How To Buy Home Air Conditioning Unit
The home air conditioner is a necessity in the hot and humid regions of the country.
Before buying an air conditioner, you will want to consider a few things that can help you choose the best air conditioner for your home.
Portable air conditioners come in different styles with different functions.
You want to make sure that the unit that you choose will work properly in your home.
How to Buy Home Air Conditioning Unit
Measure room or area that air conditioner will need to cool
Measure the room or area that the air conditioner will need to cool. To find the square footage, multiply the length by the width. Choose an air conditioner that has the British Thermal Units or BTU to cool that size area, but add 10 percent if the room is on the sunny side of the house or subtract 10 percent BTUs if the room is on the shady side of the house. If there will be two or more people in the room, add 600 BTUs, and add 4,000 BTUs if the room is a kitchen.
Decide if you will need a multifunction air conditioner
Decide if you will need a multifunction air conditioner. Some units have heater or dehumidifier or fan controls. If you don't need a heater or a dehumidifier, you can reduce the price by buying an air conditioner with just a fan and AC function. However, the dehumidifier does remove the humidity from the air so that the AC can cool the room quicker.
Determine your electrical needs
Determine your electrical needs.
Some air conditioners work on 115V outlets, and some will need to have 230V outlets.
If you need a larger BTU unit, it may need a dedicated circuit, and the 230V will need a specially wired circuit.
Decide on a portable window air conditioner or a vented air conditioner.
The window unit slides into the window, blocking it the entire time that you need to have cooling available.
A vented unit has a hose that is connected to the unit and to a plastic piece that fits into the window and can be removed if the air outside is cooler.
Price the different units.
Some vented units are more expensive than slide-in window units.
However, you can save money if you can use an open window on days that you don't need air conditioning by removing the plastic vent piece.
A window slide-in unit is not easy to remove to use the cool air from outside.
Decide on a portable window air conditioner or a vented air conditioner.
The window unit slides into the window, blocking it the entire time that you need to have cooling available.
A vented unit has a hose that is connected to the unit and to a plastic piece that fits into the window and can be removed if the air outside is cooler.
Price the different units.
Some vented units are more expensive than slide-in window units.
However, you can save money if you can use an open window on days that you don't need air conditioning by removing the plastic vent piece.
A window slide-in unit is not easy to remove to use the cool air from outside.