“If central air conditioning isn’t an option, room air conditioners can be an inexpensive and energy-efficient alternative for cooling one or two rooms,” says Consumer Reports. “As a rule, an air conditioner needs 20 Btu for each square foot of living space. To measure your room, multiply the length of the room by the width. But don’t buy by Btu alone. Energy Star recommends you make allowance for other considerations – such as the height of your ceiling, where the unit will be placed, and the size of your windows and doorways.”
Here is the Consumer Reports’ selection of recommended air conditioners. The maximum overall score is 100, and “Best Buy” models offer more value.
- 5,000 to 6,500 Btu/hr. (cools 100-300 sq. ft)
- 7,000 to 8,500 Btu/hr. (cools 250-400 sq. ft.)
- 9,800 to 12,500 Btu/hr. (cools 350-650 sq. ft.)
5,000 to 6,500 Btu/hr. (cools 100-300 sq. ft)
7,000 to 8,500 Btu/hr. (cools 250-400 sq. ft.)
9,800 to 12,500 Btu/hr. (cools 350-650 sq. ft.)
Consumer Reports is an American magazine published monthly since 1936. It features reviews and comparisons of consumer products and services based on reporting and results from its in-house testing laboratory and survey research centre. The magazine accepts no advertising, pays for all the products it tests, and, as a not-for-profit organisation, has no shareholders. It also publishes cleaning and general buying guides. (Wikipedia.)
Source: Consumer Reports
Last checked on: 3 May 2016
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