The accordion panels that come with most air conditioners provide a poor seal that allows hot air to enter. This makes the air conditioner work. Air Conditioner - Horizontal Air Conditioner 5,000 BTU. 5000-BTU horizontal air conditioner. Mechanical control with a 2-speed fan and 7-level cooling. How to Buy the Right Window or Room Air Conditioner. This expert, unbiased air conditioner buying guide will help you choose the best room or window AC unit. It includes advice on available types and features, and how to size an AC unit. Today. The trick when buying a new room air conditioner is to select a model that is suited to your room, and will handle the job affordably, efficiently, and reliably. Compared to a whole- house air conditioner, room air conditioners are more affordable to operate if you just want to cool one or two rooms. They are also the most sensible option if you don. For more about comparing the advantages of room and whole- house air conditioners, see Is Central Air Conditioning a Smarter Choice Than Room AC?
There are many energy- efficient models with a range of features, from digital thermostats to remote controls and variable fan speeds. This is an unbiased window and room air conditioner buying guide, including information on types and energy- efficiency. Advantages of Room ACAbout one- quarter of American households have in- room air conditioners, and the numbers are increasing. The factors that are helping to drive this popularity include: Affordability. Small models cost as little as $1. Large room air conditioners, with greater cooling capacities, can run up to $7. Efficiency. Many units have variable digital controls instead of the simple HIGH and LOW settings of earlier models. This expert, unbiased air conditioner buying guide will help you choose the best room or window AC unit. It includes advice on available types and features, and how. Units with energy- saver switches provide further help in cutting down on utility costs. Availability. Window and room air conditioners are sold at most big- box home improvement stores, as well as at large supermarket chain stores, department stores, and even pharmacies. Frigidaire, GE, Kenmore and LG are among the top- selling brands. Easy Installation. Most window air conditioners come with easy- to- use installation kits. Free- standing portable ACs need minimal setup and can be moved from room to room. Easy Hook- Up. You just plug them into a receptacle, though some require electrical improvements. Relatively small room air conditioners, such as those that draw less than 7. Larger AC units require a dedicated 1. Take these electrical needs into account when you select a model. Types of Room ACWindow- mounted AC unit is easy to install and designed to fit many sizes of double- hung windows or in openings framed in an exterior wall. There are three main types of room air conditioners: window units, wall- mounted units, and portable models. They type that suits your room is often dependent on the installation possibilities. For information on a related type of room air conditioner, see Ductless, Mini- Split Air Conditioners. Window Air Conditioners. Window units are by far the most popular. Models can be installed in most single- or double- hung windows and typically come with accordion panels that make for a secure fit. Some are also designed to fit in sliding windows. Installing a window unit is a relatively easy DIY project, as discussed in the article How to Install a Window Air Conditioner. Make sure you measure the inside window dimensions before you shop. Directions and hardware should be included. Through- the- Wall Air Conditioners. Through- the- wall units require opening a hole in an exterior wall, a job that is considerably more involved than installing a window unit. Portable AC units can roll from one room to the next, though they do require a flexible duct to exhaust through a window. On the plus side, they don. Most window models can be adapted for installation as through- the- wall units. Though large units may require professional installation, small through- the- wall air conditioners can be installed by handy do- it- yourselfers. Portable Air Conditioners. Portable air conditioners are self- contained, freestanding units. Most have casters, so they can be wheeled around to the room or rooms that need to be cooled. They come with a large, flexible hose that is attached to a window for exhausting hot air, much like the way a clothes dryer is vented. Though the appliances tend to cost more than window and through- the- wall units, they are much easier to install and practical because of their portability. Room AC Energy Efficiency. Energy. Guide Label. Because room air conditioners use a lot of electricity, all new room air conditioners are required to carry an EER, or Energy Efficiency Rating, which measures the appliance. The higher the EER, the better. Though air conditioners built before 1. EER of 5, newer AC units are required to have EER of 8. Check the yellow Energy Guide. An EER of 1. 0 takes half the energy of a 5 EER. One of the best ways to ensure efficiency is to buy the right size window, wall, or room air conditioner. For an explanation of how to size one of these units, along with a sizing chart, see Sizing a Room Air Conditioner, below. These energy- efficient features contribute to a strong EER and offer greater convenience and comfort: Variable Fan Speeds. More speed settings give you greater control of air flow, which also helps save money. Digital Temperature Control. The ability to control temperature by degrees. Though it comes as a premium, you may want to pay a little more for an AC unit that lets you program desired settings for different times of the day and night. Easy- to- access Filters. Filters remove dust and other allergens from the air. Filters that slide out make cleaning them a snap. Regular maintenance will extend the service life of your air conditioner and keep it operating at full efficiency. Sleep Setting/Energy- Saving Setting. The unit operates at a very low setting during nighttime hours, making the room more comfortable for sleeping and at the same time saving on energy costs. Timer. Timers are a simpler and less costly alternative to programmable thermostats. Just set the time you want the AC to start or stop. Timers let you come home to a house that already is cool without continuously running the air conditioner while you. A unit that is too small may be inadequate to cool a room, but an over- sized air conditioner will cycle on and off, wasting energy, increasing electric bills, straining the unit, and doing a poor job of dehumidifying the air. Before shopping, measure the dimensions of the room you want to cool. Multiply the length by the width to get the square footage of living space. Then, match the room size with the BTU rating, which should be printed on the packing box. As a rule- of- thumb, figure 2. BTU for each square foot, though this is affected by your climate, window sizes, house shading, and the room. Expect the cost of the air conditioner to increase as the BTU rating goes up. Small room air conditioners generally operate at 5,0. BTU per hour and can adequately cool 1. Mid- sized models run at 8,0. BTU per hour. They can cool a room up to 4. A large unit rated between 1. BTU will cool a room sized 4. See the chart below for complete recommendations. Several variables can affect cooling capacity. If a dedicated or 2. For do- it- yourself tips on how to get the unit working, see Window and Room Air Conditioner Repairs.
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