for a through the wall replacement should look into the LG. Just my 2 cents.
Thanks
Its also good to note that you have the old version of the Midea. The new one is not a black box but blue, you can connect it with matter app, it has a cost to run(only $1), and the buttons are all touch screen-like (same as the ge).
11:37 The Midea often goes on sale. /// Before purchasing, please download the manuals from hardware store. For both styles, measure how far out your outside ledge is. /// 12:49 The distance of outside ledge from window can be a problem for both. /// Window orientation,etc., too: Wood, plastic, aluminum, level or lower lip.
/// For the GE's closeness to building. For Midea's, too far out OR too deep down for bracket legs to brace against outside.
13:34
// I have a Midea. Included bracket extends 21 inch from window. it was not enough distance for the legs, to clear ledge out far enough to drop around and down to steady against building. The bracket end must sit at an angle enough for condensation to drip to outside. Without the legs, you'll need to prop end of bracket on top of something (Best not to use wood!).
/// Installs can be very easy. I watched a lot of certain TH-camrs doing the Midea and the Danby U-shape. They are basically twins of same design under the family of products from the same international corporation.
I saw workshop installs, solar and off-grid installs. One guy even made something to hold his Midea in a window that slides horizontally.
Even the 8,000 capacity can blow very cold through a one bedroom apartment. Quickly reduces humidity from bathroom. Combined with a floor fan and ceiling fans, I get air pulled into bedroom whose doorway otherwise isn't in direct path.
It is very efficient. We've had big humid rainy days. One week my apartment had some problem and couldn't use AC. the 100s nearly fried my brain! My electric bill is much lower compared to when i used the traditional form.
Depending on your budget and obligations $400 -$600 might seem high. Maybe meanwhile you do $150 standard. But, save up for a unit like this. Lower bill after I got mine.
The reason for it blowing colder than a central air conditioner is a different type of refrigerant. Also you should always test temperature drop from supply air and return air, that will give a more accurate picture of cooling ability.
Would also be curious to see how much air each of those actually pushes. The Midea could be cooler but if it's pushing half the CFM than the GE, then it's isn't being very efficient with using it's cooler air.
On the box and manual indicates air flow up to 20ft away.
Turn your fan speed to manual & and high. If you leave on auto, the fan does adjust by itself. Costco had a great deal 2 months ago, $289 for the 12k, we just love this unit, very quiet for bedroom.
Whatever, it doesn't matter! I have two of the 8000 btu units and they cool the rooms just fine. The air direction is not adjustable (the little fin gizmos in the exit vents don't work well) so the air mostly blows straight out and upwards. This can be less than ideal if your window is located next to a wall.
With this form factor, they really miss the mark when they fail to make the compressor reversible so its also a heater
I wish midea makes it easy for users to take out the fan wheel so you can clean it from mold
I have two of the Media units... one in my living room and one upstairs in my finished attic room. The one in the living room pretty much cools the living room and the kitchen. The one upstairs is a real marvel! It is one open room and is normally so hot in the summer, that no one would want to even go up there for a few minutes, much less sleep up there! Now, however, the A/C keeps the entire space nice and cool! I want to get another Media for my bedroom. I currently have a little 5K BTU conventional unit in there but it is on it's last legs. I just wish that Media made a lower BTU unit for smaller rooms like my bedroom. The 8K BTU is kind of an overkill for that small room. It's all about the $$$.
Thanks for doing the comparison between the two types of units but I still don't understand the purpose of the Midea U-shaped unit. Sure, it may use inverter technology but so does the GE and many of the standard window units now. Yes, you can open the window with this type where you can't with a standard window unit but since the unit pretty much blocks most of the window and lower sash anyway, what would be the point. Unless the window is fully open, the unit still blocks most of the air flow and view. At least the GE gives you your view back and allows you to actually open the window and get airflow. A quick custom screen and you have pretty much full use of the window with the GE unit. As others have said and is a good point is that airflow also has to be measured along with output temp. Increased airflow will cause the temp to rise but is also more effective at cooling larger areas so without measuring both temp and flow, you really can't say which unit is more effective at cooling a room. The cost to run is also worthless as there is no industry standard that I am aware of that they are using to make that determination so they kinda just make that up. The cost of the units and the install difficulty is a fair comparison between them as well as the space in the room and positioning when installed. If you want to place a table or chair under that window or there is no clearance under the window, then the GE will not work well there if at all but I really don't see any real advantage of the Midea over a standard window unit. They both block the window by about the same amount and both the standard window unit as well as the GE are MUCH easier to install.
