When the temperatures soar above 80+ degrees Fahrenheit, the one thing that will save a person from the heat is an air conditioner. The air conditioner is probably one of the greatest inventions of mankind and one that has saved people from having to sleep out on their porch or their balcony on warm summer nights. However, if the consumer wants to make sure that they buy a model that will do its job well, they’re going to have to buy the best air conditioner available. This is why we’ve decided to go ahead and find the models that we feel are the best. The results of which can be found below.

Quick Summary of the Best Air Conditioners

Best Overall: Koldfront 12,0000 BTU Window Air Conditioner

When the mercury rises outside, it’s a good idea to have an air conditioner installed that can cool down the inside of a home. Good thing that this is such an air conditioner. This model is from Koldfront, a manufacturer we weren’t familiar with when we started this review, but one that we’re glad we discovered. That’s because this air conditioner gets super cold and has a good blower on it. This model has a cooling capacity of 12,0000 BTUs, a temperature range of 62-86-degrees Fahrenheit, and is equipped with three different fan speeds. That’s everything the consumer needs to cool down a 550 square foot or smaller space.

This AC unit is approximately 14.6x19x21.5-inches in size and requires a minimum window height of 15.5-inches. It also requires a window width of 23-36-inches in size for it to be properly installed. If the window the consumer wants to place it in meets those criteria, then this air conditioner makes a great addition to any home. The consumer should also keep in mind that this unit requires a standard input voltage of 115 V/60 Hz, which is an ordinary outlet. This unit is equipped with three different modes: Auto Mode, Sleep Mode, and Dry Mode, so it’s quite a versatile unit.

Another thing we’d like to mention about this unit is that it has directional louvers that allow the consumer to position them as they see fit for the best air coverage. Other features that can be found on this air conditioner includes a check filter alert, remote control operation, and complete thermal control operation. All things considered, this is a great air conditioner unit that will bring temperatures down in a person’s room quickly and efficiently. And it will do it without consuming a ton of electricity the way that some other air conditioners tend to do.

What we liked about it
This air conditioner gets really cold.
It can cool down up to 550 square feet of space.

Also Recommended: Homelabs 14,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner

Although this unit is a little more expensive than some of the other air conditioners that we’ve reviewed, it is also one of the more powerful units on this list. This model is capable of cooling down a room anywhere from 450 to 600 square feet in size, all thanks to its powerful 14,000 BTU capacity.

And because this is a portable unit and doesn’t have to be installed in a window in order to be used, it’s easier to set up than just about any other air conditioner available. This unit only measures 17.9x15x30.7-inches in size and it has wheels on it that allow it to be pushed from one room to the next.

The next thing we’d like to discuss about this model is that it also acts as a dehumidifier, but unlike most ordinary dehumidifiers it doesn’t export heat into the room but instead expels it through an exhaust hose. This unit also comes with a washable filter that only needs to be cleaned every week or two. Other features found on this model include a filter indicator light that alerts the consumer to when the filter needs to be changed and remote control that allows the unit to be operated from across the room. For added convenience, this unit is also equipped with an eco sleep mode.

This unit works best when used with a double-hung window that’s at least 48-inches wide. That allows the adjustable slider unit and exhaust hose to be installed into the window and the included adhesive foam window seals to be installed for a tight weather-proof fit. And the last thing we’d like to mention about this unit is that it’s quiet. It’s a lot quieter than some of the other air conditioners or fans that we’ve used in the past, so we don’t foresee anyone having a problem with the sound of it when it’s running in their home. Overall, we think this is a great air conditioner that can be set up and ready to run in 10-minutes or less.

What we liked about it
It provides cooling for up to 600 square feet of space.

Also Consider: Frigidaire 17-Inch Window AC Unit

Frigidaire is a name that many people feel confident in and after looking at this air conditioner that they’ve created, it’s easy to see why. Although this AC unit is half the price of comparable window air conditioners, it’s a model that’s extremely well built. This 5,000 BTU air conditioner is big enough to cool a room approximately 250-square feet or smaller, so it’s not the most powerful unit, but it does get plenty cold. And it has adjustable side panels that can be extended so that the unit can be installed into the window. And since it has an extra-long three-prong cord, most consumers will have no problem plugging it into a nearby outlet.

