The temperatures in many places are getting hotter by the year, and people are slowly realizing the importance of air conditioners in regulating heat. Even now, only about 9% of American households don't have cooling units yet. If you're in the market to purchase one, here are some factors you should consider.
1. Types and Builds
There are three types of air conditioners (AC) you can choose from which are Window AC, Portable AC, and Split System AC. It's important to know the difference between the three. For instance, portable ACs might be the better option if you intend to travel with a cooling unit.
Of course, it won't be as cold as the Split System AC and the Window AC. The former is the most efficient and quiet of the three, and it has an indoor and outdoor unit which are mounted separately. The indoor unit serves as the evaporator while the outdoor unit is the condenser.
The Window AC is commonly a cube unit that is situated in the middle of the wall. That means that half of the unit is indoors and the other half is outdoors. This requires you to cut a hole in the wall that would fit the air conditioner.
2. Room Size
Of course, you have to consider the space in which your air conditioning unit will be installed in. If you have a bigger room, you might not be able to feel much of the cold air from the Window and Portable ACs.
If you have a bigger room, you should opt for the Split System AC instead. It's important to do your research on which unit will be sufficient for the square footage of your room. Otherwise, getting a powerful AC for a small room would be a waste of energy.
3. Climate
The work that your air conditioner will be doing also depends on the current climate you are in. If you live in a hotter location, you might want to consider an air conditioner with more horsepower, as a weaker one will just waste energy trying to cool a place it can't cool.
In colder climates, you could do with a portable air conditioner as you might just need a personal cooling unit for times when there are temperature spikes. If you want one that will affect everyone in the room, then a Window AC could also be a good choice.
Read Also: 7 Common Signs That Your Air Conditioner Unit's Life Is Coming to an End and Needs To Be Replaced
4. Features
There's only so much a model can provide you. For instance, there are some AC models that have Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing you to turn them on and off using a smart home app or a voice assistant, while others are limited to remote controls.
Some operate more quietly than others, which can be an important factor for people who are sensitive to droning noises. Other features you can look for are self-cleaning, a sleep timer, a swing function, and more.
5. Cost
Given that each of the air conditioner types differs in build, features, and efficiency, they all have varying prices as well. Decent portable ACs can cost you upwards of $200 and Window ACs could cost up to $570. Split Types, on the other hand, are priced around $750.
Related: Why Is Your Air Conditioner Noisy? Here's What You Need To Know
