"Crazy Sales"... Window Air Conditioners Become the Summer Appliance Trend

Improved Noise and Energy Efficiency... Establishing Summer Home Appliances as a Trend
Cuckoo Sales Surge 500%... Easy Installation and Mobility as Strengths
Pasero, the Key Player of the New Boom... Continuous Sellouts Since 2019
‘One Room, One Air Conditioner’ Trend Boosts Demand for Auxiliary Cooling Devices

Paseco's 'Paseco Window Air Conditioner 3.'
[Photo by Paseco]

[Asia Economy Reporter Junhyung Lee] With more time spent at home due to COVID-19 and the added heatwave, sales of window air conditioners have surged. Equipped with new technology, window air conditioners have improved on previous drawbacks such as noise and low energy efficiency, establishing themselves as the new "must-have home appliance" during summer. The industry expects demand for window air conditioners to continue rising steadily for the time being.

Advantages like Easy Installation and Cost-effectiveness

According to Cuckoo, as of the 16th, sales of Cuckoo Homesys's 'Inspure Window Air Conditioner' this month have surged about 500% compared to last month. In just about half a month, they sold more than five times the number of window air conditioners sold throughout June.

Sales through distribution channels such as e-commerce have also stood out. According to online shopping site Gmarket, window air conditioner sales in the recent week (12th to 18th) increased by 485% compared to the same period last year. Tmon reported that from the 29th of last month to the 12th of this month, window air conditioners sold more than 15 times compared to the same period last year.

Regarding this situation, the industry said, "They are selling like crazy." An industry insider said, "Although there is a seasonal effect, window air conditioner sales are rapidly increasing day by day," adding, "We have to run the factory at full capacity every day to meet the order volume."

The ease of installation is a major reason why window air conditioners are popular. Conventional air conditioners require complex installation processes such as drilling walls and connecting pipes to install the outdoor unit. In contrast, window air conditioners are integrated units combining the outdoor and indoor units, allowing for self-installation without the help of an installer. Because no outdoor unit construction is needed, they offer high mobility and good cost-effectiveness (performance relative to price).

Rapid Rise as ‘One Room, One Air Conditioner’

Originally, window air conditioners appeared in the early stages of the domestic air conditioner market in the 1970s and 1980s. They spread due to advantages such as reducing installation and relocation costs. However, as the economy developed and consumers’ purchasing power increased, the market centered on standing and wall-mounted air conditioners, which are relatively quieter and more energy-efficient. The prevalence of sliding windows in Korean housing environments was also a barrier to the spread of window air conditioners.

The company that ushered in the new heyday of window air conditioners is Paseco, a heating appliance manufacturer. As single-person households increased, demand for small air conditioners also rose, leading Paseco to launch a window air conditioner in 2019. They improved on previous drawbacks by applying advanced motors and inverters to raise energy efficiency to grade 1 and significantly reduce noise. As a result, the company’s window air conditioners continued to sell out, attracting attention in the home appliance industry.

Pasco's 'Pasco Window Air Conditioner 3' (left) and 'Pasco Window Air Conditioner Mini' (right). [Photo by Pasco]

COVID-19 acted as a catalyst. With social distancing leading to longer times spent at home, ‘one room, one air conditioner’ became a new trend. A Paseco official explained, "Before the spread of COVID-19, having just one main cooling device was enough to get through the summer," adding, "However, with remote work and online classes, the need to have air conditioners in every room increased." The official added, "Due to the structure of domestic housing, it is often difficult to install outdoor units in small rooms," and "Most people look for window air conditioners as auxiliary cooling devices to install in children’s rooms or studies."

Both large and medium-sized companies have entered this market. Carrier Air Conditioner launched products with sterilization and heating functions last year. Samsung Electronics introduced the window air conditioner ‘Window Fit’ this year, marking its entry. Shinil Electronics and Guiturami also released new products, joining the window air conditioner competition.

The window air conditioner market is expected to continue growing steadily. According to market research firm Euromonitor, domestic window air conditioner sales last year reached 143,100 units, nearly four times the previous year’s 38,100 units. The industry expects the market size to exceed 300,000 units this year, more than doubling last year’s figure.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.