I’m glad I’m not alone in this thought about the Midea. I guess the advantage the Midea has over a traditional window unit is that the gaps on either side are smaller. To me the GE seems to have an advantage in ease of installation and in preserving more of the view.
You are a very animated person with all those hand movements. Maintaining those hand movements for the entire time is somewhat impressive.
I have the GE Profile Clearview 12,000 btu. And it’s as cold if not colder than my 15,000 btu GE unit that it replaced. Not to mention the fact that it is insanely quiet.
We have an 8k and 10k midea. We have a 3 bed single that is 100% off grid. These do well keeping temps under 77° during the 100°+ and 80%+ humdity weather of Maryland. Once set temp is achieved they use only around 100-200watts to maintain conditions. We have an small air mover to help even the temps across such a starched out floor plan. We will be switching to the heatpump window units to supplement our wood stove this season.
I believe the heat pump units are not supposed to be out until sometime next year right?
@@HowToHomeDIY I have been working on being a tester. Fingers crossed.
I hope the heat units are not fire hazards if there's curtains nearby.
@@saratemp790 they are heat pumps. The risk of fire is extremely low. As far as I have been told a heating coil won't be passable with the limitations of a typical North American 15amp outlet
"The best" is the one that doesn't have condensate pump which can (and already did, if you will read actual reviews at online places like Home Depot/Amazon) fail in a way that will damage your flooring/walls or at the very least will leave you without working AC at the most crucial times.
I've had my GE for 3 years & never had a problem.
I acquired the Midea Ushape AC 12000 BTU, set it up, it was operational and providing cool air. After a brief absence, I returned to find that it had stopped running completely. I unplugged it, attempted to reset it, and contacted customer service for assistance. Despite repeating the steps I had already taken, the issue persisted. The customer service representative advised me to return the unit to the store.
We owned the 10kbtu Midea for a couple seasons - then it failed so it lasted only two seasons, in a northern midwestern state. Midea was no help whatsoever. “Luckily” we bought it at Costco but are having some reluctance to return it outside of warranty.
Both GE (Appliances, is now Haier) and Midea are Chinese companies so likely pretty comparable quality.
The GE was not available, so we (“fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me?”) bought another Midea at Costco this May. Ironically less expensive, $280, vs $339 we paid for the first one. And the new one is a 12kbtu unit vs 10kbtu for the first one! Hoping we have better luck this time…
BTW, the Midea is kind of a pain to install - more so than should be necessary.
I have a 1200BTU Midea & have been very happy with it. I originally wanted a GE, but I live in a late 1800s brick house and the walls are too thick to use with the GE. (Just something for people with thick walls to be aware of.)
Media U is also sold through Menards in the Midwest. So there can be extra rebates and it is available in person.
3 degrees cooler is a big difference, and the Midea achieves that at a lower wattage. The room will cool down quicker and the AC will cycle less often, making it even more efficient than the GE. And to top it all off, it's cheaper to buy. The fact that it mounts higher than the GE is a win as well since the height advantage will help to produce a better distribution of cool air. The Midea wins by a large margin. The only advantage that the GE has is that the lower mount looks cleaner. But reliability is a more important factor for me, so the question is which will last longer?
These things are a reminder to me to patent my inventions.
I really wish there were more options for casement, side sliding windows... so many nice options now for vertical windows.
So, have you tried running either of these units from a small (2kw) solar power station? I went with an 8k BTU Midea just because I saw online videos which showed it running from such a solar power station. I was a little concerned about going to a higher BTU unit because of current surge needed at startup, and I needed something I knew that I could run during a power outage, (I live in hurricane country). I tested the 8k BTU unit from the power station and it ran fine. I have a 10k BTU GE unit which I have not tested yet.
It all depends on which store you shop from.
Costco's regular price on the Midea 12,000 BTU is 299.00. I bought it on sale for 219.00 in May 2024.
Outstanding!!
It's all in the details! By 5:25 you failed to install foam in the window track under the AC.
I know that this is going to sound strange, but my 3-ton Central AC unit went out and they said I would need the new outside compressor PLUS a new inside blower unit (cost - $6,000)
We couldn't afford the $6,000, so we purchased (3) 12,000BTU Midea Window AC units for a total of $1,266.