This unit is approximately 16×16-inches in size, so it’s not the biggest air conditioner. Nor is it an air conditioner that has advanced features. It just has the basic features that most people would expect out of an AC unit. This includes a temperature dial and a mode dial. This unit does not have an LED temperature display either, the way some more expensive and more advanced air conditioners. Among its basic models, however, are some intermediate features that are worth mentioning. This includes an effortless clean filter that reduces odors and bacteria in the room and is easier to clean and adjustable design with optional side panels.

This unit also has an effortless temperature control that maintains the preset room temperature, so the consumer is always comfortable. Although there are plenty of other air conditioners with more features or power, few of them combine the practicality and the affordability like this air conditioner unit does. Anyone searching for a budget window air conditioner is going to want to take a look at this unit and see if it fits their needs.

What we liked about it
This unit cools down a home well.
It’s an inexpensive unit.

A Guide To Choosing An Air Conditioner

Many of us wouldn’t want to do without an air conditioner, particularly one that we hand-selected for its power and ability to keep us comfortable. Of course, the problem most people have when they purchase an air conditioner is that they don’t buy one that’s right for them. Instead, they pick the one that their friend bought last year or the first model they ran across online or in a big box store. And that’s just not the right way to buy the best air conditioner. To show our readers how they should purchase the best AC for their home—to ensure that what they have selected matches their needs, we’ve decided to whip up this handy guide. 

First Choose The Right Type Of Air Conditioner

The first step on the road to purchasing a great air conditioner is to purchase the right type. AC units are available in several different models which include window-mounted air, wall-mounted, and portable air conditioners. Let’s examine each one of these different types of air conditioner units and find out their pros and cons. 

Window-Mounted Units

When people think of air conditioners, they either think of central air units or more commonly, they think of window AC units. The Pros of this type of unit is that they aren’t very expensive, they usually just plug into a standard outlet and they’re easy to install into a window. The Cons of this type of unit is that they’re designed for double-hung windows, and the consumer has to make sure that they buy the size that will fit their window. 

Wall-Mounted Units

For those readers of ours who aren’t familiar with wall-mounted units, let us give a brief explanation of them. These units are installed into a metal sleeve that’s installed through the wall. That allows only the controls and the blower to remain in the home, while the coil is on the outside of the home. The Pros of these types of units are that they often look better than window units, don’t have to be removed after the season is over, and doesn’t require a window or occupy a window. The Cons of these units are that it can be expensive to have a hole cut through the wall, and sometimes the metal sleeve has to be purchased separately. 

Portable Air Conditioner Units

As the name so aptly suggests, these units are portable and usually have wheels that allow them to be moved from one room to the next. They are equipped with an exhaust tube that can be run through a window or an opening in the wall. The Pros of using these units are that they’re easy to install and they’re easier to store when the season has concluded. The Cons of using these AC units are that they take up floor space and the exhaust tube has to be reinstalled into a window every time the unit is moved from one room to the next. These units are also more expensive than either window or wall-mounted units, so that has to be taken into consideration as well. 

Consider The Unit’s BTUs

The next thing that has to be considered is how many BTUs they need their air conditioner to have. BTUs are British Thermal Units, and these units are an indication of how much cooling the air conditioner can produce. As a general rule, the consumer is going to want to make sure that the air conditioner has 20 BTUs for every square foot of home that needs to be cooled. Therefore, a 5,000 BTU air conditioner will be able to cool approximately 250 square feet, and a 14,000 BTU air conditioner will cool up to 700 square feet. Although the consumer doesn’t want to buy an air conditioner that’s too small for their needs, they also shouldn’t buy one that’s too large. An AC unit that’s too large will costs more to operate for the same results, and won’t be able to properly dehumidify the air. Therefore, it’s always best to stay within the 20 BTU for every square foot rule. 

Other Features Worth Noting

Before this article is finished, we would like to talk about some of the other features that consumers may or may not need. Below are some of the most common features found on the major air conditioners. Some consumers may want to consider all of the following features and others may only need to consider one or two. Regardless, the consumer should know the options they have available to them before they accept or dismiss them entirely. 

  • Check Filter Light
  • Remote Control
  • Sleep Mode
  • Energy-Saving Mode
  • Shut-Off Timers
  • Exhaust Feature

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