Max safe temperature for window AC?

[ssbtech]

I have a partially enclosed balcony with the window AC set up in the sliding door, blocked off above. Right now with the A/C going it's 102F on the balcony. (39C). I emailed LG and they stated there's no maximum outdoor operating temperature for this unit, but that sounds a bit fishy.

Any experience with what's a safe temp to run these units in?

Seems like it's struggling to keep the indoor temp below 79F.

 

[Warrenator]

I'm sure LG is right in saying there is no max temperature to run these units at. On the other hand, if the unit is in Saudi Arabia running full tilt all the time, it won't last a year. The same unit run a few hours a day someplace cooler will last longer.

Might want to give it a break and only set it to cool the room to, say 82 degrees so it gets a chance to rest a bit. Or if your comfort is more important, run it full blast. When it dies buy a bigger capacity unit so the new one doesn't have to work so hard. Gotta have the right size unit for your size room, heat load, insulation etc. Sounds like your air conditioner is undersized.

 

[James-W]

If you had a larger capacity air-conditioner it wouldn't have to work as hard and the room would be cooler.

 

[ssbtech]

It's physically the largest capacity unit that I can fit. It's a 12,000 BTU unit. Next step up is a 15,000. There are 18,000 BTU units but not on a 15A 120v circuit.

 

[DeltaWye]

Not an expert, but in my opinion your air conditioner should be running full tilt on the very hottest days. Not sure if the 39 degrees reflects the heat coming off the unit, what was the reported temperature and humidity for the day?

 

[dadsEH]

Well gosh....here in Oz we dont turn the AC ON UNTIL IT HITS 35C.

 

[ssbtech]

Not an expert, but in my opinion your air conditioner should be running full tilt on the very hottest days. Not sure if the 39 degrees reflects the heat coming off the unit, what was the reported temperature and humidity for the day?

As my balcony is partially enclosed, it doesn't get much air movement. Outdoors air temp was around 29. The AC heats up the deck area. I've tried a big box fan in one of the windows but that didn't drop the deck temp at all.

 

[Williamtell]

I have a partially enclosed balcony with the window AC set up in the sliding door, blocked off above. Right now with the A/C going it's 102F on the balcony. (39C). I emailed LG and they stated there's no maximum outdoor operating temperature for this unit, but that sounds a bit fishy.

Haha. You'll be fine. It's made to run when its hot out. It's almost silly but if I never had an ac and lived in a year round temperate climate I'm sure I would ask the same.

 

[Williamtell]

Not an expert, but in my opinion your air conditioner should be running full tilt on the very hottest days. Not sure if the 39 degrees reflects the heat coming off the unit, what was the reported temperature and humidity for the day?

You are correct. To have an efficiently sized system your ac should be running 100 percent on the hottest days of the year. If it's cycling on and off its oversized for your apartment or house. But with a plug in ac, you aren't going to be able to oversize it.

Most people in hot climates generally go with an slightly oversized system. I've lived in Oklahoma with window units before, it ***** especially when you get a couple of weeks with over 100 during the days and dropping only to low 80s at night.

 

[WhiffySpark]

We keep ours at 65 in the bedroom. We close the house ac vents and let it run 2 hours before we go to bed

Our room is on my grandparents ac side. She's cold when it's 90* out that's why we do it

 

[joe_padavano]

I have a partially enclosed balcony with the window AC set up in the sliding door, blocked off above. Right now with the A/C going it's 102F on the balcony. (39C). I emailed LG and they stated there's no maximum outdoor operating temperature for this unit, but that sounds a bit fishy.

Any experience with what's a safe temp to run these units in?

Seems like it's struggling to keep the indoor temp below 79F.

It gets a lot hotter than 102F in Phoenix, and window air conditioners work just fine. Your problem, I assume, is the glass. It sounds like you're trying to cool what is effectively a greenhouse with a small widow unit. The heat load through the glass is large.

 

[PWC Repair]

With the condenser sitting in 102* air and keeping 79* in the room with the evaporator.....it's working perfectly. You're getting a 23* difference which is all you can ask for. To get cooler air you must condense the refrigerant. To drop the temp more, the condenser must "see" a lower temp. Either move some hot air out of the balcony, or increase the available condensing space=another/larger unit.

Anyway, the unit will still operate if it's 150* out there, just less efficiently and as others have stated lifespan will be shortened.