LG LW8014ER Energy Star 115-volt Air Conditioner Yup, it's that time again. It started to get real hot in NYC these past few days and the talk in the office was all about buying an air conditioner to put in the window. How much should I pay? How do I keep it from drying out the room?? I surveyed the field and have three models to report back on to you as well as a handy chart that will help you choose the right size for each room. I also have some tips for you that I've found work well. , , and is also a #1 best seller on Amazon. Head below for more and tell me what you know... How To Choose An Air Conditioner I'm going to keep this simple and say: 1. Measure your room and get the one that is a size above the recommended size for your room in the chart below. This will take care of most sun and other heat issues. 2. Seal the heck out of it as any leakage around the unit will really suck the cool air right out of your room. 3. Avoid portable air conditioners.

They've never worked for me and don't get high marks generally anywhere. How big do you need? You need approximately 35 BTU's per square foot to cool a room with a normal ceiling (8-10'). So find your square footage and multiply by 35. If your room is 10' by 15' = 150 sq. ft. you multiply by 35 = 5250 approximately a 5000 BTU machine. How does it work? Air conditioners work in similar to that other cool appliance in your home, the refrigerator. Instead of cooling just the small, insulated space inside of a refrigerator, an air conditioner treats your whole room like a fridge cools it's interior. Here's the process broken down to the basics from HowStuffWorks: The compressor compresses cool Freon gas, causing it to become hot, high-pressure Freon gas (red in the diagram above). This hot gas runs through a set of coils so it can dissipate its heat, and it condenses into a liquid. The Freon liquid runs through an expansion valve, and in the process it evaporates to become cold, low-pressure Freon gas (light blue in the diagram above).

This cold gas runs through a set of coils that allow the gas to absorb heat and cool down the air inside the building. Frigidaire Energy Star 8,000 BTU 115V Mini-Compact Air Conditioner Highly rated and a Frigidaire, which is one of the most popular brands sold, this particular unit is 8,000 BTU's and the top pick on The Sweet Home for a few years running. Quickly cools a room up to 350 sq. ft. with dehumidification up to 1.7 pints per hour Clean air ionizer removes pollen and impurities from the air providing relief for allergy sufferers while fresh air vent/exhaust control removes odors Modes designed to save you energy and money include Auto Cool, Sleep and Energy Saver General Electric AEQ06LS Air Conditioner Coming in first for GE and good for smaller rooms (up to 250 sq ft), this 6,150 BTU unit is small in scale, and has the standard remote with three cooling speeds. (Image credit: Nicolas & Fabienne's Quirky and Colorful London Home House Tour)

How To Cool Down No Matter How Hot It Gets! Now that the high temps have really kicked in, it's hard to remember that this is the season everyone longs for during the darker, colder months of the year. If your home doesn't have AC (or you are choosing to leave it off as much as possible) you can feel stuck, especially when it comes to getting a restful nights sleep.. home roof air conditioning unitsGo to Reader Intelligence Reporthvac unit 10IntroductionUnless you live in a ground floor apartment or have built-in air conditioning, summer means you're stuck with a warm apartment all season long. prices for 3 ton ac unitAs an apartment-dweller, you have few options for effective cooling. It's probably not a wild guess to assume that your lease agreement doesn't allow you to tear through the walls to install an air conditioning system.

Instead, you'll just have to use a bit of creativity to cool your apartment off the old-fashioned way with lots of fans and open windows. Blinds and CurtainsIf you have blind on your windows, don't forget to shut them when you leave for the day. Keeping the direct sun out of your apartment is a great way to reduce the incoming heat. If your lease allows you to make minor modifications to your walls, consider installing some heavy, dark curtains. It's fairly easy to install a curtain rod directly on the wall with the assistance of a friend. Nature's Air ConditioningUsing nature as an air conditioner is the best thing to rely on, assuming the temperature outdoor temperature drops below the indoor temperature. When it's cool outside in the evening and early morning hours, leave your windows open and place a big fan directly in front of the screen. If you have a windowsill, box fans work really well for this. If possible, open multiple windows in your apartment to get a nice draft going.

Just don't forget to close your windows when it starts to warm up again outside. If your outdoor temperature isn't dropping much, try opening the windows and turning the fans to face out. This way, you'll at least get rid of some of the stagnant hot air in your apartment. If you're concerned about security, it's very easy to block your window from opening enough for a person to fit through. Simply block the window track with an object, such as a wooden rod or hanger. You can leave your windows open all night and feel safe. You can also buy window stoppers that work just as well and are easy to install. It's especially important to take this extra step if you live on the ground floor of your apartment complex. Fans and More FansFans are your best friends during the summer. Even though fans don't actually reduce the temperature (in fact, fans raise the temperature slightly), they do a good job of circulating the air, making you feel cooler and refreshed. Ceiling fans are really good at circulation, but unless you have permission to install one in your apartment, you're out of luck.

Fortunately, your local home goods store will have any number of quality and affordable fans in a variety of different models. Remember to outfit your apartment before a major heatwave arrives; you'll have a hard time finding a fan to buy when everyone else suddenly realizes how hot the weather is. Close Your Fridge and FreezerKeep your fridge and freezer closed tightly, and open them only when you really need to. Avoid grazing or browsing the contents of your fridge for long periods during hot days. If you make your fridge and freezer work harder than normal by opening them frequently, the air temperature around the appliances will increase. Think about what you want to pull out before you open it; you can even make a list of the contents in your fridge and freezer to reduce unnecessary openings.Light bulbs, especially incandescent bulbs, can generate a surprising amount of heat. If you don't need the light, turn it off. Compact fluorescents and LED bulbs produce less heat than incandescent bulbs, so consider switching your old lights for these more modern options.

Say Goodbye to Frozen Pizza, for NowYour cooking appliances, including your oven, slow cooker and bread maker, are not your friends during the summer. For some meals, you can use a toaster oven instead of a real oven; toaster ovens will generate far less heat than traditional ovens. Check the recipe or package before you buy to see the recommended heating option. You can also rely on your stove and microwave during the summer. On really hot days, save yourself the trouble and just eat out in a cool restaurant or make yourself a delicious and cold sandwich. Minimize Other Appliance UseThe dishwasher generates a lot of heat when it cleans your dishes, especially during the drying phase. Try to run the dishwasher only during the evening or morning. If you really need a dish, wash and dry it by hand. If you have a clothes washer and dryer in your apartment, avoid using them during the day, especially the dryer. Consider hanging your wet clothes up in the bathroom to air dry your clothes.

Turn Off and Unplug ElectronicsTelevisions and computers produce a great deal of heat, so it's best to leave them off whenever possible. For a refreshing summer activity, turn off your electronics and read a book about Antarctica while sipping on some lemonade. Also, when your electronics are off, unplug them. Even if you turn your electronics off, they can still generate heat when plugged in. If you need to use your computer, remember that a computer will have a harder time staying cool in hot temperatures. You can use a fan to cool off both you and your computer. About Air Conditioning Options for Apartment DwellersThough window air conditioning units are not nearly as refreshing as a real air conditioning system, there are a number of different options available. If you have windows that open from top to bottom, you have quite a few affordable air conditioning unit options. The most common window units fit between the bottom frame and window. For apartment dwellers with side-to-side windows, your options are usually limited to portable units.