What Size Air Conditioner Do I Need? I’m a huge baby about temperature, and the fan just wasn’tSo in the midst of a recent heatwave I decided I was going to bite the bullet and get an air conditioner. But when I started researching online, I found myself confused by the various units' cooling and efficiency numbers, with prices seemingly directly correlated with each. But I didn’t really know what any of them meant. Given the size of my apartment, how much air conditioner do I need? “Many people buy an air conditioner that is too large, thinking it will provide better cooling. oversized air conditioner is actually less effective — and wastes energy at the same time,” explains the very helpful Energy Star website. remove both heat and humidity from the air. If the unit is too large, it will cool the room quickly, but only remove some of the humidity. room with a damp, clammy feeling. A properly sized unit will remove humidity effectively as it cools.”

Luckily, they have a convenient chart for figuring how much AC power one needs for a room. I was just going to put one in my living room, so I measured the room with a handy tape measure. It’s not the most exact measurement in the world, but it’s close enough. My living room is roughly 330 square feet, which the chart tells me means I need an AC unit with a capacity of 8,000 BTUs per hour, which was way less than I expected (here's a model which comes highly recommended). Of course, a room's environment doesn't just depend upon square footage. In some cases there might be environmental issues to be aware of. For example, in very sunny rooms one increases the necessary capacity of an air conditioner by 10 percent. For very shady rooms, decrease it by 10 percent. If there are often more than two people in the room, add 600 BTUs per person, or make them bring ice. See more at the Energy Star website.Commercial and Home Air Conditioners

The summer is officially upon us and the heatwave is here! We’ve been getting a lot of calls for air conditioners this week and I thought I would blog a little to help anyone who is browsing around and wondering what they need. For those of you that do not have central air, there are three main types of air conditioners; portable, window and through the wall (TTW). Air conditioners are available in a number of different sizes, both physical sizes and capacity ratings. Some air conditioners are available with heat. To the right you will see a chart that is a guideline for determining how many BTUs you will need to effectively cover your area. You may want to step up to the next size if you have large windows where the afternoon sun is shining in or if you have more than 1 person per 100 square feet. Be careful not to oversize too much or you will be creating another problem which is creating a cool damp (clammy) environment. It’s important that the air have enough of a heat load so that the air conditioner can remove humidity.

If you suspect you have a cool damp environment, or would like to supplement your air conditioning system, you may to consider a dehumidifier.home ac unit comparisons The three factors you need to consider are, installation options, btu capacity and electrical compatibility. is an ac unit an applianceRegular household electricity uses the standard 115 volt 3 prong plugs and may also have 230 volt receptacles available. how to fix the ac unitMake sure to verify the plug type before purchasing any air conditioner. Through the wall air conditioners are available in three chassis sizes and install into a sleeve that is installed into a rough opening going through an exterior wall. PTAC and PTHP air conditioners are console units, like the ones you may see in a hotel room or classroom.

These types of systems usually have an optional heater strip. The power of the heater depends on the plug type that you choose. Three other chassis sizes are available for through the wall air conditioners: A and B chassis air conditioners require a rough opening 27 1/4 inches wide and 17 inches tall. U Chassis air conditioners require a rough opening of 27 inches wide and 16 inches tall. A and B chassis air conditioners require you to purchase the sleeve and the front and rear coverers separately, while the U chassis air conditioners come complete with sleeve and covers. Make sure you correctly measure you wall opening. If you do not have an opening in your wall you may opt for a window air conditioner. These units also have sizing requirements and will state their minimum and maximum window sizes. Be sure to match the size with the window in which you plan to instal the air conditioner. Window air conditioners range in size from 5,000 BTUs up to 24,000 BTU units. Many also offer a heating option.

Window air conditioners are a good option for renters or non-permanent installations. Again, it is important that you measure and inside opening of your window to make sure you are selecting an air conditioner that will fit into your window. If your window is too small or if there are other reasons why you cannot select either a window air conditioner or a through the wall system, consider a portable air conditioner. Portable air conditioners are console units that sit completely inside of the room and use a small flexible hose to exhaust the hot humid air outside. Many models are available, some with heat. These are very portable and can be moved from room to room with ease. I hope that this information helps you choose the right air conditioner for your needs. If you need additional assistance, please feel free to call in and speak with on of our air quality specialists 1-800-551-8544 and stay cool this summer! In 2005 we picked up the Fedders line of air conditioners and have expanded the selection for 2006.

Now, in addition to the portable air conditioners and window air conditioners we have carried in the past, we have added several new products. Our window air conditioner line has been expanded to include some high end air conditioners and through-the wall air conditioners. With several chassis models from which to choose (x chassis, Q chassis, Y chassis, D chassis, K chassis and V chassis) we have window air conditioners that range in size from 5,000 btu up to 32,000. Our new line of commercial air conditioners include the PTAC and PTHP units, which you my have seen as wall mount console units in hotels, schools and other commercial applications where a central AC system is not feasible. One of the most common questions we here is about sizing an air conditioner. This is one place where bigger is not always better. Air conditioners cool indoor environments by accomplishing two things, reduceing humidity and cooling the air. If you put to large of an air conditioner in a room, it will cool the room off too quickly.