The unit of measurement called BTU, or British Thermal Units, express the amount of heat that an air conditioner can remove from a room every hour. When purchasing an air conditioner, it is important to ensure that it has the correct BTU rating because the BTU ratings determine how effective the air conditioner can cool a room. If the BTU ratings are too low for the size of the room that is to be cooled, the air conditioner will have to running constantly in an attempt to reach the target temperature in the room.
If the air conditioner constantly runs but never reaches the target temperature, the motors for the air conditioner may wear out or burn out. However, if the BTU ratings are too high for the size of the room, the air conditioner will cool the air very quick in that room. However, because the air conditioner cools the air too quickly, the air conditioner will not have time to remove moisture from the air in the room.
How to Choose the Right Air Conditioner for Your Room
Thus, the air in the room cooled by an air conditioner with BTU ratings that are too high will feel cold but also humidly. The square footage of the room to be cooled can be used to determine the BTU ratings that is required to cool that room. Other factors that may contribute to the amount of heat in the room also need to be considered when determining the BTU ratings for the air conditioner.
For instance, the amount of heat that enters a room from direct sunlight can increase the amount of heat in the room. Thus, a room that receives direct sunlight will require an air conditioner with higher BTU ratings then a room that does not receive sunlight. Additionally, the number of people in the room will increase the total amount of heat in the room.
For instance, rooms with much people in them will require higher BTU ratings for the air conditioner than a room with fewer people in it. Other factors include the number of windows in the room and the number of doors in the room. Rooms with many windows allow for the entry of more sunlight into the room.
Rooms with many doors may allow for outside air to enter the room. Additionally, kitchens can contribute to the total amount of heat in a room. Because kitchens often have appliances that emit heat, such as stove or ovens, air conditioners in kitchens may require higher BTU ratings to cool that room effective.
Before purchasing an air conditioner, it is important to ensure that the electrical requirements of the air conditioner are met. Air conditioners that are small in size can typically be plugged into a standard electrical outlet in the room where they is to be placed. However, air conditioners that are large in size may require 230-volt electrical outlets.
Air conditioners that require 230-volt outlets may require electrical installations to be make in the location where the air conditioner is to be placed. For instance, the electrical circuit breaker in a residential home may need to be upgraded. Additionally, air conditioners that are large in size may require dedicated electrical circuit for the air conditioner.
Air conditioners should never be plugged into an extension cord. The extension cord may not be able to handle the amount of electricity that the large air conditioner may draw. Additionally, the amount of electricity drawn by the air conditioner through an improper extension cord may cause the circuit breaker to trip or create a fire in the home.
Another unit of measurement for air conditioners is the Energy Efficiency Ratio, or the EER for short. The EER rates the amount of heat that an air conditioner can move in relation to the amount of electricity that the air conditioner use. Air conditioners that have high EER ratings can move more heat with less electricity.
Thus, even though the money spent on purchasing an air conditioner with high EER ratings may be more higher than money spent on purchasing air conditioner with low EER ratings, the higher EER will lower electricity bills for that air conditioner over time. Additionally, air conditioners with Energy Star certification also tend to have high EER ratings. Finally, you should also install the air conditioner correctly.
Air conditioners should be installed with a slight tilt of the units towards the outside of the building. This ensures that condensation that forms in the unit drain away from the building structure. If the air conditioner is installed so that it does not tilt towards the outside of the building, condensation can form within the air conditioner.
Condensation within the air conditioner can cause damage to the structure of the air conditioner. Additionally, you should seal gaps around the air conditioner using foam. If air conditioners have gaps around the unit, humid air can enter the room.
This will cause the air conditioner to work more harder to cool the air in the room. Thus, sealing the gaps around the air conditioner ensures that the air conditioner can operate efficient.