Make a right choice. Buying tips or how to buy an air conditioner.

When you are shopping for a home air conditioner it only makes sense that you want to make sure you choose the best air conditioner for your money. This is not always easy because there are many different types and models on the market today. First of all you have to decide what type of the air conditioner unit you would like to buy. After that…

Here are some helpful tips and information that will assist you in knowing what to look for in a good air conditioner.

10 Key factors to consider before purchasing:

Size: The size of the room is an important factor to determine the size of the air conditioner you should purchase. The dimensions of the air conditioner should be those that suit and fit your room. In case of a window air conditioner the size has to match that of the window.
The distance of the room from the kitchen is again an important factor that decides the size of the unit. A lot of heat is emitted from the kitchen when you cook. The smaller the distance between the room and the kitchen, the larger should be the cooling capacity of the AC.

Cooling Capacity: One of the things you definitely want to look at when making any choices is the BTUs. The higher the BTU (British Thermal Units) count of the air conditioner the better will be the cooling capacity of the air conditioner. The cooling capacity is the ability to keep the room cool. A unit with high BTU can keep you cool even in extreme heat but be careful, the higher BTU it’s not always good. Matching a cooling capacity to the room size is important factor when you purchasing a home air system. To calculate how much BTU you need – click here.

Noise: Generally indoor units that do not produce much noise are preferred. In case of outdoor unit care should be taken to ensure that it is well packed so that it does not create a racket with its loose vibrating covers.

Energy Efficiency Rating: The ratio of air conditioner's cooling capacity to its power consumption is the unit's (EER). A system with higher unit is better for both you and your environment. Though these models are expensive, they save money in the long run by consuming less energy.

Filters: The filters in split air conditioners make the air passing through it clean and fresh. They prevent the bacteria and allergens from entering into the room. However filters have to be maintained properly to keep performing well.

Thermostat: This is considered in the case of window ac. This is responsible for the temperature of the air coming out of the unit. This is programmable or manual. AC units with remote controls are better since they offer more comfort and other controls like auto timer, digital LED display, etc.

Fan: A variable speed fan is preferred since that gives better cooling. Units with louvers that adjust up/down and right/left are more user friendly and helps give uniform cooling.

Chassis: The chassis in window air conditioners are available in fixed and slide out types. Small units that are light in weight have fixed chassis, since it is easy to move them for winterization. Larger, heavier models have slide out chassis, this makes the unit slide out easily for maintenance.

Price: Without going by the popular belief that the higher the price, the better is the product, customers should take care to narrow down on the appropriate air conditioner by looking at the product design, quality and its performance. You need to take into consideration, the features and the size.

Warranty: Warranty of the air conditioner is an important factor to be considered before making a purchase.