How to Choose a Window Air Conditioner for a House

Window air conditioners are designed to cool one room and potentially the area around it. In order to choose the right window air conditioner for a room in your house, your main consideration needs to be room size. Purchasing a unit that is too large or too small can cause inefficient cooling and use of energy. Buyers of window air conditioners typically install them inside double-hung or vertical opening windows.

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Instructions

- 1
  Determine the square footage of the room or area you want to cool. Measure both the length and width of the entire area and multiply the two numbers.
- 2
  Calculate the British thermal units (BTUs) necessary to cool the square footage you calculated. Generally, 20 BTUs are needed per square foot of living space. BTU numbers for window air conditioners range in the thousands, typically from 5,000 to 34,000.
- 3
  Measure the dimensions on the inside of your window frame. Compare these dimensions to the minimum and maximum widths listed in the air conditioner's specification manual.
- 4
  Determine your electrical requirements based on the number of BTUs your house requires. Units that run less than 15,000 BTUs require a 115- or 125-volt electrical circuit. Units with more than 15,000 BTUs require a 220-volt circuit.
- 5
  Determine the number of fan speeds, types of controls and acceptable noise level you desire for your unit. Also consider if you want to opt for the automatic shut-off feature, which will save both energy and money in the long run. Also consider the energy efficiency ratio (EER) of an air conditioner. The higher the ratio, the more efficient the unit. Be aware that additional features typically add to the cost of the unit.

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