Before moving to New York, air conditioning was something I didn't think about—I grew up in south Florida, where I was lucky enough that central AC was as common in my home as orange juice and sunscreen. After 23 years in one of the warmest states in the continental U.S., I thought I would be able to manage the NYC temperatures my friends constantly groaned about every day once June rolled around. As the story goes, I was painfully mistaken: Surviving the New York City heat and accompanying humidity throughout the summer isn't just about stocking up on sweat-proof deodorant or breezy dresses—sometimes you have to dive deep into #AirConditioningTok to discover the real-life hacks.
Enter the Windmill, a window air conditioning unit that promises to cool your apartment faster than you can pour yourself a glass of water, thanks to a modern cooling system that doesn't rely as heavily on traditional chemical refrigerants and a remote-controlled app that allows you turn on the AC on your way home. Its sleek design follows in the footsteps of similarly marketed products—think Our Place's does-it-all pan or Balmuda's steamy toaster—for people who want elevated but still accessibly priced home solutions for everyday living. The Windmill comes in two sizes that ring in at $365 and $450, respectively.
I discovered the Windmill AC Unit through TikTok, not unlike most of the purchases I've made over the last few months (Hello, Dior Lip Glow Oil! Nice to see you, Adidas Sambas!). My quest began in earnest after returning from a trip abroad mid-June, when the New York heat (well into the 90s, at this point) hit me like a ton of bricks—a stark contrast from the mild-to-warm spring temps I left behind. Within a day of getting home, the sweat was too much to bear and I haphazardly rented a barely dusted-off unit from the ’80s from the super who manages my apartment. Spoiler: It did absolutely nothing for me. I knew I needed to switch it out and invest in a proper, modern window unit when I woke up sweating in the middle of the night.
With TikTok being my preferred search engine, it didn't take long for me to stumble upon the Windmill. The app's algorithm routinely spawns offbeat home decor finds and life-changing supplies for the masses: Who can forget the pink-grout-tiled side tables and DIY foam mirrors that popped up during the early months of the pandemic when people were stuck indoors?
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Unboxing and installing the Windmill
The Windmill comes in two sizes: small (6,000 BTU—a measurement term that describes how much energy is used per hour to remove heat from your home) and medium (8,300 BTU), each meant for cooling up to 250 and 350 square feet, respectively. I decided to commit to the medium-sized unit so I could move it to a larger space, like a living room, down the line if I needed to.
My order arrived within a week from ordering (whew), and I immediately got to work. The Windmill starter pack includes instructions, screws, a replacement filter (each last two to three months), and, best of all, an extra pair of scissors for those of us who seem to always misplace them. The installation process is similar to that of any other window air conditioning unit—simply slide open your single-hung window, secure the unit into the window with screws, and plug the cord into the nearest outlet. You don't have to enlist someone from TaskRabbit to install the unit for you, although with how much the unit weighs, I'd suggest bribing your close friend with pizza to help you lift it and make your life easier. (More than likely, they'll be over constantly to relish in the cold air your apartment now has—I speak from experience.)
What I love about the unit
Beyond its objectively photogenic appeal (and ability to meet my home-life Pinterest influencer specifications), there's genuine thoughtfulness in the design: The air vents are at the top of the unit, so there's no dust, clutter, or clunkiness in your line of view. But wait, there's more.
Windmill also includes what it calls “cosmetic side panels,” which basically cover the window unit's side for a cleaner look. The brand also offers three different mold- and water-resistant window covers for the chillier, wetter months ahead—white, confetti-printed, and a dove-wavey situation—to keep rain or snow from making its way inside. (It also works great in summer to keep the heat out.) I've already picked up the confetti one for when the temperature starts to cool down—starting next month, my AC unit will be the only piece of art in my tiny New York City apartment. I'm not mad about it.
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Turning the unit on is as intuitive as you'd expect from any other modern tech device: I can control its settings and turn the AC on and off with an app—a lifesaver if I'm coming home from an overly sweaty commute and want my room to feel like an icebox before I pull out my keys. If apps aren't your thing, there's also includes a sleek matching remote that syncs via Bluetooth.
So what about its cooling powers? It's top-notch in my book. Windmill's website states that it uses a more environmentally conscious refrigerant called R32 over traditionally used liquid refrigerants (like R410a, which doesn't recycle as easily and has more polluting chemicals compared with R32, according to a study) that leads to “68% less global warming potential.”
There's also an eco-friendly mode I keep on that switches between lower and higher fan speeds to regulate how much power I'm using—in turn, saving me money in the long run by keeping my carbon footprint smaller than if I were to keep the AC blasting all day. Naturally, my electricity bill went up as I turned on my unit more frequently, but not as drastically as I would have thought since NYC was experiencing a summer of record-breaking electricity bills from Con Edison.
What needed work for me
One of the largest promises the Windmill AC unit makes is that it's meant to be whisper-quiet. Although it's far less rumbly than my old air conditioning from the ’80s, I can still hear some humming throughout the night—especially when it's on the medium or high settings. It doesn't disturb me though: The sound resembles a white noise machine more than anything, and I'd take that any day over an excessively sweaty night's sleep.
Is the Windmill worth it?
At $365 for the small and $415 for the medium-sized unit, Windmill's air conditioning has a steeper price point than some other introductory units—which typically range from $150 to $250—from big name brands like GE or Frigidaire. (The price is in line with DTC competitors in the space, notably July.)
Switching over from my first AC unit to the Windmill may have cost me twice as much, but from the moment I set it up, I had no regrets. Granted, it's a hefty price tag to stomach on something you'll use only for a few months a year, but the consistently cool air I get is priceless. And it certainly doesn't hurt that I'm ready to give an Architectural Digest–style home tour video whenever I look at it.
