How do I choose the right air conditioner for my home or business?
How can we test room air conditioners?
In our consumption reports, we test room air conditioners in a room with a specific climate, where we test three sizes of window air conditioners: small, medium, and large.
Then we adjust the room size to the appropriate room size for each air conditioner, until we reach a temperature of 32 degrees Celsius. Then we measure the time it takes for the air conditioner to lower the temperature by 10 degrees Celsius, and we also measure how well the air conditioner maintains the temperature setting.
Because air conditioners can be noisy, we measure how loud each unit is at its lowest and highest settings.
Things to consider:
Research into energy efficiency:
New air conditioners come in a room with better insulation materials and clearer instructions, ensuring you have a good seal around the air conditioning unit, which reduces leaks.
Note the noise:
Models that scored excellent or very good on noise tests are so quiet that the only sound you might hear is the fan running, while air conditioners that scored acceptable can disturb sleepers when set to a low setting and distract everyone when set to a high setting.
Window location:
Window air conditioners do a better job of blowing air in one direction, and that can be a problem if your window is not centered against the wall.
To cool the room evenly, you will need to direct the air straight to its center, so check if your air conditioner needs to blow air to the right or to the left, as some have an arm to make it easier to direct.
Installing the air conditioner correctly :
To get the most out of a window air conditioner, it needs to be installed correctly. Most units are designed for double-hung windows, but if you have awning windows, you may need to consider buying a wall-mounted air conditioner.
When using a wall-mounted air conditioner, make sure your window unit is level so that it filters properly, and move any heat-generating devices such as a television or lamp away from the unit.
Site filtering:
Make sure you can easily access the filter for cleaning, which you will do often to keep your unit working.
Considering smart cooling :
Some air conditioners have become smarter, allowing you to control and adjust them from your smartphone, and you may even be able to connect them to other cooling units in your home.
Check the warranty and guarantee:
Some air conditioners have longer warranties than others, so when you buy a new unit, check the manufacturer’s website for information, and ask the salesperson about the warranty for the brand and model you are considering buying.
Limit your options:
Before thinking about price and features, start by determining the size of the unit you need for the space you want to cool, as well as where you will place the unit, as window air conditioners have cooling capacities ranging from 5000 to 12500 British thermal units.
To determine your room's dimensions, multiply its length by its width. However, don't purchase based solely on heat units; many companies recommend allowing for other factors such as ceiling height, window size, and doorway dimensions. Additionally:
- If the room is heavily shaded, reduce capacity by 10%.
- If the room is very sunny, increase the capacity by 10%.
- If more than two people regularly occupy the room, add 600 calories for each additional person.
- If the unit is used in the kitchen, increase the capacity by 4000 BTU.
Which design suits you best?
Some small window units cost less than 150 dinars, making them an attractive option, but only if you need to cool a very small space. If you need to cool a larger area, you'll need to focus your search on units that are better suited to your space.
Almost all the window units we tested met the latest standards, making them at least 10% more efficient than units without that certification. The Standout models feature quiet operation, convenient controls, and operate under low voltage.
Window air conditioners:
Small : These units have a capacity ranging from 5000 to 6500 BTUs, cooling approximately 30 to 90 square meters. They are the smallest, lightest, and least expensive, but cannot cool a room larger than 90 square meters.
Medium-sized units have a capacity ranging from 7000 to 8200 BTUs, cooling approximately 75 to 120 square meters, and are more expensive than small ones. Their larger size and weight also make them difficult to install and remove in winter.
Large: The capacity ranges from 9800 to 12500 British thermal units, cooling between 105 and 200 square meters, and is considered the best for cooling a large room, but its bulk and weight make these models difficult to install.
Portable air conditioners:
Portable models are designed for homes where windows or building regulations prevent their installation. Portable air conditioners range in capacity from 9,000 to 15,500 BTU, but portable and window air conditioners are not compared by size alone.
Our latest air conditioner tests found that portable air conditioners are not as good at cooling as manufacturers claim, plus they are expensive, more noisy and use more energy than similarly sized window units.
Her weight is between 23 and 37 One kilogram, making it cumbersome and impractical to roll across carpets or thresholds.
Ductless air conditioners:
This system is more expensive than window units or portable units, and less expensive than a central air conditioner.
Ductless air conditioners are a smart way to add air conditioning to a limited number of rooms without having to open up walls to install air ducts, as you would with a central air system.
Although we haven't tested ductless air conditioners recently, all our previous tests were successful in cooling functions well and were quieter both inside and outside homes compared to window air conditioners, whose noise is almost audible even at the lowest setting.