If you don’t have central air, a window air conditioner is your key to keeping cool as temperatures soar. But the wrong air conditioner won’t do a very good job.
A too-small unit will leave you sweltering while one that’s too big for the space you’re cooling can leave you feeling cold and damp. What’s the perfect size?
Air conditioner power is measured with Btus (British Thermal Units.) Window air conditioners normally range between 5,000 and 12,000 Btus.
Cooling Formula
Experts have a formula to determine the right air conditioner for each space. For each square foot of space, you’ll need a minimum 20 Btus.
Measure the room and then multiply the length by the width. For example a 10’ by 14’ room equals 140 square feet. Multiply that by 20 to determine the right air conditioner for your room.
The folks at Energy Star suggest the following guidelines for cooling a room:
Square Feet BTUs
100 up to 150 5,000
150 up to 250 6,00
250 up to 300 7,000
300 up to 350 8,000
350 up to 400 9,000
400 up to 450 10,000
450 up to 550 12,000
But there are other factors to take into account. If the room is sunny, you’ll need 10% more cooling power. If more than one person is normally in the room, add 600 Btus per person.
Since kitchens are heated by using the stove or oven, add an additional 4,000 Btus to effectively cool that space. If you’re cooling two rooms that aren’t separated by a door, add the measurements of the rooms together.
Appliance Center has a large in-stock selection of air conditioners ready to help keep you cool in-stock starting at under $200.
If you aren’t sure which size works best for you, we’ll be happy to help you figure it out. Shop in-store or click here to shop online right now.