We figured that would hold us for the summer until we could afford to replace the Central Air System.
Long story short....That was 4 years ago! Our electric bill was lower every summer, and we now have No Intention of replacing the Central Air Unit.
Not only fell in love with the Midea units, but I realized that IF one of these units ever fail, I'll just replace it for under $500! No need to call a service company AND I'll still have 2 units running while waiting for the replacement.
Central Air-conditioning just 'may' be the largest scam of the century!
I still have to live with my older LG in my living room because it has the old fashioned eco mode where it stay off for hours and hours until it senses the temp is higher than the setting. Unlike one in the bedroom that only stays off for like 15 minutes and then starts up to circulate the air and test the temp to see if it needs to start the compressor. That stopping and starting wakes me and my wife up so we just put it in cool mode and let it run the whole night.
Great review of two very similar products. Please be careful about how you test and make conclusions about A/C duct temperature. Not only is the scfm being delivered important to consider, but so is the ambient room temperature, the outside ambient temperature, and any solar heating of the external portion of the A/C unit. I would have also liked to hear if these units had similar warranty coverage. Overall I think you do some of the very best product reviews on TH-cam. Keep up the great work! 👍
To comment on ease of installation: I give the Midea bonus points because while the initial setup is a bit more involved (measure the support structure, cutting things to size, and so on), once you're past that future installations are rather simple and can be easily be done by a single person (which is especially nice if you have this on the 2nd floor or higher). You just screw in the support structure and then slide the AC onto it.
the window in my house is only 22" wide, was able to install a midea 12000 unit, despite that instructions call for min 24"
at the national chain warehouse store these sell for about 100$ less than price quoted in video
It sounds like both of these AC's are much better than the standard window AC. It's no surprise that buyers of each are happy with what they have.
I bought a Midea AC a few weeks ago and am very happy with it. It is working much better than the AC it replaced, although for me in my location I would not say that it's great at reducing humidity. It does reduce it from maybe 75-90% outside to about 60% inside, but I then run a dehumidifier to bring that down to below 50%. And if I stop running the dehumidifier, then the humidity drifts back up to 60% within a few hours. Perhaps my house is not as air-tight as it should be.
In my case, installing the Midea took closer to 90 minutes, but maybe I'm overly fussy about things. I must remove the entire AC before winter arrives, so I am also uneasy about how much trouble it will be to reinstall next year. If I consider just the *shape* of the AC's, I strongly prefer the saddle-shape to the upwards-U shape. However, there's one thing about the GE which makes it a problem for me. As mentioned in this comparison, you have to go outside to make some adjustments to installing the AC. I will need to install an AC on the second-floor of my house, in a window which is a hassle to reach from the outside. There are steps in the Midea install process which are much easier to do from outside the window, but the whole process *can* be done from inside.
I do wish the Midea was easier and less time-consuming to install, but other than that I'm very happy with it. I'm about a week away from receiving my first electric bill after installing this, but I wanted to reply to this video before I forget about it! The local weather service reported that this July was the 8th hottest July on record where I live, and this AC did an excellent job of keeping one floor of my house comfortable. I expect I'll be tempted to buy a second Midea AC next year for the other floor.
... I'll add that I didn't realize that there's a cellphone app for the Midea. I'm not sure that I'll use it, but it looks interesting.
I'm a little surprised that you didn't include a link to your video on _"The COLDEST And QUIETEST AC Unit Ever Made! Still Use Your Window!"_ in the info for this video. I don't need it right now, of course, but I'm going to save a link to that for reference when I go to reinstall my AC for next summer. 🙂
In northern Alabama; I see the same things; but my house is fairly tight. If I run the dehumidifier ( a large Midea dehumidifier - cube thing ) - it puts a load on the air conditioner- as it's a heat source. With that, I can keep it towards 45% - I consider 45% comfortable. But during hot days, where the outside temp is above 90 F, I have to turn off the dehumidifier to lighten the load on the central air, so I turn that off about 9 AM till 7 PM. By about 4 or 5 PM, humidity will rise to about 53% to 55%.
If I put in a window air conditioner, either the conventional window air conditioner, or portable one, the one with a hose kit, at best, I've seen 50% in the room it's in; but more often it's 60 to 63%. Adding a window AC does indeed make inside humidity rise much faster; no matter how well I try to seal it.
