subject: The Right Type of Air Conditioner Unit for Your Home [print this page] The Right Type of Air Conditioner Unit for Your Home
The air conditioner unit is a very important invention. It keeps the body cool and healthy, protecting it from the extreme heat of the summer months. Scientific study shows that brain and body functions are at the optimal level at 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Moreover, air con units are important to businesses and jobs. They are particularly used to cool working spaces like the kitchen or shop, and even cool rooms with servers and computers.
Before buying an air con unit, you must consider the size of the house and individual rooms to cool. This includes the orientation of the room with respect to the sun. Is it sunlit the whole daytime or is it shaded? You must also consider the number of people and working appliances. You should also consider the power saving capabilities of the device.
First, what type of air conditioner unit is best for you? If you simply want to cool one bedroom for sleep and rest, you will just need a window type A/C. The window type looks like a box with aluminum casing. It can be installed on the window sill or on a hole in the whole. If you have a large house area with many rooms, a centralized cooling unit is the most cost-effective choice. If you are always on-the-go, it is best to buy portable models. Portables simply need wall outlets and no installation.
Secondly, you need to know the cooling requirement of your room. Air con units are labeled with a BTU (British Thermal Unit) number, ranging from 5000 to 14000. 5000 BTU units are designed for smaller rooms with 300 sq. ft. floor area or less. 12000 to 14000 BTU models are designed for rooms around 700 sq. ft. However, you must adjust the choice of BTU depending on the condition of the house. If the room is expected to have more than two people, add 600 BTU per person. If the unit will be for the kitchen, you need to add 4000 BTU.
Lastly, you must check the EER or the Energy Efficiency Ratio of the air conditioner unit. Law states that this value must be at least 10. Higher EER means that the unit is more expensive but, in the long run, it will save you money and energy.
