8 Best Room Air Conditioners

How To Choose a Room Air Conditioner

Today’s cooling technology has come a long way, making it easy to beat the heat without the expense of central air conditioning.

When choosing a room air conditioner, you first should determine the square footage of the space you’re cooling; calculate by multiplying the length by width. Next, decide between a floor-standing, wall- or window-mounted model. Also consider options like timers, night settings, lighted display, oscillation, remote controls, etc.

Here are the most essential figures to consider when buying a single-room air conditioner:

• Btu (British thermal unit): Figure around 20 to 30 Btu per square foot of living space. Add 10 percent for kitchens and sunny rooms.
• Noise score: For low-noise levels, stay below 55 on the decibel (dB) scale.
• Energy savings: Look for the Energy Star label and an energy-efficiency ratio (EER) of 10 or above.
• Cost: Generally, the higher the Btu, the more you’ll pay.