I'm buying an Air Conditioner this week - any words of advice

I have AC in my apartment, but it's this old, loud, energy wasting piece of crap that the apartment complex refuses to replace. It still churns out cold air and that's all they care about.

Normally when I'm at work, I would turn off the AC so I wouldn't waste so much energy, but that was before I owned my 2 furballs - Abbott & Evita. So I would like to get a nice AC that I could put in one of the rooms to help keep them cool & comfy during the day AND not to waste electricity in the process.

I know I'm getting something from Sears. I've had good luck with all the other kenmore appliances I've bought from there and my Sears Credit card is the only thing I'll use now. I'll probably just use it to keep one room cold and I like the idea of it having some sort of energy efficency built into it. But I'm not sure what else I should look for. I'm hoping to spend about $150 (it'll be a single room job).

Any advice??

:shrug:

:evilgrin:

Sorry, I know nothing about those things.

in all seriousness. The link below is all energy star compliant ones at Sears. I would suggest the thrid one (right) as it has a changeable filter.

http://www.sears.com/sr/product/compare/productcompare.jsp?compare=YES&poid_1=1077253464&poid_2=1075486745&poid_3=1075486744&poid_4=&prodCount=3&BV_SessionID=@@@@0209477503.1084286805@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccgcadclhdmfijhcehgcemgdffmdflg.0&targetPage=%2Fsearch%2Fresults%2Fsearchresults.jsp&vertical=APPL&pageName=%2Fsearch%2Fresults%2Fsearchresults.jsp&page=&sort=&order=&catname=Room+Air+Conditioners&subcatname=&subcat=&sortorder=d&prod1077253464=on&prod1075486745=on&prod1075486744=on

I was looking at it but I wasn't 100%. I've ordered it now and I'll be picking it up later tonight

1. I know this is true for central air, and assume the same of window units: You get maximum efficiency by running a small unit full blast all the time rather than a big unit part of the time.

2. You won't break your back putting it in the window.

just curious.

But if you don't get them ankle socks, they get really pissed.

and window size that you are putting it in, and the recommendation above of the Sears unit (5600BTU) looks good.
but running one on full power constantly is not the most efficient for window units. The more it cycles (from cooling to just fan running, since the room has achieved temp setting) is more efficient. Cycling saves power.
If you have more south facing windows you would also help by making sure they are adequately covered with drapes/blinds to block the summer heat from entering and baking the room. And i wouldn't put the AC in a south window if you can help it. Pick a shaded one, north or east to mount it in.

good luck, lucky cats.
dp

While larger units are slightly more efficient, that efficiency is quickly lost if the unit cycles frequently.

If you can wait for 15-20 minutes for the room to cool, the smaller unit is best. Much easier on your electrical system too.

If you're downstairs with limited southern/western exposure 30 Btu per square foot is plenty. Upstairs, or with full southern/western exposure 50 Btu per square foot is good.

More than 70-80 Btu per square foot is overkill & wasts energy.

People always think bigger is better and of course, the salesman will try to get you to buy the bigger, more expensive one but smaller is always better.

Much more efficient and so much quieter too.

and with Sears, it's available at the Concord Mall - so I'm going to go pick one up in a bit.

cool cats are curious.

dp

i was talking small window units as opposed to large whole house/central units.
that may be true of the larger units, but a 5k btu is a small, one/2 room (depending on size of room) unit.

I'm cooling a small home with a 15k window unit (largest i could get at the time for 110) that does a fine job with the majority of the living space. I have never had it run full power, and it runs fine, cycling thru cooling and not periods.

not sure if i get the gist of your position...

dp

2 years, for a low, low, steal this price....

only used it one summer before we moved to a place with built in ac, but it worked quite well. we were able to sell it the next year to a friend for half that, so it was a pretty good deal

If you are turning it off when you go to work you are wasting energy. It takes much more energy to cool your place down when you are home than it does for you AC to maintain a temperature. The best advice to save energy is to turn up (or is the correct term down?) your AC by a few degrees and keep it there. IE instead of running at 75 try running at 77 etc.

If all you need to AC for is for sleeping then keep in your bedroom with the door closed and the regular AC off.

ON edit: clarity.

Yes I also agree when you do buy the window unit go for the smallest one that you can. Good luck in your hunt.

will cool up to 500 sq ft.
edit: with 10.00 mail in rebate.

get a timer, the kind for garden or lamp use. that way you can set it to turn off and on periodically during the day so it doesn't run all day.

*basks in comfort*