#1. Frigidaire FRA052XT7 5,000 BTU Mini Window Air Conditioner

Product Features:

• 5000 BTU cooling capacity
• Cools rooms up to 150 sq. ft.
• 2 way air direction control
• Anti Bacterial Mesh filterType

Product Features:

• For rooms up to 250 sq. ft.
• Remote Control
• Extra Quiet Operation
• On and Off Delay Timer.

#.3 Haier HRWR08XC7 8000 BTU Window Airconditioner with Remote Control

Product Features:

• 8000 BTU with 3 cool settings and 3 fan speeds
• 24 hour on/off timer; digital time and temperature displays
• Dehumidification mode which removes excess moisture from the air
• Enviroclean coil

#4. Haier ESA3069 Energy Star 6000-BTU Window Air Conditioner

Product Features:

• Energy Star rated with 6000 BTU cooling capacity
• 3 cool settings and 3 fan speeds with 24 hour on/off timer
• Electrostatic filter with Enviroclean Coil
• Quick snap easy installation kit

#5. Frigidaire FAA055P7a Compact Small Room Air Conditioner with Remote Control

Product Features:

• Energy Star 5200 BTU air conditioner for cooling rooms up to 165 sq. ft.
• 8 way air direction control; full functional remote
• Energy saver, cool and fan modes
• Quick mount window kit included
• 24 hour on/off timer

Product Features:

• Energy Star 5200-BTU compact air conditioner for cooling rooms up to 165 square feet
• Variable speed fan; 8-way air-direction control; electronic controls with full-function remote
• Cool, Energy Saver, and Fan modes; auto-cool and sleep settings; 24-hour on/off timer
• Air filter; tilt-out filter access; LVC Technology; EER of 11; pleated quick-mount window kit included
• Measures 14 (15-1/2 with front) by 18-1/2 by 12-1/2 inches; 1-year warranty; 5-year sealed-system warranty
• Variable speed fan; 8-way air-direction control; electronic controls with full-function remoteCool, Energy Saver, and Fan modes; auto-cool and sleep settings; 24-hour on/off timerAir filter; tilt-out filter access; LVC Technology; EER of 11; pleated quick-mount window kit includedMeasures 14 (15-1/2 with front) by 18-1/2 by 12-1/2 inches; 1-year warranty; 5-year sealed-system warranty

This single room air conditioner is Energy Star Qualified which means it prevents green house gases by meeting the energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and the US department of Energy. This rating also means it is cheaper to run.   Included is a fully programmable remote control .

Customer Reviews

Amazon Review #1

“This is an excellent high-efficiency budget air conditioner for small to medium sized rooms. The fan speed is adjustable so that the unit can push cold air further into a room at higher speed.

I really like all the options available in the controls. You can have it run as long as you want, or you can set it to run on an internal timer or according to an internal thermostat.

The on/off button is easy to use and the whole control panel responds well to presses. I don’t feel ignored by this control panel.

Also, there is an energy efficient mode which turns off the cooling system when the thermostat reads the right temperature…”

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Amazon Review #2

“Our house is over 50 yrs old, no central a/c, and probably not the best wiring. We got this for a very small bedroom (89 sq ft), and chose it because of the high EER and low current draw. We did have to raise the unit up on wood in order to clear the storm window frame. However, there were no difficulties in installation. This a/c has a thermostat, variable fan speed, ionic air cleaner, timer, and energysaver feature. It has now been used for about a month – we got it right before the heat wave – and has been performing well. We keep it on “energysaver”, meaning that the unit comes on when the room temp is higher than the set thermostat. On the hottest days (100degF) it came on probably every 10 minutes. Because the room is so small, it cooled the room in 10 minutes as well. The air doesn’t become ice cold, but it does cool quite well. It also does a good job of dehumidifying the air..”

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Amazon Review #3

“this air conditioner saved our butts when our larger unit broke we put this one in a room that was too large for the unit. it still cooled in a short time span and kept us cool during the last heat spell while our kenmore was on the ropes! I highly recomend this unit for small rooms. its easy to set up, easy to use and has all the features of more expensive models. its a tough little tyke. the only knock is its allitle noisy for the wife but if your a shift worker and used to white noise you will love it. if your on the fence, buy it you will be glad!“

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Product Features:

• Disigned for cooling or humidifying y
• Uses water to cool the air
• 10-liter water tank; 3 air speeds; sleep mode; 1/2- to 7-1/2-hour timer
• Air flow of 23 feet per second; nylon and photocatalystic filter; remote control
• Measures 12 by 16 by 25 inches; 1-year warranty

It is lightweight, economical and can be easily rolled around the house by its wheels.  Very effective in dry climates but does not work as effectively in high humidity.

