Look at all the potential fire hazards! It is wholly unpleasant to suffer through a super-humid, sweaty, sleepless night sans air-conditioning—this is especially true if you live in a small room with a small window, with no cross-ventilation or ceiling fan to properly circulate the air. Still, while a hot night is bad, an apartment fire is worse, and it's important to adhere to some safety rules so you don't reduce your home to a pile of ashes. First and foremost: do not connect your air-conditioner window unit to an extension cord. The FDNY specifically warns against using extension cords or power strips for large electrical appliances like air-conditioners, along with televisions, clothes dryers, refrigerators, and freezers, warning that extension cords are "only for temporary use," and cannot handle as much current as permanent wiring. Air-conditioner cords are purposefully thick and short because A/Cs use so much electricity—if you hook up your unit to a typical extension cord you pick up at a hardware or drug store, the plug, socket, or entire length of the cord can overheat, causing fires that can occasionally be fatal.

Of course, in rentals we're often at the mercy of cost-cutting landlords, and it's not that uncommon to find your only room's outlet is located too far from your room's only window. This is an unfortunate discovery, particularly if it happens at 3 a.m. on an 80-degree night and your A/C is drilled into your window so you end up sleeping with your door wide open and confusing your roommates when they wake up to use the bathroom. There are heavy-duty extension cords that are specifically designed for major appliances like air-conditioners. These should be shorter cords with lower gauges (12 or 14 gauge) and higher amp ratings. If you are in need of one of these, take a photo of the sticker attached to your A/C plug that should list the electricity units the air-conditioner uses, then bring it to a knowledgeable employee at a hardware store and see if there's something they can recommend. For the sake of yourself and your neighbors, do not try to figure this out yourself, assuming you are not specifically trained in electrical wiring.

That is potentially how my apartment building caught fire last year, and I can promise you it is not fun. Another option is to petition your landlord to install another outlet, if you are in a rental. You must go through the landlord to ensure you're not overloading the wiring, which can cause an electrical fire. He or she might say no, but you can bring up the safety issue and offer to split or front the cost to pay for the sockets. There are also a number of ways to stay cool without an air-conditioner. You can use a properly-rated extension cord for a window fan, or purchase a few standing fans and place them around your room strategically so you can circulate the air. Make sure you're sleeping on all-cotton sheets, keep your blinds closed, and buy this weird cooling pillow if you must. Sweat out the booze. Remember that if you do have an air-conditioner (that's plugged properly into a wall), it is imperative that you install it in your window correctly, lest you kill an unsuspecting person on the sidewalk below.

And above all, GET RENTERS INSURANCE—just because you're savvy enough to stay away from fire hazards doesn't mean your neighbors are!york ac unit not workingIn many parts of the country, the hot summer months can be almost unbearable without a proper cooling system in place. how much it cost to repair car acThese days, many homes and offices have central AC systems that eat up energy bills, often just to cool the few rooms they spend time in. top central ac unit brandsIf this scenario applies to you–or if you don't currently have a central AC and are looking for a less expensive alternative–look no further than a room air conditioner. There are 5 major types of room air conditioners to choose from. Portable air conditioners are freestanding, easy-to-move models that cool by pulling in fresh air, removing heat and moisture, and returning cool air into your space.

To cool properly, they have to vent warm air into another location, usually outside through an included window kit. Installation usually takes just a few minutes. Other ways to vent a portable AC is through a wall hole or drop ceiling. Main benefits include you can move them into different rooms, they don't require permanent installation, and they're typically affordable options. Some people find them noisy, and they're typically not as efficient as other room AC options. Look for models with heat for year-round use. To learn more about portable air conditioners, check out our Portable AC Buying Guide. In contrast, window air conditioners are designed to be installed inside a standard window or, in some cases, through a measured and prepared wall hole. These appliances are secured in a partially opened window–or on the wall frame–with the hot air exhaust system facing outside and the cool air return system facing inside. They're typically efficient options that can cool small or large rooms.

Features to look for include heat modes, programmable timers, and digital control boards. Learn more about them in our Window AC Buying Guide. Very similar to window air conditioners, thru-the-wall air conditioners are window-style ACs designed instead to install through a wall inside a chassis sleeve. In many cases, through-wall units can be installed flush with a wall for a streamlined appearance. Through-wall ACs differ from window ACs mainly in their housing design, cooling capacity, and weight. Unlike window units, thru-wall units typically do not have venting mechanisms on each side of the housing. This is because the venting grilles would be blocked in a through-wall application, which would lower the unit's cooling efficiency. Through-wall ACs are typically available in higher cooling capacities than window AC models and weigh slightly more. Learn more about them in our Thru-Wall Air Conditioner Buying Guide. Popular for their high-efficiency cooling, ductless split system air conditioners provide quiet, unobtrusive cooling for multiple "zones" within a home, office, or commercial space.

Unlike portable AC units and window-style ACs, mini-split air conditioners are not self-contained appliances. They also do not require ducting like central air conditioners. These systems have two basic parts: a large condenser unit that installs outdoors and one or more compact wall-mountable blower units that are placed strategically inside the space(s), or zones, you want to cool. When installed, insulated conduit housing the refrigeration lines runs from the outside condenser unit to the blower system(s) indoors. Each wall-mounted blower system can be controlled independently to provide comfortable room cooling right where you need it. Ductless mini-split system air conditioners are known for their high cooling efficiency, quiet operation, and slim profiles in your space. View our Mini-Split Buying Guide for more information. Package Terminal Air Conditioners (PTACs) are commercial-grade models usually installed in hotels, assisted living facilities, and offices. PTACs are capable of cooling and heating spaces of nearly any size, and most brands allow you to control multiple units from one location.