July 2008
Air conditioners
Cool comfort
TOP-RATED The midsized GE ASM08LK, a CR Best Buy, combines excellent cooling and value with quiet operation.
Nothing seems to sell out faster than a Consumer Reports top-rated air conditioner on a hot day, according to our readers. So to allow you to find a different model in case the one
you want has sold out, we've included reviews of six popular brands along with our usual Quick Picks (available to subscribers).
All of the air conditioners in our Ratings (available to subscribers) do an excellent job at cooling. They also offer such convenient features as a digital display, a built-in timer, and remote-control operation. Some units have touchpad controls, and a few change the direction of the airflow automatically to better disperse cool air throughout a room. But some models are noisy and others don't work as well during brownouts.
Here's what else we've learned during our latest tests of air conditioners:
Haier raises the bar. Unlike the other tested models, the top-rated Haier ESAD4066, $240, uses R-410A, a new refrigerant that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says doesn't deplete the ozone layer. R-410A might also help boost the Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) of this model to 12.0. Note that it is too soon to predict the long-term performance of this refrigerant. Beginning in 2010, new air conditioners will have to use non-ozone-depleting refrigerants. Whenever you replace an air conditioner, call your local sanitation department or department of public works to find out how to properly dispose of an old unit.
Brownouts overwhelm some A/Cs. Brownouts occur when utilities reduce voltage to compensate for increased electricity demand If your area is prone to brownouts, buy a model that scored very good or higher for brownout in our Ratings (available to subscribers). The compressor on those air conditioners didn't shut off when we lowered the voltage.
All of the air conditioners in our Ratings (available to subscribers) do an excellent job at cooling. They also offer such convenient features as a digital display, a built-in timer, and remote-control operation. Some units have touchpad controls, and a few change the direction of the airflow automatically to better disperse cool air throughout a room. But some models are noisy and others don't work as well during brownouts.
Here's what else we've learned during our latest tests of air conditioners:
Haier raises the bar. Unlike the other tested models, the top-rated Haier ESAD4066, $240, uses R-410A, a new refrigerant that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says doesn't deplete the ozone layer. R-410A might also help boost the Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) of this model to 12.0. Note that it is too soon to predict the long-term performance of this refrigerant. Beginning in 2010, new air conditioners will have to use non-ozone-depleting refrigerants. Whenever you replace an air conditioner, call your local sanitation department or department of public works to find out how to properly dispose of an old unit.
Brownouts overwhelm some A/Cs. Brownouts occur when utilities reduce voltage to compensate for increased electricity demand If your area is prone to brownouts, buy a model that scored very good or higher for brownout in our Ratings (available to subscribers). The compressor on those air conditioners didn't shut off when we lowered the voltage.
