New York City has been breaking electricity usage records lately as a result of the extreme heat and humidity that can always be found in that part of the world in the middle of summer. Having just purchased a window air conditioner in the city myself, I thought I'd review some "best practices" for choosing an efficient room air conditioner.First off, it's very important to get the right sized air conditioner. Air conditioner cooling capacity is measured in BTUs. Larger BTU units are made for larger volumes (i.e. larger rooms). The Energy Star site has an excellent guide to choosing the right sized room air conditioner based on the room size. Since larger AC units cost more and use more energy, you'll save both by following the guidelines in the link.Air conditioner efficiency is listed on the side off all units as a number called the EER (Energy Efficiency Rating). The EER is a simple ratio of the BTUs of the unit to the amount of power it consumes in Watts. Thus an air conditioner with 10,000 BTU capacity and an EER of 10 consumes 1000 watts of power -- which is a lot.

The government mandates that all window units have a EER of at least 9.0, but there are plenty of well-priced units out there today with ratings of 10.5-11 to be had with a little bit of looking. These more efficient units will also have an Energy Star label on them because they exceed the minimum standard (9.0 EER) by at least 15%.The more BTUs or the higher the EER, generally, the higher the price of the air conditioner. However, since most people buy over sized air conditioners (too many BTUs for their purpose) and often don't look at the EER rating, it's possible to both save money on the up front purchase and reduce your monthly electric bill by getting the appropriate sized unit with a high EER.And remember to keep the thermostat at something reasonable. You're not trying to turn your apartment into an icebox, you're just trying to take the edge off the heat and humidity. If your AC has a timer feature you can use it to cool your place before you get home, but remember that an appropriately sized air conditioner will cool a room pretty quickly.

If you live in drier climates, evaporative cooling may be an alternative (and more energy efficient) means of keeping cool worth looking in to.For a list of the most efficient window unit air conditioners see the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy.The decision to buy one central air conditioner over another can be confusing – particularly if you aren’t aware of the different options available. ac unit horizontal window there can be added pressure to select the right central air conditioning unit becausehow to fix my central air conditioning unit they are so expensive. ac unit running when heat is onFrom efficiency to noise, there are different aspects of your air conditioner that are going to affect your overall home comfort levels and the

initial price you pay for the unit. For example, instead of an air conditioner you may want to go with a heat pump system. While air conditioners are the most common choice for homeowners, you may want to explore the benefits offered by aHeat pumps work exactly like air conditioners during the cooling seasons – delivering powerful cool air through your home without any worries. However, heat pumps can reverse the flow of refrigerant through the unit in order to provide electric heating power. During the fall and spring, electricity will be more cost effective than heating your home with a gas furnace (depending on utility costs in your area). And, if you live in an area with mild winters, you can address all of your heating and cooling needs with this single system. Heat pumps also come in packaged and split varieties, so if you do want a packaged unit, there are options available regardless of your system requirements. Here are some things to keep in mind during the purchasing process that can help you

select the best air conditioner: If your air conditioner currently has an indoor and an outdoor component,Split systems are the more common type of central air conditioner found in homes. Split-system air conditioners come in two differentYou may have an outdoor condensing unit paired with an air handler, or you may have a system that is composed of an air conditioner, furnace and coil. System type varies by your location (typically homes in the South with warm winters will have the first type, while homeowners in the Midwest and the North will have the second system setup). Package units, on the other hand, contain all crucial heating and cooling elements in one box that resides outside of yourPackage units are generally used for homes without basements, crawlspacesHowever, any homeowner can benefit from a packaged system. Cooling efficiency, rated in SEER, is one of the most important things to look at when comparing one cooling system to another.

