What should I look for in a Window air conditioner?

[FortFunFoSho]

Any brand suggestions?

 

[mb]

Mine's the cheapest one they had at wal-mart. It's made by goldstar and it does a damn good job cooling my room.

 

[FortFunFoSho]

what did it do to your energy bill?

 

[Tiamat]

"does it fit"

Seriously, my apartment window has bars behind it, and only 1 AC unit that I found could fit in the limited depth.

Also, How big is the room you are trying to cool.

Energy ratings are important if you pay the bills.

 

[mb]

It actually went down. There used to be a big, old A/C in the middle room up here but it didn't cool my room too much, so just putting a small one in my room and turning off the other one was an improvement.
The energy guide tag on the new unit says it is 97% efficient and it costs $35/year to run.

 

[UsandThem]

Warranty. They range from one year carry in service to five years in home service.

I believe that most at Home Depot are five year in home service.

 

[cavemanmoron]

Originally posted by: Tiamat
"does it fit"

Seriously, my apartment window has bars behind it, and only 1 AC unit that I found could fit in the limited depth.

Also, How big is the room you are trying to cool.

Energy ratings are important if you pay the bills.

I have an Amana,
it has remote control,and a dehumidify setting.

Buy the size you need for your room,and if the room is on the sunny side,or upper floor
get the next size btu larger.

http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumerinfo/energy_savers/calculator.html

 

[RossMAN]

Most importantly MEASURE your window before you go.

Also calculate what BTU you will need to adequately cool the area.

CostCo has some great deals on nice Sharp and Panasonic a/c units starting at $129.

 

[CycloWizard]

Originally posted by: supafly
It actually went down. There used to be a big, old A/C in the middle room up here but it didn't cool my room too much, so just putting a small one in my room and turning off the other one was an improvement.
The energy guide tag on the new unit says it is 97% efficient and it costs $35/year to run.

Haha... 97% efficient? I'd like to see how they calculate that number, which is thermodynamically impossible.

I would look for (in this order):
1. Proper size
2. Efficiency
3. BTU ability

Efficiency is a higher priority for me than the BTU because a lesser BTU AC unit really can cool a larger room - it'll just take longer. But really, this order depends on your budget. If you have more money, you can buy the larger (read: more expensive) BTU unit and pay a bit more in cooling costs every month.

 

[ZOXXO]

Don't know what the average life expectancy of a window air conditioner is but I have a fifteen year old Fedders unit that still works fine.

 

[mb]

Originally posted by: CycloWizard

Originally posted by: supafly
It actually went down. There used to be a big, old A/C in the middle room up here but it didn't cool my room too much, so just putting a small one in my room and turning off the other one was an improvement.
The energy guide tag on the new unit says it is 97% efficient and it costs $35/year to run.

Haha... 97% efficient? I'd like to see how they calculate that number, which is thermodynamically impossible.

I would look for (in this order):
1. Proper size
2. Efficiency
3. BTU ability

Efficiency is a higher priority for me than the BTU because a lesser BTU AC unit really can cool a larger room - it'll just take longer. But really, this order depends on your budget. If you have more money, you can buy the larger (read: more expensive) BTU unit and pay a bit more in cooling costs every month.

Um, it is 97%... http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de...103-4104580-9691027?v=glance&s=kitchen
That's not the same as I have but close enough.

Edit: sorry, 9.7 on scale of 8-10. Still pretty good.

 

[amdskip]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
CostCo has some great deals on nice Sharp and Panasonic a/c units starting at $129.

Thats sorta expensive maybe. I think walmart's bottom end 5,000 btu is $80-85.

 

[cavemanmoron]

up

 

[Wduaqnug]

I need A/C deal as well

 

[skyking]

most of the cheap ones have a remote, but be sure to get one. It is way nice to turn it off late at night. It gets cool enough, and it is nice to get rid of the noise without getting out of bed.

 

[ctracyw]

to calculate the size needed , figure 12,000 btuh per 400 square feet

 

[cavemanmoron]

Originally posted by: Tiamat
"does it fit"

Seriously, my apartment window has bars behind it, and only 1 AC unit that I found could fit in the limited depth.

Also, How big is the room you are trying to cool.

Energy ratings are important if you pay the bills.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: supafly
Mine's the cheapest one they had at wal-mart. It's made by goldstar and it does a damn good job cooling my room.

that's the same one i was looking @ getting.
if it's just for a bedroom ANY one will do.. only difference between a good brand to a cheap brand is that you might be able to get one that's a fair bit quieter than another... but oh well.

 

[kaymin]

Make sure you look at the energy it uses. The cheapest one usually requires double the cost in electricity.

The one i bought costed 50 dollars more than another model of the same brand Kenmore. BOth had the same BTU, etc. But i bought the expensive one because the energy requirement was literally HALF.

 

[BrokenVisage]

BTU's baby.. BTU's!

 

[alkemyst]

I have a decent Kenmore in this apartment...however; I'd never, ever have a 'window unit'.

mine is in-wall with the frame part of the wall.

Those window units (unless way in the air) are an open door.

that said, my 11000 btu modern unit that cools less than 500 sq ft. costs more a month than my central air unit that cooled a 2000 sq. ft place (I did upgrade it while living there, it was almost $300 a month to cool, then dropped below $100 a month, cost was mid 4 figures)....still I pay only $600 a month for a nice, safe place to live...however he is selling and my lease is up in July...

 

[Lucky]

Originally posted by: kaymin
Make sure you look at the energy it uses. The cheapest one usually requires double the cost in electricity.

The one i bought costed 50 dollars more than another model of the same brand Kenmore. BOth had the same BTU, etc. But i bought the expensive one because the energy requirement was literally HALF.

impossible. they all meet minimum energy standards, and one that is $50 more will NOT be that much more efficient.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Lucky

Originally posted by: kaymin
Make sure you look at the energy it uses. The cheapest one usually requires double the cost in electricity.

The one i bought costed 50 dollars more than another model of the same brand Kenmore. BOth had the same BTU, etc. But i bought the expensive one because the energy requirement was literally HALF.

impossible. they all meet minimum energy standards, and one that is $50 more will NOT be that much more efficient.

I can's say $50 is a cutoff point, but as a consumer I have scene major yearly cost differences....maybe the minimum's are way lower though. Still if I am planning on owning an appliance 3+ years it adds up.