Most units are intended for double-hung windows. To get the most from your window air conditioner, it must be properly installed. To uniformly cool a room, you’ll need to direct air to its center, so check to see whether your AC needs to blow air to the right or to the left. That can be a problem if your window isn’t centered on the wall. Window air conditioners generally do a better job blowing air in one direction. Air conditioners that receive Fair scores for noise could disturb light sleepers when set on low and are distracting to all when set on high.
Models that earn Excellent or Very Good ratings in our noise tests are so quiet that the only sound you might hear is the fan running. New Energy Star certified room air conditioners come with better insulating materials and clearer instructions to help ensure that you get a good seal around the unit, minimizing leaks.
SMART WALL AC FULL
To see the full results, read “ The Most and Least Reliable Room Air Conditioners.” And to see the Overall Score for all the models we test, see our air conditioner ratings. And we have good news: Room ACs are one of the most reliable products we test. Based on their responses, we rate each brand for predicted reliability and owner satisfaction. In addition to our performance tests, we asked CR members about the brands of room air conditioners they purchased new between 20. And because noisy air conditioners can be annoying, we measure how loud each unit is on the lowest and highest settings. We also gauge how well the AC holds the set temperature. We crank the temperature in the chamber up to 90° F, then measure how long it takes the AC to lower the temperature by 10° F. We test three sizes of window ACs-small, medium, and large-and adjust the size of the chamber based on the room size each air conditioner is designed to keep cool. Read on to find out what factors you should consider when shopping for a room air conditioner, as well as details on how we test models to arrive at our air conditioner ratings.Īt Consumer Reports, we test room air conditioners in a special climate-controlled chamber. One that’s too big cools so quickly that it doesn’t have time to remove enough moisture, leaving you with a cold, clammy space.
An air conditioner that’s too small will struggle to cool a room. So it’s important to choose the right unit. The typical household spends 13 percent of its annual utility bill on cooling, according to Energy Star. That’s not surprising, considering that many of us were working from home instead of in an air-conditioned office. If you’re ready to beat the heat, you aren’t alone: Well over 6 million room air conditioners were shipped for sale in 2021, an increase of almost 10 percent over the year before. For those without a central air conditioning option, room air conditioners can be an inexpensive and energy-efficient alternative for cooling one or two rooms. When the weather heats up, thoughts turn to chilling out.