Choosing the Best Air Conditioner Option
Types of Air Conditioners
What Size Air Conditioner Should You Buy?
The key is to determine exactly the right size for you. Too small an air conditioner will continuously run and will not adequately cool a room. Too large a unit will tend to cycle off too quickly. The unit will not properly remove moisture from the air and may freeze, resulting in a higher energy bill. Ask a qualified air-conditioning technician for a thorough analysis so that you get exactly what you need.
BTU Calculator: Choose the Right BTU for Your Room Size
Selecting the right BTU (British Thermal Unit) for your room size will ensure you have the most energy-efficient cooling system for your home. BTU ratings are numbers that tell you how quickly and effectively a unit can cool a room. Generally, ratings range from 5,000 to more than 20,000 BTUs. When an oversized air conditioner is used in a small space, it cycles on and off and wastes energy, decreasing the unit’s ability to dehumidify the room. Alternatively, if a unit has too few BTUs, it will not be able to cool a large space efficiently.
It’s important to consider factors such as ceiling height, room insulation, sun exposure, location and your area’s climate when choosing a unit with the right BTU rating. Here are some helpful tips:
- Rooms with excessive sunlight should have a unit with 10% more BTUs than what is required by the room size.
- When placing a unit in the kitchen, select one with an additional 4,000 BTUs than what is required by the room size.
- For higher traffic rooms or rooms that regularly contain more than two people, add an additional 600 BTUs per person.
BTU Calculator for Window Air Conditioners
| Room Size | Recommended BTUs |
|---|---|
| Between 150-350 square feet |
5,000-8,000 BTUs |
| Between 400-550 square feet |
9,000-12,000 BTUs |
| Between 600-1,000 square feet |
12,000-18,000 BTUs |
| Between 1,000-1,500+ square feet |
24,500 BTUs |
BTU Calculator for Portable Air Conditioners
| Room Size | Recommended BTUs |
|---|---|
| Max 200 square feet |
8,000 BTUs |
| Max 300 square feet |
10,000 BTUs |
| Max 400 square feet |
12,000 BTUs |
| Max 600 square feet |
14,000 BTUs |
Tip
As of July 1, 2020, a new standard to rate BTU output and room cooling for ALL Portable Air Conditioners, called Seasonally Adjusted Cooling Capacity (SACC), was introduced in Canada. This new standard accounts for the heat emitted by portable air conditioners and adjusts the BTU output rating accordingly.
Before You Buy
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1 Calculate your room size
To figure out the square footage of the room, multiply the length by the width (in feet).
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2 Check your connections
Find the power source (such as a nearby outlet) and make sure to match the unit to that outlet.
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3 Measure to fit
Measure the height and width of the opening and check the dimensions of the air conditioner to make sure it will fit.
Extra Air Conditioner Features
Here is a list of features that people commonly look for when purchasing a new air conditioner:
| Easy-Access Filters |
Makes cleaning or replacing the filter easy. |
| Humidifier/Dehumidifiers | Use the dehumidifier in the summer to remove dampness from the air and the humidifier in the winter to return moisture to the air. |
| Multiple Cooling and Fan Settings | Allows you to adjust the device according to your needs. |
| Slide-Out Chassis | Allows for easy installation. |
| Energy-Saver Options | Will save you money on your energy bills and it's a better choice for the environment. |
| 24 Hour On/Off Timer | Enables you to program the air conditioner to turn on and off at specific times. |
| Remote Control | Gives you the option to adjust the temperature without getting up. |
| Quiet Operation | Sound sensitive air conditioners cool the house without all the noise. |