Energy Efficiency Ratio, is a measurement of how efficiently your air conditioner runs over the course of the cooling season. If you choose a high SEER system, you can potentially save money on your utility billsHowever, you can still get an added money-saving boost with a minimum- efficiency air conditioner if you are switching from an oldToday, air conditioners must meet a minimum efficiency rating of 13 SEER, whereas the minimum efficiency rating was only 10 SEER prior to 2006 – a significant boost. A good rule of thumb is to go with the most efficient system you can afford. If you are looking for a quiet system, invest in an iQ Drive® air conditioner. These systems get down to some of the lowest noise levels in the industry – downNot only that, but these systems are the most efficient systemsThe 25.5-SEER iQ Drive air conditioner is the most efficient air conditioner on the HVAC market today. If you want to go with a

quiet system that may be a little less efficient, look for units with compressor sound blankets and swept-wing fan blades. For increased temperature control, choose aWith these smart systems, you can section off your home by room, or groups of rooms, and heat or cool them based on varied temperature settings. This way you can expect more even temperatures andDo you have a room that is consistently hotter than the rest of your home? If your thermostat is located in or near that room, you could be spending more on utility bills to cool your home without a zoningBut with a zoning system you can put that room into a separate zone. Your ductwork will be able to shut off access to other access to other rooms that have already reached temperature while still cooling that room. you can maintain even temperatures throughout your home without wasting energy cooling rooms that don’t need to be cooled. There are two types of refrigerant that are currently associated with

heating and cooling equipment – R-22 and R-410A. Recently, R-22 has been named harmful to the environment and is slowly being phased out, making prices rise as supplies dwindle. refrigerant, R-410A, does not contain chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). does not deplete the ozone layer. Just keep in mind that because older systems used R-22, you may have to replace your lineset and indoor coilBut, it is well worth it. Invest in the Installation As stated previously, installing a new air conditioner can be expensive. means it can be tempting to cut back on costs in other areas to save a little money on the overall installation. However, quality installation is absolutely critical for the overall performance of your air conditioner. does not correctly install your unit, you could face a future full of costly repairs, inefficient performance and shortened system life. Make sure you find the contractor that will do your installation job right the first time.

addition, a quality contractor should check your ductwork, and the other aspects of your overall HVAC system, to make sure that your air conditioner isn’t the only thing that needs to be addressed. Central air conditioner size (measured in tons or BTUs) is determined by your home’s square footage, the amount of people in your home, the type of windowsWhen it comes to selecting a specific cooling system size, you don’t have a lot of choice in the matter. When your contractor comes to your home to give you a quote on a new air conditioner, they should perform a Manual J load calculation that takes all factors into consideration and determines which size system is right for your home. If your air conditioner is too large, it could cool your home too quickly – resulting in a home that isn’t properly dehumidified and riddled with hot and cold spots. a cooling unit that is too small will constantly be running, resulting in high

cooling costs and a potential system repair or replacement call. This is a big reason to avoid a contractor who gives you a system quote over the phone. When you go to replace your system, make sure you replace the entire thing – both the indoor and the outdoor components. When systems are designed and manufactured, indoor and outdoor components are matched to ensure properAlthough it can be tempting to merely replace one part of the system, you could face a host of problems with an incorrectly matched unit. If the indoor components of your AC unit are old, they can negatively impact the performance and efficiency of your condensing unit. Not to mention, a system that isn’t matched correctly will not be covered under the parts warranty because proper performance and system life can no longer beThe indoor components include the coil or air handler. The price of an air conditioner is largely determined by your home. factors that affect cost include: efficiency, size, additional system modifications

But, the most important thing to remember is to not choose a contractor simply because they give you the lowest quote. conditioner, you are going to get what you pay for. A contractor that who charges less, particularly for labor, may have to cut corners when it comes to training in order to offer a lower price. This can lead to improper installation and decreased performance. Frigidaire offers a limited long parts warranty on all of their air conditioners when the unit is registered. A separate labor warranty can be purchased through your contractor – if they offer it. conditioning repairs can be expensive, so make sure you have all of yourFor more information on labor warranties visit our warranty pages before you buy.Use our system selection tool. Answer a few questions about your needs and we'll suggest several options. Before you have a new air conditioner installed in your home, consult your local contractor. Browse our dealer locator to find the Frigidaire HVAC professional in your area.