Windmill Air Conditioner Review 2025

When I moved into my NYC apartment three years ago, I soon realized that living in a pre-war building came with a unique set of challenges: The apartment runs hot and has been hard to cool down. I scoured the internet for the best air conditioners and prioritized a budget-friendly window unit to cool down my space. It quickly became clear that I made the wrong choice — my air conditioner was loud and struggled to cool my studio apartment effectively.

Earlier this summer, my air conditioner broke, and I have to admit that I was relieved. This gave me an excuse to upgrade to the Windmill AC, which I originally found through positive social media reviews. This air conditioner was supposed to be sleeker, quieter, and more effective. I installed it right before a New York City heat wave, and it has made all the difference in cooling down my space without being noisy.

Design and specs

As someone who lives in a studio apartment, my air conditioner is pretty much always on full display, with the window being one of the main focal points in the space. The Windmill AC originally caught my attention for being more design-focused than your typical air conditioner. It’s marketed toward city dwellers for this reason, with a modern design and a minimalist appearance, including a discreet top vent that blows air upward.

Most air conditioners have accordion side panels, but this one comes with foam panel covers that help it blend in better with my “renter white” walls and provide double-sided insulation. While I’m happy with the appearance of this air conditioner overall, I will note that there’s a small downside here: The opaque panels let in less light than my previous unit. My apartment faces another building, so it’s not a huge difference, but it did take some getting used to.

There are also a few fun accessories available to upgrade this air conditioner. To add some color to your space, you can purchase a front panel in solids or ombre gradients. Windmill also sells winter covers, which combine style and function in a number of fun patterns.

Setup

Depending on what size you get, Windmill ACs range from 48 to 65 pounds. I got the 12,000 Btu unit, which is on the highest end of that range. Packaged in one rectangular box, I had no problem bringing it into my apartment on my own, and could tell that it was lighter than my previous AC. It also came with an installation kit that included instructions, hardware, foam panels, and a foam roll. With even a pair of scissors inside, it felt like the brand thought of everything.

Windmill recommends two people for setup and has partnered with KeepCoolNYC and TaskRabbit to offer professional installation services. As someone who lives alone in a high-rise, I’ve never felt comfortable installing an air conditioner on my own. Most New York City buildings (including mine) require a metal bracket to enforce window ACs, so I decided to turn to a professional for help. Still, I was shocked by how quickly he installed the air conditioner in my standard-size, top-open window. The installer took just 10 minutes to remove my old AC and fully install the Windmill in my window. He used a drill for the bracket and a pair of scissors to cut the panels to size.

After watching him, I wouldn’t say I’m confident that I could have done the installation on my own (maybe after a few reps at the gym, or with the help of my dad), but I was surprised at how seamless the process was overall.

Performance and energy use

I live in a spacious New York City studio apartment (about 500 square feet total) with a bedroom “nook” and a fully separate kitchen. I went with the 12,000 Btu model, Windmill’s largest AC, which is recommended for rooms up to 550 square feet, to cool my entire apartment.

Before this air conditioner, I had a different 12,000 Btu unit, but it was not sufficient to cool the different areas of my apartment. Previously, I could tell the outside temperature without checking my weather app because the apartment would heat up and down with the weather.

From first use, the Windmill air conditioner has felt more like central air, reaching all the nooks of my studio. To truly put its cooling abilities to the test, I ran it on high on a 93-degree day. It cooled off my apartment by about 6 degrees in one hour, proving that it cools the space quickly as well as effectively. After one month with this air conditioner, I can confidently say that it’s improved my overall quality of living. Plus, as a dog mom, I’ve noticed my pup feels more comfortable and energetic in our newly cooled apartment as well.

My affinity for this air conditioner has come at a cost (literally). Ahead of my last Con Edison bill, I received a notice that my energy use is projected to be 34% higher this billing period. Ultimately, I blame this more on the time of year, along with the fact that I’m actually using my air conditioner more. Windmill’s WisperTech technology is designed to increase energy efficiency with dual air flow and filtration. The brand advertises a 15.0 CEER, and in our at-home test, it registered 0.67 kWh in one hour of use, which is average and — assuming average nationwide electricity rates — will cost about $80 a month to run. Of course, NYC electricity rates are significantly higher than the rest of the country, so your mileage may vary.

Ease of use and noise

The Windmill AC has been intuitive to use since I first turned it on. It comes with a remote and has a control panel on the top of the machine with an overall minimal look. The buttons do take some getting used to at first because you have to be up close to see their labels, but once I learned their placements, it got easier. You can toggle between fan, cool, or eco modes and adjust the fan speed using the buttons, remote, or app. The buttons and front screen light while you’re pressing them, but turn off after, which also keeps the machine discreet.

