It’s not even summer yet, but it feels like it. It’s so hot, you wish you could make like a goose and migrate for the season, but with gas prices being what they are, until your SUV learns how to fly, buying a new air conditioner sounds like the saner option.

For the purposes of this article, we’ll assume you’re thinking of installing a unit air conditioner, which is the big box most people think of when you say “air conditioner.” Yes, you might consider central cooling, which is a lot more expensive and hardly a DIY task, but if you want push-button cooling convenience, that’s the way to go. Our only advice for that option: save up and find yourself an expert contractor, since we know nothing about that stuff.

However, if you’re just looking to cool a room or two, then a unit air conditioner will save you time and money.

Okay, the first thing to know is the size of the area you want to cool. Measure the area of the room you want to cool - and measure any adjacent rooms that are connected with an open doorway, because you’ll be cooling those rooms too whether you like it or not. You don’t need to include rooms or spaces around corners, because cool air doesn’t turn corners - we’re not sure why, something about thermodynamics, or something. Then, you’ll also need to measure the window in which you plan to place the unit - because if it doesn’t fit, it really won’t work if you place it on the floor.

The most important number to worry about is British Thermal Units (Btus), basically the number that says how strong your air conditioner will be. Now, being the type of woman who drives a Hummer and drinks double-martinis espressos, you may be tempted to buy the strongest unit you can find. That would be a bad idea. Not only would this give you less control (What would you do if it were on the lowest setting, but made the room too cold?), but it would waste electricity and cost more. The rule of thumb is to multiply the square feet of the room by 35 to get a ballpark number. For example, if your room is 15′ by 18′, that’s 270 square feet. 270 times 35 is 6450, so you should aim for a unit around 6450 Btus. Fudge this number upwards if the room is often sunny or inhabited by more than one person; fudge it downwards if it’s often shady. Wherever you buy your air conditioner will likely have a handy table to help you zero in on the right Btus for you.

The other number to consider is the Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER). Basically, the higher the EER, the more efficient it is, and the less it will cost to operate - but the more it will cost to buy. So if you’re going to be running it 24/7, definitely opt for the pricier unit with a higher EER to save money in the long-run. But if you’ll only use it twice a year, you might go for the lower EER.

Now that you have a general idea of what kind of unit you’re looking for, you need to find a specific model. Definitely check out Consumer Reports to make sure yours won’t be a lemon. Also, consider the various features that differentiate them: temperature range, increments, fan speed, etc. Keep in mind that the more control you have, the more effectively you can cool your home, and the more energy (and money!) you’ll save.

Finally, where should you buy your brand spanking new air conditioner? Department stores are the obvious place: Sears or JCPenney’s, for example. But even Amazon has got in on the action, so you could consider starting there. Wherever you end up, we hope you have a cool, cool summer.

***Picture by: Plan 59***

This entry was posted on Monday, May 12th, 2008 at 4:29 pm and is filed under This Place is a Dump. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.