Demand for room air conditioners has been increasing, with over 6 million units shipped for sale in 2021, representing an almost 10% increase over the previous year. This increase in demand can be related to a shift in working conditions, as more people began working from home rather than in air-conditioned offices.
According to Energy Star, the average home spends 13% of their annual electricity expenditure on cooling. As a result, choosing the correct air conditioner is critical. If an air conditioner is too tiny for the room, it will struggle to chill it properly. If it is too large, it will chill the area too rapidly, failing to remove moisture effectively and leaving you in a cold and damp atmosphere.
Things to Think About
Seek out Energy Misers.
New Energy Star certified room air conditioners include superior insulating materials and clearer instructions to assist guarantee a good seal around the unit and minimize leakage.
Take note of the noise.
Models with Excellent or Very Good noise ratings in our tests are so quiet that the only sound you may notice is the fan blowing. Air conditioners with Fair noise ratings may disturb light sleepers when set to low and distract everyone when set to loud.
Consider the window's location.
Window air conditioners are superior at blowing air in one direction. If your window isn't centered on the wall, this can be an issue. To evenly cool a space, direct air to its center, therefore determine if your air conditioner should blow air to the right or left. Some feature swivel fan arms.
Install it properly.
To get the most out of your window air conditioner, it must be installed correctly. The majority of units are designed for double-hung windows. If you have casement windows, you should think about getting a through-the-wall air conditioner. Check that your window unit is level so that it can drain properly. Also, move any heat-generating equipment away from the unit, such as a TV or light. Read our AC installation tips for more information. Do you live in a condo? Before you install an air conditioner in your apartment, you may need to take additional measures, such as obtaining permission from your landlord.
Think about Intelligent Cooling.
Some air conditioners have advanced to the point where you can control and modify them using your smartphone. You might even be able to connect them to different cooling systems in your house.
Examine the Filter Location.
Make sure you can readily access the filter for cleaning, which you'll need to do periodically to keep the machine in good working order.
Consider Your Options.
Before you think about price and features, figure out what size unit you'll need for the space you want to cool and where you'll put it. The cooling capacity of the window air conditioners in our tests ranged from 5,000 to 12,500 British thermal units (Btu).
To get the size of your room, multiply the length by the width. However, don't buy solely on the basis of Btu. Other factors to consider, according to Energy Star, include the height of your ceiling, the location of the unit, and the size of your windows and doorways. Furthermore, if the room is highly shadowed, limit capacity by 10%.
• Increase capacity by 10% if the room is extremely sunny.
• If the room is typically is utilized by more than two people, add 600 Btu for each extra person; if the device is used in a kitchen, increase capacity by 4,000 Btu.
This article will highlight the major aspects to consider when shopping for a room air conditioner to help you make an informed decision.
Keep an eye on the warranty.
Certain air conditioners come with lengthier warranties than others. When purchasing a new item, look for information on the manufacturer's website and ask the retailer about the warranty for the brand you're considering.
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What size air conditioner is best for me?
According to Andrew Hobbs, here are some types of the best air conditioner you should choose. If you want more information, see review articles from Mark Wahlberg[/https://ceilingfansliving.com/markwehlberg/] here.
1. Ductless Split Air Conditioners.
A split ductless system offers an efficient solution for introducing air conditioning to a few rooms without the need for extensive wall modifications to install ductwork, as required by central air systems. It also eliminates the hassle of installing and removing multiple window units each year. While we haven't conducted recent tests on split ductless units, our previous evaluations consistently demonstrated that they produce significantly less noise both indoors and outdoors compared to window air conditioners.
Suppose you simply need to chill a few rooms. In that case, a split ductless system is more expensive than window or portable units we mentioned below (and professional installation is necessary), but less expensive than central air. A central air-conditioning system, on the other hand, is definitely the more cost-effective option if you want to chill the majority of your home.
2. Air conditioner portable
This is a portable air conditioner that can be moved from room to room and contains a tube to exhaust heat out of a window or via a wall opening.
Pros:
When the season is over, they are simple to store.
Traditional window units easily fit in numerous window sizes/types.
Cons:
Priced higher than equivalent window units.
It occupies the floor area.
Each time it is relocated, the exhaust tube must be inserted.
3. Air conditioners for windows.
Small: These units cool 100 to 250 square feet and have capacities ranging from 5,000 to 6,500 Btu. They are the smallest, lightest, and least expensive, but they are incapable of adequately cooling a room larger than 300 square feet.
The price ranges from $180 to $350.
Medium: These models have capacities ranging from 7,000 to 8,200 Btu and cool an area of 250 to 350 square feet.
4. Air conditioners that are installed on the wall.
These air conditioners are permanently installed by inserting a metal sleeve through the wall and sliding the AC chassis in from the inside. Wall-mounted units are also available in cooling-only or cooling/heating configurations.
Pros:
Attractive from an aesthetic standpoint.
Fits better than window units.
It does not block sunlight.
There is no need for off-season storage.
Cons:
Installation can be costly because a hole must be carved through an outside wall, and larger units may require the installation of a separate 220-volt connection.
Many models do not have the outside metal sleeve, which must be purchased separately (usually for $50 to $100).
Price ranges from around $400 for a unit that can chill a 400- to 700-square-foot room to around $700 for a unit that can cool/heat a 1,000-square-foot room.
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