If you’re looking to cool your home but are concerned over a small area only, it would be best to get a window air conditioner instead of opting for a centralized air conditioning unit. Apart from costing you less upon acquisition, a window air conditioner also generally costs less to use in the long run. Most window air conditioners sit just by the window in order to expel warm air from the inside. Most installations end up drafty so by the time the warm months end, some people remove their window air conditioners and store until needed again when the warmer months roll in. For more permanent installations, you can opt to place your air conditioner on the wall.
Some things to keep in mind
When choosing a window air conditioner, size is of the essence. Get a unit too small and you will have to run it longer in order to achieve the cooling effect you want. Get a unit too big and you will under-utilize it. Bigger isn’t always better and air conditioners function by taking away humidity and heat. If you have a unit that is too big, it will cool your room too quickly, way before your window air conditioner had the chance to bring humidity levels down. This will result into the unit turning on and off, leaving your room clammy and damp. A unit sized just right will remove humidity just as effectively as it cools, giving you the most comfortable cooling possible.
Sizing guide for a window air conditioner
- To cool an area between 100 and 150 square feet, get an air conditioner sized at 5,000 BTUs.
- To cool an area between 150 and 250 square feet, get an air conditioner sized at 6,000 BTUs.
- To cool an area between 250 and 300 square feet, get an air conditioner sized at 7,000 BTUs.
- To cool an area between 300 and 350 square feet, get an air conditioner sized at 8,000 BTUs.
- To cool an area between 350 and 400 square feet, get an air conditioner sized at 9,000 BTUs.
- To cool an area between 400 and 450 square feet, get an air conditioner sized at 10,000 BTUs.
- To cool an area between 450 and 550 square feet, get an air conditioner sized at 12,000 BTUs.
- To cool an area between 550 and 700 square feet, get an air conditioner sized at 14,000 BTUs.
- To cool an area between 700 and 1,000 square feet, get an air conditioner sized at 18,000 BTUs.
- To cool an area between 1,000 and 1,400 square feet, get a window air conditioner sized at 24,000 BTUs.