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1. Type: Central, Window (Double-Hung or Casement), In-Wall, or Portable?
A number of factors go into deciding whether to purchase a central air conditioner or a room air conditioner: how hot it gets in your home, how frequently you plan on to operate the air conditioner, the size of your home, and your budget. If you live where temperatures are frequently high AND you are willing to make the investment, central air conditioning can increase your comfort and quality of life. If you only need heat relief for a few days or weeks a year, if only one or two rooms of your home tend to get hot, or if you live in an apartment, purchasing one or more room air conditioners may best meet your needs.
Central
Central air conditioning units are run by electricity, and usually share the same blower and ductwork as the homes furnace. If you're purchasing a new air conditioner, now would be a good time to upgrade to a programmable thermostat, if you don't already have one. A programmable thermostat will pay for itself in the first year or two of operation, improve your ability to cool and heat your home with precision, and help protect the environment.
Portable
Portable systems have become a very popular alternative to central and window air conditioners. With a modest amount of effort, they can be moved as the user moves. When the warm season is over, they can be easily rolled into storage.
In-Wall
Most air conditioners used for In-Wall installation are actually Window/Double-Hung air conditioners that have been designed to be modified for In-Wall use. If you're looking for an In-Wall unit, search the Window/Double-Hung air conditioners and examine the features to see if the manufacturer specifies the unit is suitable In-Wall installation. If an in-wall air conditioner has not previously been installed in your home or apartment, you'll need to have a hole cut in the wall and you'll probably need special bracing hardware, as well.
2. Brands
Air conditioners are one of the most popular types of household appliances and are produced by many major and minor brand manufacturers. If you?re shopping for a window, in-wall, or portable model, you?re likely to see brand manufacturers who are familiar names in kitchen appliances, like GE, LG, Amana, and Frigidaire, and well as more specialized manufacturers like Amcor and Sunpentown. If you?re in the market for a central air conditioning system, you'll find major brands that are familiar to heating and ventilation shoppers, like Trane, Carrier, Goodman and Lennox.
(Click here to see our top air conditioning brands)
3. Get Help or Do it Yourself?
The level of expertise required to properly install the various types of air conditioners varies greatly, and you should make sure the level of each undertaking is a match for you abilities and motivation. Portable air conditioners can be set up by just about anybody. Window air conditioners are a level of project that can be handled by most homeowners or apartment dwellers, however, some of the higher capacity models can weigh more than one hundred pounds. Compare the weight of the model you are purchasing to your ability to lift and maneuver appliances; you may need to enlist a friend or a professional. In-wall units require cutting a hole in the wall of your home or apartment which is a level of project beyond many people. Finally, central air conditioners are very heavy, and require a number of skills to install that few homeowners possess. A qualified service provider can also be helpful in determining the optimal capacity and features of a central air conditioner system for your home, and the service provider can order, install, and make adjustments to the unit.
4. Cooling Capacity
A number of variables are involved in calculating the optimal cooling capacity for your home's air conditioner. Smarter Way Inc., provides home owners with a very useful tool for calculating the central air conditioner cooling capacity required to cool your home. If you are using a qualified service professional to install your central air conditioner, you should also use their expertise to determine capacity.
The cooling capacity calculation for a window, in-wall, or portable air conditioner should take into account your location, the room size, the number of people living in the space, and the proximity to the kitchen. Whirlpool provides a handy capacity calculator that takes all of these factors into account.
5. Noise
One advantage of central air conditioners is that the cooling and blowing of the air, and the noise associated with those processes, happen outside the living space. Window, in-wall, and portable air conditioners cool and blow the air within hearing range. Many units are engineered to keep noise to a minimum. If you want a quiet window, in-wall, or portable air conditioner, you should be sure to read the features of each unit you're considering and look for "quiet operation" or a similar description.
6. Locating your room air conditioner
If you?re planning to buy a room air conditioner, you should thoroughly consider where you?ll locate the unit, as this may determine whether you select a window, in-wall or portable unit. Portable units are the only type of air conditioner that can be easily relocated, so if you plan to move your air conditioner, a portable unit would be the logical choice.
What window is ideal to install a window air conditioner? Consider that you want the air conditioner to be in a window that is centrally located within the room you are cooling, but that you may not want it adjacent to and blowing directly on your couch or bed. Also, if you live in an apartment or condominium, make sure that window air conditioners are permitted.
In-wall air conditioners are an attractive option because they do not block your view, as window air conditioners do. However, finding a location in your home to install an in-wall unit can be challenging. In some cases, there may a pre-existing hole to install an in-wall air conditioner. If not, you?ll need to cut a hole in the wall, and probably install a sleeve to support the unit. Renters will want to make sure to check with their building management before they start sawing. Also, consider that there may be wires behind the sheetrock or plaster. You should try to anticipate where the wires inside your walls are located, rather than being shocked to find them when you start cutting.