Friedrich SS08M10 -- 7900 BTU window air conditioner

This is my second Kuhl. I purchased the original one from M&M Appliances in Washington, DC, but took it back because it was damaged - compressor ripped from the mounts and refrigerant lines bent - and the backup battery was dead on arrival. Second unit seems to be in much better condition. It was not damaged and the backup battery is not dead. Friedrich also mailed me a new backup battery (see their website for the form to fill out for a free battery).

Installation was a bit time consuming and required more tools than you'd expect for a window a/c install. The hardware that comes with the unit is excellent. It is sturdy and well built. Installation is definitely intended to be semi-permanent. I will not be removing this unit every winter like I have with previous window units.

Unit cools very well and is very quiet when compared to bargain brands at many stores. Discharge air temperature... Read more

I just have no idea why this A/C costs $800. Rich (read - pretentious) look apart I haven't found a single advantage over an A/C with the comparable output you can pick up in a home improvement store for $150.
I was looking for a single most important for me function - a quiet operation - and I was willing to pay 6-X price for it. Good thing I decided to test it before putting in into the window. When running "fan only", it makes reasonable noise, not much quieter than a "regular" cheap A/C. The disappointing part there is only 3 fan speeds, no variable speed and/or super-quiet mode.
But when I switched it in cooling mode and the compressor kicked in, I literally jumped - first the loud click and then the droning noise, so loud I thought I dropped a screw driver into the fan. After a few second the sound went down a little but it still was way over the acceptable level, and definitely louder than a cheap A/C makes. I thought the unit was defective, the dealer sent a... Read more

The compressor makes a loud throbbing noise which makes it too noisy for a bedroom. The unit is also heavy & bulky, which made installation difficult. Other than that it cools well, but so do a lot of less expensive, smaller, equally noisy a/c's.