Shopping For An Air Conditioner
When the thermometer goes up and up and your old air conditioner quits, it is time to go shopping. Air conditioners have come a long way in the last few years. They have become quieter and more energy efficient. They have also become less bulky for the air output. One thing is still the same-go prepared with room size and window size in hand. Bigger is not always better. You will need to look at the energy star chart, that most retailers will have by the air conditioners, to help you find the correct size unit for your space. Window air conditioners need to fit the window you have in mind for them.
It helps to understand a little of the technology and terminology connected to air conditioners. These terms apply for all types and brands of air conditioners. Air conditioners are kind of like refrigerators in that they use evaporator coils to cool air and condenser coils to release hot air out doors. A refrigerant is pumped through tubes between the two coils to transfer heat and a variable speed fan blows cool air into the room and is regulated by a thermostat that you set. Filters are needed to keep the air being processed clean so the units will operate properly.
You will see references to Btu's referring to the international measurement of energy. With air conditioners, this unit of measurement refers to the energy needed to remove heat from a room. The higher the rating, the bigger the unit and cost. Btu's range from 5000 to 24,000 and need to be matched to your area size. EER is the energy efficiency ratio and the higher its number the more efficient the air conditioning unit is. These ratings go from 8 to 11.5 with the higher rated units being more efficient and higher priced. If you are in a really hot climate, you need a rating of 10 or higher. Energy Star rated units are environmentally friendly and energy saving.
You can choose from a number of manufacturers and types of air conditioners. There are units to put in a window or through a wall. You can get portable units to take from room to room, or opt for central air conditioning. You can get units that are for RVs. There are units that are windowless, split air or ductless. Depending on your needs you can buy a great variety of air cooling units. Some of the better manufactures to look for are Frigidaire, De'Longhi, Utilitech, Goodman, Mitshubishi, Trane, Amana, Fujitsu and Lg. They all have a number of models to meet your different needs.
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