What's a good efficient Air Conditioner brand?

[aceO07]

I'm looking into getting an air conditioner or 2 today. What's a good brand? I want it to be energy efficient and quiet. One in the 5-6k BTU range and another in the 12k BTU range.

My choices so far are Kenmore from Sears, which is local to me. Or Panasonic from Amazon.com with free shipping.

 

[Quixfire]

I have two Kenmores and on old JCPennys, they all work very well.

What is most important is getting the right air conditioner for the living space you want to cool.

This website has a chart to determine the size you might require.

Edit: Typo

 

[Howard]

dtyn should know. Trane/Carrier are both good.

 

[oboeguy]

I have a Panasonic (5.5K) and a Sharp (6K). Both are very nice, and have EER of like 11 or better (very high) Neither is particularly loud. The latter has an on and off timer (the former only an off timer). Both have remote control (wo0t!).

 

[Thegonagle]

Go pick up the July Consumer Reports. They have a new report.

Panasonic, LG, Kenmore, and Maytag make good showings in most categories. Look for an EER up around 11 or in the high 10s. CR shows that you don't necessarily need to pay through the teeth for a good EER anymore, and that EER numbers generally live up to the manufacturer?s claims.

 

[Gyrene]

My company mainly uses Trane in Residential and Trane/Lennox in Commercial. None of the central air units are really great anymore, but Trane is the best IMO.

EDIT: Just realized that you were talking about window units, and not central air. Unfortunately, I don't work with Window units, and so probably couldn't recommend the best.

 

[Thegonagle]

Say, which Panasonic model numbers are you looking at?

 

[aceO07]

I was looking into the Panasonic CW-XC63HU at amazon.com. However, I remembered it had free shipping last time I checked. But I just looked again today, and it's ordered through J&R Music and Computer World, so I have to pay for expensive shipping.

edit: 6000 BTU and 10.7 EER

 

[aceO07]

I'm hoping to drop by Sears today and pick up their Kenmore 5600BTU 11EER (199.99$) and/or Kenmore 12500BTU 10.8 EER(349.99$). How are those prices?

 

[Thegonagle]

That Kenmore 73055 rates wery well, number 3 in the 5000-6000 BTU category.

The Panansonic CW-XC63HU is rated number 2 in that category.

The number one rating goes to the 5000 BTU, 10.7 EER Whirlpool ACQ058MM, a CR Best Buy for $160.

Number 5 is the 5200 BTU, 10.8 EER LG LW5200ER for $180.

Forget #4; It's a Friedrich for $400.

For the larger unit, the Kenmore 76129 is 12,300 BTU, 10.8 BTU, and rated number 3 for $450.

#1 in the 9800-12,500 BTU category is rated a Best Buy. It's a Panasonic CW-XC103HU, 9800 BTU, 10.8 EER, for $330.

#2 is the LG LW1000ER, 10000 BTU, 11.0 EER, for $350.

Prices above are the ones listed in the magazine.

EDIT: If that large AC you're looking at from Sears is the 76129, $350 looks like a great price. For the smaller one, you can get much cheaper units on sale, some for as low as $100, but they won't be as quiet and efficient as you're looking for. You won't go wrong with that Sears 73055, IMHO.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: aceO07
I'm hoping to drop by Sears today and pick up their Kenmore 5600BTU 11EER (199.99$) and/or Kenmore 12500BTU 10.8 EER(349.99$). How are those prices?

Open a Sears credit card account and save 10% off which is a $55 savings off both units.

 

[aceO07]

Originally posted by: Thegonagle
That Kenmore 73055 rates wery well, number 3 in the 5000-6000 BTU category.

The Panansonic CW-XC63HU is rated number 2 in that category.

The number one rating goes to the 5000 BTU, 10.7 EER Whirlpool ACQ058MM, a CR Best Buy for $160.

Number 5 is the 5200 BTU, 10.8 EER LG LW5200ER for $180.

Forget #4; It's a Friedrich for $400.

For the larger unit, the Kenmore 76129 is 12,300 BTU, 10.8 BTU, and rated number 3 for $450.