More than anything, what originally drew me to the Windmill air conditioner is its promise to be quieter than other options. The window unit I previously had was so loud, I couldn’t hear myself think while it was on. As a content creator who works from home, I had to turn it off for Zoom meetings and while recording videos because it was overpowering in the background.

When I first turned the Windmill AC on, it brought an instant wave of relief along with its cool breeze. It gives off a low amount of white noise and sounds like a light hum. Using a decibel meter, I measured it as 44.5 decibels (dB) on low and 55.4 dB on high. It’s quiet and doesn’t make any jarring noises, so I’m able to record videos and take audio calls without having to turn it off.

One thing to keep in mind is that Windmill offers an original model at 6,000 or 8,000 Btu or a WisperTech model at 8,000, 10,000, or 12,000 Btu. In previous testing, we found the original model to be on the louder side, at 63 dB on high (though the brand notes that it starts at 49 dB). If you’re looking for a quiet AC, I would definitely recommend opting for a WisperTech unit.

Smart features and filtration

During setup, I was prompted to download an app and register my air conditioner. The process was seamless, and personally, I appreciate a machine with smart technology. While I generally use the controls on the unit when I’m home, I like to use the app to turn my air conditioner on when I’m on my way home after being out and about. It has the same settings as the machine and remote, but is slightly more descriptive. Plus, the app allows you to set up automations, such as a schedule for the AC to turn on at certain times of day. There are also options I’ve never seen on an AC app before, like a setting that turns the AC on and off based on the position of the sun.

Another unique feature of the Windmill is that you can add a carbon filter for air purifying on top of cooling. (Note, this is in addition to a washable filter and isn’t vital for the AC to function, but the brand does recommend it.) You can purchase 2 to 4 filters from the brand’s website for $25.22 to $45.24 and set up a subscription for auto-renewal. Windmill recommends changing your activated carbon filter every three months, depending on use.

Cons to consider

When I first set out to buy a new air conditioner, I faced one major hesitation with Windmill: the price. Depending on which Btu you choose, the units range from $349 to $599, which is more expensive than other ACs I’ve personally purchased, though about average when compared to the picks in our best air conditioner guide. However, now that I’ve experienced both a budget-friendly AC and this more expensive model, I can confidently say it’s worth the added cost. Overall, I’ve been extremely happy with this air conditioner and feel that it’s improved my day-to-day living.

I also wasn’t sure how I would feel about Windmill’s top vent since it only blows upward, and you can’t control the direction of airflow. However, it’s actually been a benefit for me — I appreciate that this AC doesn’t feel too intense when I’m closer to it, and the cool air seems to disperse evenly through my studio apartment. While the AC has felt like central air to me, I could see how this could be frustrating to others, especially if you want to specifically target one area of your home.

Finally, I have run into a few minor annoyances while using this AC. First, the plug to this air conditioner is shorter than my old one, so I needed an extension cord to reach the closest outlet. Windmill ACs have 6.5-foot power cords, so I recommend measuring before installing them. And if you do need an extension cord, ensure that it’s heavy-duty and the correct voltage. To be extra careful, I monitored my unit at first to ensure the cord didn’t heat up at all. Additionally, my AC has made a weird noise on a few occasions, which I’ve traced back to the front face coming loose. Luckily, this takes just seconds to fix by popping the cover back into place.

What are your alternatives?

During my search for a new AC, I stopped by a local hardware store for some advice on quieter models. The salesman told me that the LG Dual Inverter Window Air Conditioner is the most comparable model to Windmill. In previous testing, it measured 53 dB, which is slightly quieter than the Windmill unit. However, the LG AC starts at 85 pounds, which makes it harder to install and less city apartment-friendly. This air conditioner also doesn’t feature as sleek a look as Windmill. It would be a better option to cool a larger room since it goes up to 23,500 Btu. Read our full LG Dual Inverter Air Conditioner review.

If you’re looking for a more design-focused air conditioner, both Frigidaire and Midea make attractive ACs that top our guide to the best air conditioners.

Finally, if you have atypical windows (quite common in the city), you may want to consider one of our picks for the best portable air conditioners. They’re also a good option if you can’t fathom blocking off a window for a whole year, since they’re much easier to install and deinstall than window ACs.

The bottom line

Not only does the Windmill Air Conditioner effectively cool off my home, but it has also improved my overall quality of living in New York City. It offers a modern look and operates easily without being noisy, making it perfect for an apartment like mine, where it’s always visible. While it’s more expensive than other air conditioners, it’s worth the splurge, and I won’t be going back to more budget-friendly options in the future.