Customer Reviews

Amazon Review #1

“Low price, very effective in low humidity. Has a strong fan when not using the cooling feature. Timer works well. Has an oscillating feature, a “sleep” mode and, most importantly: a drain plug, washable filter element and a plastic body that cannot rust like those made of sheet metal or tin.
It’s been in the high 90s to the low 100′s here in the San Fernando Valley in CA with low humidity and it’s kept whatever room it is in cool enough to not have to turn on the AC.  It’s no…”

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Amazon Review #2

“This is a FABULOUS product. I based my purchase on the reviews of this item. I had a similar product a few years ago and it doesnt compare to this as well as the other one being almost double this price. The cooler came a day PRIOR to the estimated delivery date.WOW……..I live in Acampo California which is north of Lodi CA and south of Sacramento CA. The degrees outside at 5:40 pm is 93 degrees, the temperature inside of the house is 84 degrees and my bedroom (which is where I have my cooler) is 72 degrees. I use a pitcher of ice water from my fridge to fill it up and ice cubes in the top tray. For those of you…”

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Amazon Review #3

“I gave this to my son and his wife as one of their wedding gifts. They live in southern California. She wrote to me “I thought it was going to be just like a ceiling fan type thing, where it just blew the warm air around, but nope-this thing blows out ice cold air-just like the air conditioner of a car-and the whole apartment is SO much more comfortable because of it. And it has provided much-needed relief to the cats too, because they were so unhappy in the boiling heat. Now they’re both situated directly in front of the air cooler and couldn’t be more content. So…….THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!”
What more could a mother, mother-in-law ask?!”

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Mini split air conditioning or wall mounted air conditioning even mini-split air conditioning are other names for ductless air conditioning. Some people call ductless air conditioning systems heat pumps. They pump out the heat from the room but this is not the best description for a cooling system that not only removes heat from the space it is meant to but it also removes humidity making the air conditioned space a comfortable place to be.

While until a decade ago the window ac was the dominating air conditioning device in the market architects and interior designers soon began to demand a better form of cooling and this gave birth to the central air conditioning system. This system had the cooling unit outside the building mostly on the roof tops. This also never used a compressor but mono bloc pumps to pump water into a mist through atomizers. The mist was intend to reabsorb ammonia that was evaporated when the heaters boiled the water it was dissolved in.

The evaporating ammonia cooled very fast when it evaporated cooling the pipes it was forced through by the heat and pressure generated in the boiling unit. The pipes it flowed through cooled fast and air was blown over these pipes and into air conditioning ducts that were installed above the false ceilings and in the walls of the building. This chilled air was blown into the rooms of the building through vents built into the walls and in the ceiling.

It is easy to see that installing these huge ducts that were constructed from tin and were more often than not one foot square if not more consumed most of the budget of the air conditioning. Besides this the architects had to design buildings around the air conditioning. This ducting was a time consuming job with many a contractor wishing for a better way to air condition a space.

Then came ductless air conditioning. This system had the compressor based freon refrigerant system. The compressor of the ductless air conditioning or ductless split or mini spli ac (call it what you want) was exactly the same as the window ac. The different was that the cooling unit was inside the room and the compressor with the condenser coils that give off the heat is outside and with it the noise as well.

This kind of ductless air conditioning installation is the kind of air conditioning products that architects, interior designers and contractors have been waiting for!

To elaborate the features of a single room air conditioner let’s start with portability. Unlike other units which will stick to your wall, moving this portable machine around the house is easy, thus you can always provide any room air that is cool and refreshing. Plus, using the system is quite easy as special dials provide thermostat control, directional control, and fan speed control for the management of the temperature of the air, its direction and its flow respectively.

Aside from being used to cool the air, a single room air conditioner can also help in fighting humidity. If you are living in a coastal area that experiences high temperatures, you will be familiar with the effect of humidity on your furniture and other possessions. Most single room ac units come with a humidifier mechanism inside to collect moisture from the room, however, if you’re worried about having to empty the condensation retainer, you will rejoice to find out that newer models use self evaporating designs in their making, thus maintenance is no problem, because the moisture will be evaporated regularly.

