Air conditioners are essential for most Americans these days. Not only can they keep us comfortable during the warmer months, but they also make it possible for people to live and work in even the hottest environments. However, their effectiveness and performance depend on their suitability for the place they are intended to cool. The following suggestions will help you determine the suitability of an air conditioner for your home or office.

To choose the best type of air conditioner, you need to think about the room where you want to install the unit. If the room has a window in which the machine can be placed, you only need to choose a window unit. These are the cheapest units on the market. They’re also pretty easy to install as long as you have some basic tools and someone to help you balance it on the windowsill while you secure it.

If you don’t have a window where you can fit a window unit, a split air conditioner is a good alternative. These have become increasingly popular in recent years because the loudest part of the unit (the condenser) is placed outside. Meanwhile, only the fan is inside your home. This makes them particularly quiet.

While split units have been used in Europe and Asia for many years, they have recently been retired in the US. These are some of the most energy efficient units you can find these days. And as more split units have flooded the market, prices have dropped quite a bit. Also, many split air conditioners can be easily installed as a DIY weekend project.

A portable model is better for those who don’t want to install a unit in a specific space. You should keep in mind that even a portable air conditioner requires ventilation. This means you have to vent it through a door, window, wall, or even a ceiling panel.

Ease of use is also an important criteria to consider before making your purchase. You want an air conditioner with a host of useful features. In particular, we recommend that you look for a unit that is quiet and has a waterless tank. This will reduce the hassle of having to drain the tank regularly.

Many units come with remote controls, and this can be a useful feature for adjusting the temperature from across the room. Finally, a timer is particularly useful because it allows you to set a specific time for the unit to turn on or off. We like to set our machine to turn on automatically before we get home from work on those graying days of summer.