It's an older Westinghouse window A.C. Besides the temperature control,
HI - LOW - OFF and Automatic Fan controls, it has this lever that says
Exhaust OPEN - CLOSED. With the front panel removed, I can see it flips
open a small door inside the unit.

My question is what is that for, or what does it do? I guessed that it
would take some of the indoor air and blow it outside with that lever
set to OPEN. I held a cigarette near it with it set both ways and
pretty much could not notice much difference. The smoke just scattered
around the room from the fan. So what is it for?

To get the most cooling and least energy usage, is it better to leave it
open or closed?

One other thing, Does the front panel really serve any purpose other
than make it look nice? I found that it seems to feel much cooler with
that panel off. Maybe it's not really cooling better, but the air comes
out better. That panel seems to restrict the air flow. I'd rather have
it look ugly and feel good, than look good and not feel as cool.

This may be common knowledge, but I've either had central air, or no
air. This is my first window unit. This has been such an extremely hot
summer I finally installed it. It's been sitting in the shed for at
least 8 years since it was given to me.

The exhaust opening doesn't do much, at all. I'm not sure why they bother.

The plastic front plate is not required. A fan blowing towards the AC will
also help cool the room. Blowing away from the AC doesn't do much
difference.

Cigarette smoke is toxic. They should never be lit or burned in the presence
of people, children, pets, or any animal that breathes.

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..

wrote in message
...
It's an older Westinghouse window A.C. Besides the temperature control,
HI - LOW - OFF and Automatic Fan controls, it has this lever that says
Exhaust OPEN - CLOSED. With the front panel removed, I can see it flips
open a small door inside the unit.

My question is what is that for, or what does it do? I guessed that it
would take some of the indoor air and blow it outside with that lever
set to OPEN. I held a cigarette near it with it set both ways and
pretty much could not notice much difference. The smoke just scattered
around the room from the fan. So what is it for?

To get the most cooling and least energy usage, is it better to leave it
open or closed?

One other thing, Does the front panel really serve any purpose other
than make it look nice? I found that it seems to feel much cooler with
that panel off. Maybe it's not really cooling better, but the air comes
out better. That panel seems to restrict the air flow. I'd rather have
it look ugly and feel good, than look good and not feel as cool.

This may be common knowledge, but I've either had central air, or no
air. This is my first window unit. This has been such an extremely hot
summer I finally installed it. It's been sitting in the shed for at
least 8 years since it was given to me.

On Sat, 04 Aug 2012 04:35:40 -0500, wrote:

It's an older Westinghouse window A.C. Besides the temperature control,
HI - LOW - OFF and Automatic Fan controls, it has this lever that says
Exhaust OPEN - CLOSED. With the front panel removed, I can see it flips
open a small door inside the unit.

My question is what is that for, or what does it do? I guessed that it
would take some of the indoor air and blow it outside with that lever
set to OPEN. I held a cigarette near it with it set both ways and
pretty much could not notice much difference. The smoke just scattered
around the room from the fan. So what is it for?

According to an engineer from Frigidaire, it is there because they can
say they have another "feature" that the competition may or may not
have. Useless as far as real life use. It is supposed to exhaust some
of the indoor air so fresh air can be drawn in. A few years back, my
company made the part with the vent opening. Laughable really, but on
a comparison chart, they had another check mark.



To get the most cooling and least energy usage, is it better to leave it
open or closed?

Closed.



One other thing, Does the front panel really serve any purpose other
than make it look nice? I found that it seems to feel much cooler with
that panel off. Maybe it's not really cooling better, but the air comes
out better. That panel seems to restrict the air flow. I'd rather have
it look ugly and feel good, than look good and not feel as cool.

The front panel holds the filter. If you are removing the filter, the
fins will eventually get covered with dust and dirt and you'll get no
air flow. They are not easily cleaned so be sure it is filtered and
kept clean..

If you don't want the air diffused as it comes out, it would be OK to
cut out the diffusers on the outlet portion. In any case, it won't
make the air nay colder. The capacity is what it is. You may feel a
bit cooler if the air is blowing right on you though.

I've worked on dozens, or possibly hundreds of window or through the wall
AC. Only a very few, the lack of filter on the front has been a problem.
One, I did service. Looked and smelled like it had been used right next to a
greasy kitchen. The evaporator was a sheet of congealed cooking grease.

The big problem is the outdoor air contains dust, and clogs the condensor.
So far, I've never seen a window AC with an outdoor air filter.

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..

"Ed Pawlowski" wrote in message
...

One other thing, Does the front panel really serve any purpose other
than make it look nice? I found that it seems to feel much cooler with
that panel off. Maybe it's not really cooling better, but the air comes
out better. That panel seems to restrict the air flow. I'd rather have
it look ugly and feel good, than look good and not feel as cool.

