If there’s no wall or door separating the space you want to cool from an adjoining room, add the area of the adjoining room to your calculation because the air conditioner will have to cool that space as well.
An air conditioner with a cooling capacity of 5,000 BTUs, for example, can cool rooms that are between 100–150 square feet (9. 3–13. 9 m2) in area. You’ll need an air conditioner with a cooling capacity of 6,000 BTUs to cool a room that’s 150–250 square feet (14–23 m2) in area. For a comprehensive guide to what BTU rating most closely matches the size of your room, visit https://www. energystar. gov/products/heating_cooling/air_conditioning_room?qt-consumers_product_tab=3#qt-consumers_product_tab.
Buy a unit with 10 percent less capacity if the room you’ll be cooling is heavily shaded. Add another 4,000 BTU if you’ll be using the air conditioner to cool your kitchen. If more than 2 people will be regularly spending time in the room, increase the capacity of the air conditioner you buy by 600 BTUs per person.
Install window air conditioners in your window or in a designated space designed for a window air conditioner in your wall. Measure your window before selecting a window air conditioner. Window A/C units come in a variety of sizes. Measure the height and the width of your window and make sure these dimensions are slightly larger than the A/C unit you purchase. The height, width, and depth of an A/C unit will be printed on its box. [5] X Trustworthy Source Energy Star Program run by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy focused on educating consumers about energy efficiency Go to source
These units use more energy than comparably sized window units and aren’t as efficient at cooling. They are more convenient, however, because they are portable. Portable air conditioners are typically more expensive than window units, ranging in price from $300 - $700. Portable units also tend to be noisier than window units. You’ll need to place the portable unit near a window so that it can vent hot air through its hose to the outside.
This type of air conditioning is known as a “split” system because it is split between an inside unit and an outside unit. It is called “ductless” because it does not require the installation of any air ducts in your home. Instead, a small hose runs through your wall and connects the inside unit to the outside one. The inside unit is typically mounted high up on a wall near the ceiling and looks like a thin, long white box. Split ductless units are difficult to install, so you may want to call a professional to handle the installation.
On top of this, you’ll also have to spend money on a pre-installation evaluation of your home, any necessary modification or installation of ductwork, and the actual installation of the unit.
Call or visit a local trade organization for a list of qualified evaluators.
Ask potential contractors for a list of customer references who can testify to the quality of their work. Ask contractors for price estimates for the installation. Be sure to receive a written, itemized list of the price estimate before the contractor starts the installation. Try to schedule the installation of your central air system during the spring or fall. Since these periods are the off-seasons for HVAC contractors, you may be able to find a lower price.
If affordability is what’s most important to you, choose a simple model with mechanical controls and no LED display.
If you have an A/C unit with adjustable vents, you can change the direction of the A/C’s airflow both horizontally and vertically.
If you purchase a Wi-Fi-enabled A/C unit, you’ll be able to adjust settings on your A/C unit with an app on your smartphone or through a voice-activated smart device.
You can also use a home smart device to control a Wi-Fi-connected A/C unit.
