A Room Air Conditioner May Be All You Need

Using a room air conditioner as opposed to a large, energy-hungry central air conditioning unit can cool your house or apartment on a limited budget.

If you don’t spend a lot of time in your home during the summer months – perhaps you prefer to pass the summer hours in the pool or at the beach – or if you spend most of your time in one room, a room air conditioner may be all you need to stay cool.

In today’s economy, families looking to cut costs might invest in a room air conditioner and keep the central AC turned off all season. For those who have just purchased a home and are considering different cooling options, a room air conditioner may fit the bill.

If you live in a home with an open floor plan that doesn't have a lot of hallways or separate rooms, a room air conditioner can cool your whole house. Strategically-placed fans in doorways or hallways can be used to route cool air through the house.

Some homeowners opt for a room air conditioner to cool their main living space and a combination of fans and passive cooling techniques for other rooms. Also, a whole house fan that is mounted in the attic can work in conjunction with a room air conditioner and passive cooling techniques to keep a house cool at a much lower cost than a central air conditioning unit.

Room air conditioners fit easily into a window and are typically removed for the winter. If there is no window or you don’t want to sacrifice a window in a room, a contractor can instead install the unit in your wall, where it will stay year-round.

The portion of the room air conditioner facing the outside contains a condenser with a fan that blows air through the condenser. This helps remove heat from the condenser. An evaporator faces the room, with a fan behind it pushing cool air into the room. A filter mounted in the front grill ensures that the air entering the room is clean and free of allergens.

Plug a smaller AC unit – one that draws less than 7.5 amps – into its own 15- or 20-amp, 115-volt household circuit. Keep in mind that sharing a circuit with another major appliance risks a blown fuse.

Room air conditioners drawing more than 7.5 amps require their own 115-volt circuit, while some of the largest models may require a 230-volt line.

Remember, an Energy Star -rated room air conditioner lowers your electric bill and cooling costs, often by as much as ten percent or more.