Page: 5 of 5
In this report

See Also

Air Conditioners: Ratings of Sources
Total of 17 Sources

For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.

1. ConsumerReports.org
May 2009
Air Conditioners
by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
5 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment ConsumerReports.org assesses about 30 room air conditioners for a variety of factors, including comfort, performance under brownout conditions, energy efficiency, noise level and ease of use. Consumer Reports' roundup is considered the final word on air conditioner ratings. A large ratings chart is included, but brand-reliability information is not included.
2. Which? (UK)
May 14, 2008
Air Conditioners
by Editors of Which?
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Which? is the British equivalent of Consumer Reports. In this roundup, the editors test about 35 air conditioners, both whole-house and room units. Editors discuss testing methodology, common features,… environmental impact, and offer tips on buying the best unit for your needs. Top-rated are units from LG, Amcor and DeLonghi, but the models are different from those sold in the U.S., limiting its use for American consumers.

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3. Choice (Australia)
March 2009
Small Air Conditioners
by Editors of Choice
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Choice is an Australian contemporary of Consumer Reports, offering reviews with detailed testing analysis. Because Choice focuses on the Australian market, none of the tested air conditioners are available in the United States, though some brands are familiar. Testing criteria includes heating and cooling efficiency, ease of use and airflow.
4. Choice (Australia)
Aug. 2008
Large Air Conditioners
by Editors of Choice
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Choice also offers a report on large air conditioners, but again, the tested models are not available in the United States. Like the review above, test criteria is the same for the large air conditioners reviewed in this report. Still, we found quite a bit of helpful background information and buying advice here.
5. ConsumerGuide.com
As of June 2009
Air Conditioners
by Editors of ConsumerGuide.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Twenty-four air conditioners are discussed here, and four receive either a Best Buy or Budget Buy award. Most reviews are appropriately critical and some indicate that specific models were tested, though methodology isn't mentioned. Older reviews are less helpful, as they appear to be based entirely on product specs, not testing.
6. TheGreenGuide.com
Not Dated
Room Air Conditioners Buying Guide
by Editors of TheGreenGuide.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

TheGreenGuide.com is an environmental lifestyle website operated by the National Geographic Society. Seven high-efficiency air conditioners are compared, and three are recommended: the Kenmore 76081, the… Frigidaire FAA086P7A and the Friedrich SS10L10. Unfortunately, there is little information provided about methodology, and it doesn't appear that the air conditioners were tested, so it's hard to say why the Kenmore 76081 is named the site's featured product.

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7. ENERGYSTAR.gov
As of June 2009
Energy Star Qualified Room Air Conditioners
by Editors of EnergyStar.gov
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

This site, operated by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy, is dedicated to promoting energy efficiency in consumer products, homes and businesses. It also lists all products… that meet federal Energy Star efficiency criteria. Available is a detailed brand-by-brand chart of room air conditioner models detailing power consumption and output. A general buyer's guide is also available, but air conditioners are otherwise not tested or rated.

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8. American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy
Aug. 2007
Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings
by Editors of American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment If you're concerned about energy efficiency, the ACEEE is the authority. The council examines dozens of appliances each year, publishing guides listing the most energy-efficient appliances. There are tips on reducing energy use with air conditioners here, along with links to energy ratings, but ACEEE does not recommend any specific brands or models.
9. Amazon.com
As of June 2009
Room Air Conditioners
by Contributors to Amazon.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Among the scattered reviews for air conditioners at Amazon.com, noise is the most common complaint. The Frigidaire FAA055P7A is one window air conditioner that gets many owner-written reviews (more than 40)… and very good overall ratings. Still, it's hard to compare it to others because the vast majority of air conditioners get only a few reviews. Amazon.com is worth a visit once you've narrowed your choice to a few models.

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10. BestBuy.com
As of June 2009
Air Conditioners
by Contributors to BestBuy.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

More than 30 window units are sold here, but most get only a few reviews each. Two Frigidaire models, the FAC105P1A and the FAA068P7A, receive more than a dozen reviews and very good average ratings.… Although both of these models have been officially discontinued, they are still available as Best Buy and other retailers. A few other models receive quite a few mixed reviews. Best Buy sells a wider variety of brands than Sears or Lowe's, so the site is definitely worth a look.

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11. Sears.com
As of June 2009
Air Conditioners
by Contributors to Sears.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment The only place you can buy Kenmore air conditioners is at Sears, Thus, this site is the best place to find consumer reviews on Kenmore products, including air conditioners (most of which are made by LG). The Kenmore 75051 gets the most reviews here (more than 100) and an overall rating of four stars out of five.
12. Lowes.com
As of June 2009
Air Conditioners
by Contributors to Lowes.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Lowes.com sells mostly Frigidaire window air conditioners. Customers can leave comments and rate air conditioners on features, quality, design, value and ease of use, but not on noise -- an oversight, in our opinion. This site is worth a look of you're considering a Frigidaire unit.
13. Dulley.com
Not Dated
Update Bulletin #861
by James Dulley
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

James Dulley is an engineer and syndicated columnist whose articles on home improvement, heating, ventilation and air conditioning are the best we found. In this buyer's guide on room air conditioners,… Dulley discusses air-conditioning technology, provides a calculator for measuring output and offers tips for saving energy. He also lists the most efficient air conditioners, including specs on air-flow control and fan speeds. Dulley recommends the Amana, Carrier, Fedders and Friedrich lines for their energy-saving features, timers and high efficiency ratings. The Friedrich models have the highest energy efficiency ratings overall. However, this article has not been updated in years, and specific models are not discussed.

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14. Good Housekeeping
Not Dated
Air Conditioner FAQs
by Editors of Good Housekeeping
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This article has some good buying advice on air conditioners, plus a tool for finding the right unit for your needs. No specific models are tested or recommended, but this is a great source for general information.
15. Epinions.com
As of June 2009
Air Conditioners
by Contributors to Epinions.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Hundreds of air conditioner models are listed at Epinions.com, but very few receive more than a handful of owner-written reviews. Because of the low number of reviews and the high number of discontinued products that are listed, Epinions isn't as useful for air conditioners as it is for other products.
16. AJMadison.com
As of June 2009
Window/Wall Air Conditioners
by Contributors to AJMadison.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment AJMadison.com is an online appliance retailer that allows users to post ratings and comments for products they've purchased. Most of the air conditioners with reviews have built-in heaters, so if you're considering a combination unit, AJMadison.com is worth a look. Otherwise, there are more owner reviews at sites like Amazon.com and BestBuy.com.
17. RateItAll.com
As of June 2009
Air Conditioner Brands
by Contributors to RateItAll.com
1 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This consumer-review site allows people to post reviews of various products. Consumers rate brands but not models. Friedrich, Whirlpool, GE and Panasonic get the top overall ratings. But since each air conditioner brand is only rated two to seven times, this paltry bit of information really isn't useful.

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