Best Air Conditioners for Apartments

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Air Conditioners for Apartments Buying Guide

Searching for relief from blistering days and scorching nights? If you live in an apartment without a central AC unit, you know that the air can get pretty stale and much too warm for comfort in the summer. There are many portable and window units that can keep you cool without breaking the bank, but before you make your purchase, be sure that it meets your needs and lifestyle. To help you find the right air conditioner, take the following features into account:

Type

For smaller apartments, portable units can be great, especially if you live alone or share the place with a significant other. These units can be moved from room to room and will keep you cool when you're watching TV in the living room, then help you get a full night's rest in your bedroom.

Cooling Capacity

This is a very important factor to consider when purchasing an air conditioner. How big is the room you want to cool? As a rule of thumb, an air conditioner with a 9,000 BTU/hr rating or lower will cool a room under 20' x 20'. If your room is larger than that or if you want to cool multiple rooms at once, you'll need 10,000 - 15,000 BTU/hr. If you can close off the rooms you use when cooling them, you can save money by buying a less powerful unit.

Energy Efficiency Rating

The higher the Energy Efficiency Rating (EER), the less energy consumed. While it may cost more to buy a highly efficient unit, you'll save money in the long run with lower electricity bills and will be living a greener lifestyle.