If it weren't for Itzl and Xoco, I wouldn't bother replacing the broken window cooler. Even with the 100+ days last summer of 100*F+ temps, it wasn't so bad because I spent the worst of the heat at work in an air conditioned building.
Winters aren't so bad, either. I have electric blankets for the water pipes and hot water heater, and an electric blanket for the sofa. With sweaters, warm socks, cap, and fingerless gloves, it's possible to be quite cozy during the winter. Itzl and Xoco wear sweaters and paw socks indoors, and outdoors, they have their winter booties and coats.
Summers, though, are tough on them. The pavement gets so hot they need to wear "sandals" to keep from sizzling their paws, and even a fan blowing over those re-freezable ice blankets isn't enough to keep them comfy. They look at me with these "you're supposed to care care of us. We're hot! Do Something" looks, so when the window unit broke, I knew I'd have to replace it.
I spent the past week comparison shopping for the least expensive and most suitable window unit, one that would fit the window and provide sufficient cooling to keep Xoco happy during the heat of the day, and Itzl happy on the weekends.
That meant it had to be a 110-115 unit, around 6,000 - 8,000 BTUs. I can't afford a 220/235 unit that requires special wiring and a special plug, my house just doesn't have that sort of wiring in it. To get just the wiring needed to support a whole house unit would cost about $1,000 - but, oh, that would be nice but in my search for a suitable unit, I found one for $700 that both heats and cools a house slightly larger than mine, which means it would definitely heat and cool my entire house and not just one room.
That's so far out of my reach that I passed it by without more than a minor sigh.
I have to remove the ice chests from my car so I can return to the store and buy the windo unit I selected, once I make up my mind. I'm dog-sitting for a friend, and their power went out before they had to leave out of town, so I packed all their freezer/fridge foods into my ice chests and then stored them in my freezer and fridge which were virtually empty waiting for refilling from harvests and hunting. I usually have them filled with jugs of water to keep the space filled and increase the efficiency of hte freezer, so I had plenty of room.
Their power came back on and I hauled their food back to their house and repacked their freezer and fridge.
I'm torn between the 6,000 BTU unit for $160 and the 8,000 BTU unit for $220. Because my mechanic bartered with me today for the oil change, brake pads, and tire rotation my car needed so I ended up paying half what I expected to pay, I have just enough extra to be able to afford either unit. What it comes down to is which one will fit into my car and is easier to install.
I have a dolly I can use to move it around, but the dolly is no help at all when it comes to lifting it up into the window.
I really wish they still made low-profile window units like the one I had for a dozen years. I bought that one at Sears and I used to take it cabin camping with us so we could cool the cabin off. It had a carry handle for just that purpose. I loved it. But I haven't seen a low-profile window unit in years.
Well, I guess I've wasted enough time. Time to haul the ice chests back inside the house and mosy over tothe store and just pick a unit and bring it home.