Selecting the best single room air conditioner for your needs depends on the size of the room you plan to install it in. Small rooms between 100-300 sq ft. will need a 5000-6000 BTU unit to provide the best cooling, whereas large rooms sized up to 950 sq ft. will need 9800-12500 BTU’s to remain cool when the heat is raging outside. Still, most customer reviews rate this air conditioning solution as the best, not only because it cools them effectively and removes humidity, but also because it won’t burn their pockets with sky-high price tags

The first step to selecting a good portable car air conditioner unit is to search online for the top selling brands, read manufacturing details, find out prices of basic to top-line models, read buyer reviews and find out any possibilities for discounts, such as clearance sales or price slashes during off-season. (This is why winter’s a great time to buy car air-cooling systems, advice experts).

The second step would be to determine where you intend using the portable car air cooling product, which typically runs on electricity, sometimes an electric outlet as low as a 120 volt supply. You can use most standard models in a small attic, garage or workshop unit besides in your boat, rv, or even in a truck just as effectively. The main idea behind the portable car air conditioner systems available today is to enable fast and energy efficient temperature control, which includes many units with heaters fitted in, offering maximized air-cooling or heating insides small spaces.

It is easier to understand the workings of  portable airconditioning units for cooling when you think of it as a window AC unit that is compact for temporary installation in small areas, including your car. These are not designed for use in large buildings where central air conditioning units are practical and neither are they meant for permanent installation, which are factors buyers should know in order to pick the best small AC systems for their personal or professional use.

Most portable AC units are designed to be wheeled around on castors as well as fitted in a small space so they can be easily used to cool specific sections of a warehouse where central air conditioning costs would be too high to maintain on a regular basis, not to mention wasteful. The newer varieties are built for use on battery 12-volt converters, making them the first choice of many vehicle owners who do not have a car AC integrated in their vehicles. However, keep in mind that these need to vent hot air through a duct opening or window so that the chemical processes of the cooling are safe and do not have any adverse effects on humans and pets.

Check the marker on your chosen portable car air conditioner unit for a useful air purification feature for reducing pollutants, including cigarette smoke as well as car exhaust fumes for the best experience or even a de-humidifier if using it during muggy weather and you’re sure to stay cool with a smart purchase.

Thus, it is the integration of this dual heating and cooling elements that combine to deliver efficient temperature conditioning within a closed space, wherein hot air is released outdoors and cool air is replaced indoors effectively via electricity.

Some of the main components of a basic air conditioning unit include the compressor, a fan, a coil unit each for the condenser and the evaporator functions besides the refrigerant element. It is the condenser coil that is fitted on the outside part of the split system air conditioner and then connected with the evaporator coil (sometimes more than one coil) in various parts of a home, office or public space where cooling is required, with individual cooling enabled via the refrigerant lines these are ultimately connected to. This engineering choice enables users in various rooms or different parts of the same huge space to set preferred temperature settings for cooling their personal space. So, the main unit actually functions like a mini-split air conditioning machine for several users at the same time, if need be.

The more advanced systems of split air conditioners also integrate futuristic needs for contemporary homes, such as humidifier, anti-pollutant unit, fragrance dispenser, moisture control features as well as self-cleaning capabilities offering owners hassle free application.

Among the many types of split-system units, there are options that are designed specifically as wall-mounted air conditioners, ducted systems besides ductless split units in addition to handy, affordable and lightweight portable airconditioning units that work on an inverter, so can be used during travels too. With the latest range of central air conditioning systems, one can look forward to a clean, pure and fresh home environment as the technology requires windows and doors to be shut tightly for effective cooling, which keeps insects, external noises as well as pollution limited to a minimum where these machines are installed.

Central AC units are mainly used in large buildings such as hotels, health clubs, casinos and cinema theaters besides super malls while ductless split air conditioners are great for small spaces, because they are compact, offer ease of installation and are great for those concerned about power-consumption besides noiseless and great for moisture-removal from the air cooling they deliver.

Finally, when in the market to buy a split system air conditioner, do remember to check its SEER rating, which reflects the efficiency of the split AC unit; go for the government recommended base level of 13 or more, for optimum cooling combined with low energy consumption.

The split system is the preferred air conditioning system for one and all for many reasons. The main reasons being that the noisy compressor is installed with the condenser coils outside the building. The unit can be installed as far as twenty feet from the wall mount. This means that the noise from the compressor is left outside while the coolness of the wall mounted air conditioner unit is enjoyed by the occupants of the room.

The other advantage is that the heat generated by the condenser coils is also outside. Some air conditioners, that degenerate with age become more and more noisy and they suck in some of the hot air that the condenser coils radiate reducing the efficiency of the window type air conditioner even more.

