Frigidaire FRA126CT1

The Frigidaire FRA126CT1 is the most powerful air conditioner in our recommended list. With 12,000 Btu of cooling power, it can cool up to 640 square feet of space. Users praise its cooling performance, ease of installation and variety of features. Their main complaints are that it's rather loud (not surprising given its size) and the delicate cooling fins are easily damaged.

Performance

Packs a big cooling punch. This is one of the most powerful air conditioners covered in our sources. It gets good scores for cooling in professional tests, and owners generally agree that it can cool even the largest of rooms with ease. It's also Energy Star-rated, with an energy efficiency ratio (EER) of 10.8, so all that power won't hit you too hard on the utility bill. However, not surprisingly for a unit this size, it's creates a bit of racket. Most owners say the noise isn't too disruptive, but a few find it too loud to sit in the same room.

Ease Of Use

Convenient features. TheSweetHome.com recommends this air conditioner based largely on its convenience features: "eight-way air direction controls, a remote control and clean air ionizer and a built in 24 hour on/off timer." Users' favorite feature is the remote, which has a built-in thermostat to control the temperature settings. However, some users complain that the beeping sound the remote makes is annoyingly loud. Most owners say this unit is easy to install, even though it's heavy. However, a few say a slide-in case would make it easier.

Value

Power-packed for the price. This unit delivers a lot of bang for your buck. It gives you an extra 2,000 Btu of cooling power for only $20 to $50 more than you'd pay for a 10,000-Btu unit. It's also backed by a typical warranty, which covers repairs to the whole unit for the first year and to the compressor for four more. We only read a few durability complaints for this unit; most of them focused on the delicate cooling fins. Some owners say these were bent during shipment, and others note that they clog easily and must be cleaned to prevent mold growth.