The front panel holds the filter. If you are removing the filter, the
fins will eventually get covered with dust and dirt and you'll get no
air flow. They are not easily cleaned so be sure it is filtered and
kept clean..

If you don't want the air diffused as it comes out, it would be OK to
cut out the diffusers on the outlet portion. In any case, it won't
make the air nay colder. The capacity is what it is. You may feel a
bit cooler if the air is blowing right on you though.

wrote:

This may be common knowledge, but I've either had central air, or no
air. This is my first window unit. This has been such an extremely
hot summer I finally installed it. It's been sitting in the shed for
at least 8 years since it was given to me.

If you're using the window unit in your bedroom, and the central a/c is off
while you sleep, be prepared for a pleasant surprise when you get your next
utility bill. A BIG, pleasant surprise.

On Aug 4, 5:35*am, wrote:
It's an older Westinghouse window A.C. *Besides the temperature control,
HI - LOW - OFF and Automatic Fan controls, it has this lever that says
Exhaust OPEN - CLOSED. *With the front panel removed, I can see it flips
open a small door inside the unit.

My question is what is that for, or what does it do? *I guessed that it
would take some of the indoor air and blow it outside with that lever
set to OPEN. *I held a cigarette near it with it set both ways and
pretty much could not notice much difference. *The smoke just scattered
around the room from the fan. *So what is it for?

It's to let some of the air from inside the house out.
Then fresh air from various leaks around the house
will replace it. So, you get some fresh air in. The
downside is it increases the cooling load.




To get the most cooling and least energy usage, is it better to leave it
open or closed?

Closed


One other thing, Does the front panel really serve any purpose other
than make it look nice? *I found that it seems to feel much cooler with
that panel off. *Maybe it's not really cooling better, but the air comes
out better. *That panel seems to restrict the air flow. *I'd rather have
it look ugly and feel good, than look good and not feel as cool.

This may be common knowledge, but I've either had central air, or no
air. *This is my first window unit. *This has been such an extremely hot
summer I finally installed it. *It's been sitting in the shed for at
least 8 years since it was given to me.


Typically they direct air to where you want it to
go and may hold the filter.

wrote in message
...
It's an older Westinghouse window A.C. Besides the temperature control,
HI - LOW - OFF and Automatic Fan controls, it has this lever that says
Exhaust OPEN - CLOSED. With the front panel removed, I can see it flips
open a small door inside the unit.

My question is what is that for, or what does it do? I guessed that it
would take some of the indoor air and blow it outside with that lever
set to OPEN. I held a cigarette near it with it set both ways and
pretty much could not notice much difference. The smoke just scattered
around the room from the fan. So what is it for?

To get the most cooling and least energy usage, is it better to leave it
open or closed?

One other thing, Does the front panel really serve any purpose other
than make it look nice? I found that it seems to feel much cooler with
that panel off. Maybe it's not really cooling better, but the air comes
out better. That panel seems to restrict the air flow. I'd rather have
it look ugly and feel good, than look good and not feel as cool.

This may be common knowledge, but I've either had central air, or no
air. This is my first window unit. This has been such an extremely hot
summer I finally installed it. It's been sitting in the shed for at
least 8 years since it was given to me.

Been years since I've seen one but at one time it was a feature that was
sold based on the ability to 'exhaust' smoke and other odors from the room.

I guess that technically it did work but on the practical side ...

for effency -- closed.

I doubt taking the cover off makes any difference one way or the other.

On Sat, 04 Aug 2012 07:32:49 -0400, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

On Sat, 04 Aug 2012 04:35:40 -0500, wrote:

It's an older Westinghouse window A.C. Besides the temperature control,
HI - LOW - OFF and Automatic Fan controls, it has this lever that says
Exhaust OPEN - CLOSED. With the front panel removed, I can see it flips
open a small door inside the unit.

My question is what is that for, or what does it do? I guessed that it
would take some of the indoor air and blow it outside with that lever
set to OPEN. I held a cigarette near it with it set both ways and
pretty much could not notice much difference. The smoke just scattered
around the room from the fan. So what is it for?

According to an engineer from Frigidaire, it is there because they can
say they have another "feature" that the competition may or may not
have. Useless as far as real life use. It is supposed to exhaust some
of the indoor air so fresh air can be drawn in. A few years back, my
company made the part with the vent opening. Laughable really, but on
a comparison chart, they had another check mark.



To get the most cooling and least energy usage, is it better to leave it
open or closed?

Closed.



I've stayed in many motels over the years that had the knob for
Exhaust - Open/Closed and most of them took the knob off presumably to
make sure no one put it in the open position and used an extra 3 cents
worth of electricity.