I Tried Windmill's AC During the Hottest Month of the Year — Here's How It Held Up

Welcome to Skimm Tested, where we put products to the test and then give them a report card. (Check out all of our tried-and-tested faves here.)

The assignment…

To find out if Windmill’s modern air conditioners (from $329) are quieter than and effective alternatives to my old-school, in-window air conditioner units. Are they truly as easy to install and use as the brand claims — and do they look as good IRL as they do on my social feeds?   

What I tested…

• Medium AC with WhisperTech 8,000 BTU: This size ($439) is equipped to cool down rooms measuring up to 350 square feet. I installed this in my 115-foot bedroom. 

• Large AC with WhisperTech 10,000 BTU: Windmill’s largest AC ($549) is designed for spaces up to 450 square feet. I opted for this size for my combination living and dining room — plus my foyer and kitchen, as a possible bonus — that together measures over 400 square feet. 

Straight A’s in...

• Ease of installation. The order comes with everything you need for installation, and directions are easy to follow. The kit even includes a pair of scissors to cut the insulating side panels to fit your window. You’ll just need to supply your own drill. (You'll also want a bracket if your window doesn't already have one.) Both units only took about 20 minutes to install. Pro tip: It’s a good idea to have an extra set of hands ready to help you lift the unit and position it in your window.       

• Aesthetics. My previous AC units were clunky and the side panels were literally held together with duct tape (yikes). Windmill’s minimalist, compact design with gentle LED lights and rounded edges blends harmoniously with the rest of my apartment. Thanks to the sleek side panels, the entire unit virtually disappears into the window. I opted for clean, classic white, but for an extra $49, you can choose one of four colored front panels, like pretty sky blue or lavender.   

• Effectiveness. My old units pushed air straight out, creating a single column of cold air that never fully diffused throughout the room. Windmill ACs are designed with angled top vents to circulate air evenly. The medium size thoroughly cools down my bedroom, rivaling central AC in its effectiveness. Most impressive? It gets the stamp of approval both from me, who is chronically freezing, and my sweaty-sleeper boyfriend.  

• The app. Other than some difficulty setting it up (more on that below), the app is one of my favorite features of the AC. Each device in your home has its own interface within the app so you can control them separately. You can turn the devices on and off, adjust the temperature and fan speed, and pick a mode (fan, cool, or eco) — all without needing to get up. And if you forgot to turn off your AC after leaving home — or if you want to turn it on before you get home from a sweaty day out — you can do so remotely. The app also offers customizable automated settings, though I haven’t found them necessary to use. You can also connect the units to Alexa or Google Assistant and control them with your voice. 

• Noise level. The ACs are not completely silent, but the noise level is about on par with a white-noise machine. They’re noticeably quieter than my old units.

Room for growth…

• Size availability. The largest unit doesn’t have the reach to extend to the end of my foyer and kitchen as I’d hoped, but it does a fine job of cooling down the bulk of my living and dining room. If you’re looking for an AC that can accommodate rooms larger than 400 square feet, you may want to consider another brand.

• Setting up the app on multiple phones. Pairing a single AC unit on a single phone was a breeze. But I ran into trouble pairing the device with my boyfriend’s phone as well — and it was even more confusing to pair the second AC with both our phones. Customer service came in handy here.

• Remote control. The remote controls don’t work from a distance, which defeats the purpose of having one. And since the app is so effective, I rarely want or need to use the remotes at all.

Plays well with…

• People who live in smaller spaces. The unit’s compact footprint and effectiveness in small rooms is particularly ideal for apartment living. 

• Tech enthusiasts. Between the app and optional voice control, AC units don’t get much more streamlined than this.

Gets extra credit for…

• Eco-friendliness. Windmill is designed with a handful of earth-friendly features, including a carbon offset program, an eco-friendly refrigerant, and an overall energy-efficient system. If you enroll in Windmill’s Eco Rewards Program, they’ll automatically (and temporarily) adjust your AC during the hottest days of the year to alleviate stress on your local power grid. You can earn rewards in return for enrollment, like a pack of replacement filters or a gift card. (Note that the Eco Rewards Program is only available in parts of New York and California for now, and rewards are only offered in New York.)   

• Customer service. My first Windmill unit had a mechanical humming sound, likely an issue with the fan. Windmill’s customer service immediately sent me a new unit that arrived the following day. (All three units I ordered arrived within one to two days.) Windmill gave me the option to pick up my old unit and recycle it for me, or to recycle it myself. Customer service also responded to me within 30 minutes when I had trouble pairing the second device with the app.

•  Replaceable filters. Regularly cleaning or replacing your AC filter is one of the least fun jobs on earth, but this unit at least makes it more accessible. A small circle on the display panel will turn red to indicate that it’s time to replace your filter. You can remove the old filter via the magnetic front panel and easily slot in a new one (filters will last up to three months). The antimicrobial mesh paneling surrounding the filter is washable, too. And for more convenience, you can also add a filter auto-refill plan to your order at the cadence of your choosing. 

How I did my homework…

• My boyfriend and I have been living with two Windmill AC units in our New York City apartment for the month of July, which saw record-breaking temperatures.

Footnotes…

• From $329, Windmill

• Available in four sizes: Small ($329), Medium ($379), Medium with WhisperTech ($439), and Large with WhisperTech ($549)

• You can return your unit for free within 30 days