Well, here we are in the middle of July....at least, it certainly feels like the middle of July. At this rate we may be frying eggs on the sidewalk this summer. Anyway, it’s a great time to talk about air conditioners, preferably while you are sitting under one.
I have always said that I was born at just the right time. By the time I was potty-trained, the folks moved the bathroom into the house. When I started cutting the grass, Dad invested in a riding mower. And I can’t really remember not having an air conditioner in the house.
Many homes have central heat and air these days, but window units are still common, whether for primary cooling or dedicated space cooling. For example, small units can be used for offices, bedrooms or sunrooms, while large units may cool the entire house.
The biggest mistake I see people make is buying too small. Window air conditioners start out at about 5,000 BTU’s. These may cool a very small bedroom (10’x10’ or less) at night, but don’t expect it to keep a daysleeper comfortable on a hot, summer day. I reccommend a minimum of 8,000 BTU’s for any small room.
Window air conditioners generaly range from 5,000 BTU’s to 15,000 BTU’s that will plug into a standard 110v outlet, while larger units require a dedicated 240v outlet. Some larger units may also require a 30-amp outlet that is larger than the common 20-amp outlet found in most homes. Be sure you know what your electrical outlet looks like before you pick out your A/C, or be prepared to have an electrician out to install one for you.
Before going to the store, you should know three things. How much area do I want to cool? What type of power supply do I have to plug into? How big is the window where I will be installing the airconditioner? If you know these three things, your purchase and installation should go very smoothly.
Remember, help is just around the corner at your local hardware store.
