Air Conditioner Buying Guide

When it’s hot outside, keeping your house or apartment cold can be simple, but only if you have the right air conditioner. Buying an air conditioner can feel overwhelming at times, considering the vast amount of options that are on the market today. Fortunately, in this blog, we will cover the various air conditioners you can purchase and make sure you find the proper unit for your home. 

Window Air Conditioners

One of the most popular cooling systems is window air conditioners. More than six million are sold each year, and their price is the main reason. These units typically range from $150 to $550. With window air conditioners, the installation is pretty simple, but you will still need to secure the unit to the window. In certain circumstances, you will need to fill in any gaps with foam. 

The larger units can weigh up to 85 pounds, so you may need assistance from someone else to handle. Also, keep in mind that these units might not fit if you have casement or odd-sized windows. Here’s how you can find the right window unit for your space.

Window air conditioners are sized according to their cooling capacities measured in British thermal units (BTU). These units generally range in cooling power 5,000 to 12,500 BTUs. A 5,000 to 6,000 BTU window air conditioner will cool a 100 to 300 square foot room. A 7,000 to 8,500 BTU unit can cool a 250 to 400 square foot space. A 9,800 to 12,500 BTU air conditioner will then cool anything between a 350 to 650 square foot room. 

However, you need to factor in more than just room size to get the right temperature. Therefore, think about the following questions.

• How many windows are in the room?
• Do you have a high ceiling?
• Is the AC unit in a window that receives a lot of light?
• Is there a lot of open doorways in the room?

All of these questions may result in you needing a more powerful unit. The location of your house will also factor into what window ac unit you decide on. 

Portable Air Conditioner

Portable air conditioners are an option if you only have a single window. For portable ac units, you can pay between $250 to $500. These units work by drawing in warm air from the room, cooling it, and then redirecting it

A single hose air conditioner will take some of that air to cool the unit, and then exhaust that air through the hose and outside through the window. Generally, you don’t need any tools to set one up, making it easier to install than window units. However, you should only consider portable ac units if you have no other options. These units only generate half the power they claim to have and use more energy than window ac units. 

Central Air Conditioner

Today, central air conditioners are much more efficient, so you may want to consider updating your central air if it’s more than ten years old to save money on your energy bills. Installing central air conditioners can be reasonably simple if you already have the ductwork. However, if you don’t have the ductwork, then the installation can become a big project. Therefore, you might need the professionals at Ambrose Air, Inc. to help you install your central air conditioner. 

Another thing to consider is when you’re about to install ductwork, you will need to take the space from somewhere else. For example, you may need to take space from your closet, which could be an issue if your home is low on storage or small on the inside. Regardless of your situation, your central ac unit should be installed by professionals who have experience in HVAC services. 

Split Ductless Air Conditioner

This air conditioner unit is very similar to a central ac unit, except it doesn’t require ductwork. Instead, installed wall units connect to an outside condenser. Each unit will cool the room that it’s in, and you can have one or several units through your house. This is perfect if you have an older home without the proper ductwork, or if you want to avoid tearing up the wall. 

You also need to think about split ductless if you live in a smaller home, and you don’t want to lose any space to the ductwork. Split ductless ac units are quieter and more efficient than window units. With that said, split ductless units are more expensive than window air conditioners and require professional installation. 

In Conclusion

Buying the proper ac unit for your home is essential to the overall comfort of your home. Therefore, you want to make sure you do your research on your house and rooms to pick an ac unit that you can depend on for years to come. However, there is a lot of logistics to consider before making your decision. So, if you need help with any ac repair or installation, contact the ac specialists at Ambrose Air, Inc.