The wall mounted air conditioner can be placed anywhere in the room, in the corner, near the roof, under the window sill or under the bed. While the window type needs a special opening in the wall to be installed. Engineers have always debated the position of the air conditioning unit. They advocate installing the cooling unit as high as possible. This is because the hot air of the room rises and there is where the unit should be cooling it. The cold air will automatically descend. This is where the wall mounted air conditioner wins over the window type.

Central air conditioning units are also split system air conditioning units. The cooling coils as well as the heating coils are mounted outside the building. Huge fans suck air out of return coils inside the building and blow it over the cooling coils and back through the air conditioning ducts in the building. These units use water and a water soluble substance such as ammonia as a coolant. Instead of compressors they use monobloc pumps that pump water under high pressure inside the condensing unit. This system is completely different from the freon and compressor systems.

Wall mounted air conditioner units are a better way to condition a space. Although they dont have the advantages that portable airconditioning units have. They leave no hot-spots like the window type does and they are completely silent. Wall mounted units come in many designs and colors and are very sleek to look at. In fact, they were designed to be concealed units in most cases but their designs and sleek looks complete with remote control handling makes wall mounted air conditioning units a decorative piece of furniture in any room.

The central system was expensive in that a lot of consideration had to be given to the air conditioning ducts that had to be built into the false ceilings or in the form of PVS tubing in the walls. The problem here lay in laying the air conditioning ducts. They needed one duct for blowing the chilled air through and one for the ventilation back to the cooling unit called the return duct. This ducting was consumed the major portion of the central air conditioning budget not to mention the power bills and so was not feasible for small buildings, which had to rely on window type air conditioning units.

Then came the split systems. These ductless split air conditioning units were a welcome sight for builders and consumers alike. There was no need for ducts as the compressor and the heating unit technically called ‘ the condenser coils’ was placed outside the building. These could be placed anywhere as long as a copper pipe could be drawn to the mini-split unit inside the room that needed to be cooled.

All that was needed for a mini split air conditioner to work was a small 4 mille-meter hole to be drilled in the wall for the copper pipe to come in and the capillary tube to go put from. The hole is so small that it can easily be concealed by the mini-split unit itself or with plaster of Paris. There is no need for heat pumps as there is no heater device. All the heat generated I generated at the compressor unit installed outside.

The mini split air conditioner has allowed the designers of air conditioning units and architects to heave a sigh of relief. With this technology it is possible to cool the entire building by placing mini split air conditioner units in concealed places. This does away with hot-spots and allows the designers to design their buildings without giving air conditioning units a second thought knowing that they can be installed anywhere without even being noticed by the keenest eyes of the best critics.

When we compare the costs of central heating to mini split air conditioning units a lot of money can be saved by centrally air conditioning the whole building and ignoring places where ducting is not economically feasible – just install a mini split air conditioner in those places at a fraction of the cost it would take to install central air conditioning ducts.

Home portable air conditioning units are used where spot cooling is required for larger rooms, they are used by some companies to  cool computer systems. Also in industrial situations where certain machinery needs to be cooled constantly and the central air conditioning cannot double up as a cooler for this machinery.

Central air conditioning can be very effective but sometimes problems occur such as ‘hot spots’. This is a situation where you may will experience some cooler areas but other areas are of a different temperature. To rectify this problem sometimes it is neccesary to install air ducts to cool these hot spots. If ducts are not available for installation since portable units are very mobile they are often used. It is also possible to use split units to cool these spaces.

Portable cooling units do have one drawback which is heating. This is not surprising because air conditioning involves the process of absorbing the heat from the air and transferring it to the outside. This is done with the use of compressors and a refrigerant gas called Freon. The gas is pumped through a capillary tube under high pressure from the compressor. The pressure forces the molecules of the gas together and it becomes a semi liquid. This process of turning to a semi-liquid from a gas gives off a lot of heat.

This semi-liquid then flows into an evaporation unit called evaporator coils made of metal where the gas immediately evaporates and becomes a gas again. It cannot evaporate without heat, which it absorbs from the metal coils, the process of evaporation cools the surface from where heat is transferred to the liquid to make it a gas. Since the coils lose heat to turn the semi-liquid to a gas the coils cool very fast.

When air is blown over the cold coils the air cools too and this air is blown into the room which cools in turn. However, when the gas is pumped back through the capillary tube the heat it absorbs from the coils has to be given off again for the gas to become a semi-liquid.

This is the heat we feel behind any portable air conditioning unit. Many portable air conditioning units have successfully developed a vent system that consists of a blower and a tube that is attached to the rear of the unit and allows the hot air from the unit to be transferred to the outside without heating the space being cooled with the portable air conditioning unit. Portable air conditioning units have many uses but are not perfect for every situation.