Nowadays, every home needs an air conditioner (AC) so that its residents can stay cool and comfortable in the hot weather. Whether you’re moving into a new house or replacing an older unit, you might find yourself shopping for one sooner rather than later. From window type air conditioners to portable ones that you can move from room to room, these new models look sleek and are chock-full of features. But don’t buy the first one that catches your eye; you should also consider what suits your space and requirements before making a purchase. After all, an air conditioner is an expensive investment.
Below are three things you should do so you can get an AC that will be worth your money.
Find Out How Much Cooling Capacity You Need
Before buying any type of AC, you should first check how much cooling capacity your room needs. Cooling capacity is the calculation of an air conditioner’s capability to cool a room and is measured in British Thermal Unit (BTU) or Kilojoule per hour (kJ/h). Horsepower rating (HP rating) is also a unit of measurement used by air conditioners but accounts for motor power instead of cooling capacity.
Determining cooling capacity can help you buy an AC that will properly cool your room without using too much energy. Doing so will also help you save on your electricity bill and keep your AC working for longer.
To get the minimum cooling capacity that your room needs, get the size of your room in square feet or square meters.
For BTU, multiply the area of your room (in square feet) by 25. For example, if you have a 100 sq. ft. room, multiply that by 25, and you’ll get a minimum cooling capacity of 2500 BTU.
You can easily determine the HP rating you need when you’ve calculated for BTU. Divide the BTU by 3.412 to convert it to watts. Once you’ve got the wattage, divide it by 745.7 to get the HP rating. Following the example above, 2500 BTU divided by 3.412 is equal to 732.71 watts. Now divide 732.71 watts by 745.7, and you’ll get a 0.98 HP rating.
For kJ/h, multiply the area of your room (in square meters) by 500. If you have a 10 sqm. room, multiply that by 500, and you’ll get a minimum cooling capacity of 5,000 kJ/h.
You should also consider factors that can affect the temperature of your room, such as exposure to sunlight, ceiling height, and roof type. If these factors make your room hotter, you’ll need a higher cooling capacity than the minimum you’ve calculated.
Look For Air Conditioners with Additional Features
Air conditioners nowadays come with additional features and advanced software that could make them a better fit for your home. One that is especially worth considering is the use of inverter technology. Inverter-type air conditioners require less energy to cool your room. Although they’re a bit more expensive, they can provide you with more savings on your electricity bills.
Additional features you should also look for are “Energy Saver Mode,” “ECO Mode,” or other similar energy-saving capabilities. To reduce energy consumption, this mode will automatically adjust the thermostat depending on the situation of the room. It can lower the temperature if sunlight is causing the room to feel warm or switch the cool settings if the room is unoccupied.
You can also consider software features such as timers, quick cooling, and air cleaning technology. Some air conditioners also have smartphone app connectivity to let you control your AC remotely. Although these selling points are great, they can add to the price of your AC, so you should review these features to see if you need them for your home.
Pick Your Air Conditioner
Aside from considering cooling capacity and additional AC features, you should pick a type of air conditioner that best fits your home.
There are three types of air conditioners you can choose from:
- Portable Air Conditioners – These air conditioners are great if you want to have the ability to move the appliance from room to room. It is also the cheapest type of AC you can purchase. Although relatively small, the boxy shape takes up floor space.
- Window Type Air Conditioners – These air conditioners can be installed in a wall or window, so they don’t take up much floor space. You can buy a relatively inexpensive unit with lower cooling capacity and fewer features.
- Split Type Air Conditioners – These air conditioners have a sleek design and take up no floor space at all. But they’re usually the most expensive option and have two components: one inside your home and an outside unit. Installation of this AC may require structural changes to your wall, so you’ll need to hire a professional.
Picking the right air conditioner for your home starts with determining the size of your room. From there, you can check models for features that can benefit you, such as energy-saving modes, inverter technology, air cleaning, and more. Once you’ve narrowed these down, you can find the one that not only fits in your home but will also do its job without costing you much on your electric bills.
