When it comes to an air conditioner unit, there are so many options! Brands, sizes, features, ratings…how are you supposed to know which one to pick?! For the new two weeks, we will be discussing how to choose an air conditioner. By the end of our blog article, you’ll not only know how to choose an air conditioner, but you’ll know how to choose the perfect one for you and your home!
Air Conditioners Are Not “One Size Fits All”
Regardless of what you may think, not all air conditioners are the same. Air conditioners are sized according to their cooling capacity (expressed in BTU per hour), so your first consideration is to match the air conditioner to the room you want to cool. If the unit is too large and it will cool the space so quickly that the thermostat will shut the unit down without lowering the humidity level. If the unit is too small, it won’t cool the space. Air conditioners with a 15,000 BTU rating should be able to cool rooms up to approximately 875 sq. ft.
But How Do You Know?
How do you know how much cooling capacity your space requires? This is dependent upon square footage, windows, sun exposure, insulation, room use, etc. You can use a simple Air Conditioning Calculator available from The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers. If you don’t want to get that specific, most units you’ll see in stores compare the square footage of the room to BTU capacity.
Controls
It may not be the first thing you think about, buy control options are important when shopping for an air conditioner. Look for multi speed fans and adjustable thermostats. Both of these will help you achieve maximum comfort and switch to lower settings for a quieter operation. More precise control is offered by digital controls, with features such as preset scheduling and timers to control certain temperatures at certain times.
At D&D, we are here for ALL of your air conditioner needs. From how to choose an AC, to repair tips, and even how to cut energy costs, we want to give you all the information you need to make your home the most comfortable it can be. Because at D&D, your comfort is our priority. Think of us first for all of you air conditioning needs!
Stay tuned for How To Choose An Air Conditioner: Part 2 next week!