#1 in the 9800-12,500 BTU category is rated a Best Buy. It's a Panasonic CW-XC103HU, 9800 BTU, 10.8 EER, for $330.

#2 is the LG LW1000ER, 10000 BTU, 11.0 EER, for $350.

Prices above are the ones listed in the magazine.

EDIT: If that large AC you're looking at from Sears is the 76129, $350 looks like a great price. For the smaller one, you can get much cheaper units on sale, some for as low as $100, but they won't be as quiet and efficient as you're looking for. You won't go wrong with that Sears 73055, IMHO.

Thanks for the rankings. I did end up getting the Kenmore 73055. I love the variable speeds, 10-99. Too bad Amazon has no more free shipping on the Panasonic CW-XC63HU. It's their best selling one. I doubt it will stay #1 when it costs ~$90 to ship it.

I bought the Kenmore 12500btu, not the 76129. The 76129 has an airfilter, but costs $399. Unfortunately it seems defective, so I'll have to return it next chance I get. The fan works, but nothing else. We tried it for a few hours, with different settings but no success.

 

[aceO07]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: aceO07
I'm hoping to drop by Sears today and pick up their Kenmore 5600BTU 11EER (199.99$) and/or Kenmore 12500BTU 10.8 EER(349.99$). How are those prices?

Open a Sears credit card account and save 10% off which is a $55 savings off both units.

Hmm, the saleperson didn't tell me this. I'll still have a chance to do it though. I'm returning the defective Kenmore 12500BTU unit this weekend and will get something else. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Mallow]

anything with an efficiency ratting above 9.5

 

[Blain]

My wife and I just had a 2 1/2 ton Trane AC with gas furnace installed last month. We love it!
If you want quiet, go with the variable speed DC blower motor. We didn't because of the extra $385 cost. It would probably have been better in the long run.

The XR 12 uses R-22 refrigerant, which I've heard is better than the R410A. Because of lower operating pressures and better thermal transfer.
I'm sure that I'll be corrected if I'm wrong.

 

[aceO07]

LOL. Thanks for the details on Central Air. Just out of curiousity, how much does it cost for a unit and how much to set up a house with it?

 

[CraigRT]

nothing runs like a Trane!

 

[amdskip]

Fedders and Haier are decent.

 

[Gyrene]

Originally posted by: Blain
My wife and I just had a 2 1/2 ton Trane AC with gas furnace installed last month. We love it! If you want quiet, go with the variable speed DC blower motor. We didn't because of the extra $385 cost. It would probably have been better in the long run. The XR 12 uses R-22 refrigerant, which I've heard is better than the R410A. Because of lower operating pressures and better thermal transfer. I'm sure that I'll be corrected if I'm wrong.

Actually, R410A, being a blend of R32 and R125, has a better thermal efficiency compared to R22. However, R410A does have higher operating pressure, and as such can't be used in older units. And, unlike R22, R410A has been tested by ASHRAE, and does not damage the ozone.

 

[Thegonagle]

Originally posted by: aceO07
LOL. Thanks for the details on Central Air. Just out of curiousity, how much does it cost for a unit and how much to set up a house with it?

If you already have forced air heating, it's realtively simple. If your house has a boiler and radiators, you're relatively screwed.

 

[aceO07]

Originally posted by: Thegonagle

Originally posted by: aceO07
LOL. Thanks for the details on Central Air. Just out of curiousity, how much does it cost for a unit and how much to set up a house with it?

If you already have forced air heating, it's realtively simple. If your house has a boiler and radiators, you're relatively screwed.

haha.. That's what I assumed.

 

[aceO07]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: aceO07
I'm hoping to drop by Sears today and pick up their Kenmore 5600BTU 11EER (199.99$) and/or Kenmore 12500BTU 10.8 EER(349.99$). How are those prices?

Open a Sears credit card account and save 10% off which is a $55 savings off both units.

Where did you find this information? I couldn't find it on the sears.com website. I went to Sears today and asked about the return process, to make it easier tomorrow. I also asked about the Sears Credit Card. He said it was only $10 off. I kept asking for a leaflet or printed information about the credit card, but he claimed there wasn't any. I finally gave up since didn't seem like he was going to say anything different.