The better tact is to bring the humidity down at night towards 45% and let it rise slowly with no window AC installed & turning off the humidifier during the day. Not as comfortable. It's been a hot 3 months down here this year.
Note I noticed this effect with window AC & humidity last year; and even this year, putting in and yanking AC's, the house is substantially better sealed without the window AC's installed. At times, I've also noted that the indoor humidity is actually HIGHER than the warmer outside humidity unless I'm running a dehumidifier.
There are also the single and dual hose portables; I hear the 2 hose models are better; but to me, far easier to install as I'm not lifting them ; just rolling the AC unit into position. Currently have a single hose unit; may try a dual hose next year, along with a dehumidifier in the room. As every plug in that room is apparently on a single 15 A circuit, I'll have to figure out how to power it without tripping the circuit breakers. FWIW, I don't think that your house is leaky; I think just adding in a Window AC does allow some leakage - which is what you are seeing; as I see this no matter which AC type I've used. Seal wise- fwiw: the conventional AC and the portable AC ( with the hose ) - both are close to about the same operating - upper 50's to low 60% humidity when running and properly sealed up; with the single hose unit actually a bit better when I built a custom frame for the window frame it sits in. The biggest advantage I see - is the wife loves the house at a warmer temp, and I prefer cooler, so I can retreat into that room and enjoy some cooler, but moister air.
@@MrPir84free - My house is 100 years old, with 100-year-old windows. I know it's leaky! I've already replaced about 12 of the windows and that has helped a lot. But there are still more which need to be replaced, including one that's in the same room as I have the dehumidifier in. In that room the humidity will rise from 40% to 60% within 3-4 hours. It'd be up to 65% if I left the humidifier off all day. I did feel a bit better to hear that your experience is somewhat similar to what I'm seeing, even though our houses are different.
Thank you for the video review. Blessings to you..
I have the 8,000 midea and I do wish that after you set a temperature that the display within then switch to what the current temperature of the room is at instead of staring at the set temperature
Midea also makes the "clearvue" too.
The bracket took about 10-15 mins to install.
FYI the black foam is supposed to go the entire length of the top in-between unit and the bottom of the window for the u shape
FYI, no, that is different black foam that I only briefly showed in this video that has adhesive on it. The foam strip I showed going between the top of the sliding window and the window behind it is supposed to go there. I said this was not a permanent install for me so I did not use all of the foam supplied with the AC.
@@HowToHomeDIY please see page 14 for what I am talking about, the method you showed does not create a proper seal.
@drowningblue again it was not a permanent install and I mentioned this in the video. I wasn’t going to cut the adhesive foam to fit that window when it was going somewhere else. In fact I used a door seal there temporarily. Which actually worked quite well. But this was not an install video.
I've got the GE installed right now and I quite like it.
How are you enjoying your Communist Chinese company product?
If all things at about equal, i think the extra sun light from the GE is a significant benefit.
just what i was looking for
Great review, Thank you so much.
If you could, a comparison with the cheapest available window unit that has a single stage compressor would be handy.
Got a 5000BTU single stage unit on my window and I'm hesitant to change for inverter technology as the current just runs and provides great value for money.
Efficiency seems to be decent with an energy efficient rating of 9 while the Midea has 11 .
Also not too noisy
A dream would be a mini split but that isn't so easy to get approved in a multistory appartment building
Your installation was really the first-time-setup only. I take my window unit out every year and re-install it when Summer starts. Therefore the first-time took me 45 minutes with the new bracket, but the second time I installed it under 10 minutes because I marked the bracket. So I would say the long-term Installation might go to Midea.
Thanks for the update!
I ordered a Midea 8,000 btu. It was defective on arrival, kept blowing GFCI outlets but was quite. The replacement Midea unit was also defective; useless - throwing error codes right out of the box. I replaced that w/ a GE. It works good BUT is certainly loud for having a quiet rating. Much louder than one wants for sleeping. It also ices up rapidly. EVERYDAY I run it on fan for a few hrs to thaw out the ice. If I don’t it will definitely ice up by the second day, requiring the thaw. That at 90s temp w/ humidity in the 30% range. I found GE support to be terrible. The manual instructions for dealing with icing is also terrible. I fingered out how to deal w/ that by trial and error. The GE is very energy efficient. It’s a bit over 600 watts