Air Conditioner Buying Guide
All the air conditioners in our latest tests do an excellent job of cooling and come with such convenient features as a digital
display, a built-in timer, a remote control, or touchpad controls. But some models are noisy and others struggled to cool
during brownouts. Find out which to buy for your home.
Air conditioner selector (beta)
Sort our Ratings based on features, brands and other factors.
Types
Most room models are designed to fit double-hung windows. Some fit casement and slider windows, and some are made for through-the-wall installation. To determine the proper size, measure the square footage of the area you want to cool. Add extra capacity for a kitchen or a room usually occupied by more than two or three people. The climate, room construction, and direction the unit will dictate the type of air conditioner you need.
Small air conditioners
Capacity ranges from 5,000 to 6,000 Btu/hr. Cool roughly 100 to 300 square feet.
Pros:They tend to be smallest, lightest, and least expensive.
Cons:They may not adequately cool a room measuring more than 300 square feet.
Midsized air conditioners
Capacity ranges from 7,000 to 8,200 Btu/hr. Cool roughly 250 to 550 square feet.
Pros:They can generally handle a room measuring up to 550 square feet.
Cons: They tend to be more expensive, and their size and weight can make them harder to install and remove.
Large air conditioners
Capacities range from 9,800 to 12,500 Btu/hr. Cool roughly 350 to 650 square feet.
Pros:They can cool a large room or two smaller rooms up to about 950 square feet.
Cons:Bulk and weight make these models awkward and difficult to install. If an air conditioner is too powerful, the compressor
might switch on and off repeatedly, so the unit doesn't lower the humidity sufficiently. That makes for a cold, damp room.
-
See also:
-
-
-
-
