Chill Out: Buying a New Air Conditioner is Easy

For homes that don’t have central air or just need seasonal cooling, window air conditioners are great options. Look for an air conditioner for the window with a remote control to control the temperature from the comfort of your bed. Window AC units are notoriously noisy, so opt for one with quiet mode to make sure you’re not getting heated from the constant rattle. A window AC with a timer adds maximum flexibility and ensures you never forget to turn it off when you leave. Dual heating and AC window units means your room stays a comfortable temperature no matter the weather outside.

Easier to install than a window AC unit, portable air conditioners are another way to add supplemental cooling where you need it. While a window unit uses fans to suck the warm air out of the room, portable AC units use an exhaust hose to move the hot air outside. The included window kit makes it easy to move the lightweight unit from room to room. Depending on the size of the unit, you can cool rooms from 250 – 700 sq. ft., making them perfect living room, family room or bedroom air conditioners.

A WiFi air conditioner allows you to control everything from an app on your smartphone. A 24-hour timer means you can start your electronic air conditioner before you get home so the room is cool right when you walk in the door. Other features like a washable filter and oscillation gives you the convenience and versatility you need in a personal air conditioner.

A ductless unit, also commonly referred to as a ductless mini split because it provides both heating and cooling, allows you to cool rooms without installing expensive duct work. Each room needs its own wall-mounted unit and is connected via a small hose to an outside compressor. While these typically require professional installation, they’re significantly less expensive than a central air conditioner.

Upgrade your existing ductless inside AC unit to smart air conditioner to control them from an app on your phone, or via voice control with any Google assistant or Amazon Alexa. You don’t even need to be in the same room as your mini split air conditioner to maintain an ideal temperature. Choose one with a designated quiet mode so you can sleep comfortably.

Replacing your existing central air conditioner is a big expense, but if you live somewhere with more hot days than cold ones you know that having an HVAC that adequately cooling your home is essential. HVAC systems are measured in BTU (British thermal units) and you need about 20 BTUs per square foot. Multiply the square footage of your home by 20 to find a unit that is large enough. This means a house that is 1600 sq. ft. needs a central AC unit with 32,000 BTUs.

Purchasing an outside air conditioner that’s the right size for your home is important. A unit that’s too large could raise your monthly electricity bill and one that’s too small won’t be able to cool your home properly.

These plug-and-play units are easy to use and extremely portable. While they’re not technically air conditioners, they’ll cool your room using water evaporation and a fan. Also called swap coolers, evaporative coolers need to be filled with water to operate effectively. They’re best used in areas with less than 50% humidity. The easiest unit to move from room to room, evaporative air coolers are light-weight and multi-functional. Besides being able to cool a room, they can be used as a fan on cooler days and a humidifier during the dry winter months.