Air Conditioner Information

More air conditioner research

Depending on where you live, there may be more effective cooling options for you. For example, a swamp cooler -- which sprays a mist of water across a fan -- can provide efficient cooling in dry climates. Swamp coolers are also called evaporative coolers. A box fan or ceiling fan can also make a world of difference in a hot, dry environment, as well as save you loads in electricity bills. See our separate report on fans for more information.

Portable air conditioners are falling in price, but experts say they still do not perform as well as regular air conditioners. These models are mounted on casters, which allow them to be rolled from room to room. Please review our separate report on portable air conditioners for more information.

ConsumerReports.org has an excellent buyer's guide, full of tips for buying an air conditioner. A useful interactive worksheet, "How Powerful an Air Conditioner Do You Need?" and a few other pages are available for free, but you must be a subscriber to access other information.

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy is a great source of information on a number of appliances, including the article "Cooling Equipment."

EnergyStar.gov features a brand-by-brand chart of air conditioners that meet federal Energy Star standards. This site also has a calculator to help you find the right air conditioner for your room size.

Lowes.com offers a guide on "How to Buy a Room Air Conditioner."

At eHow.com, you'll find a few useful articles on air conditioners, including "How to Maintain Room Air Conditioners."

ConsumerGuide.com's "Air Conditioning Buying Guide" outlines five questions you need to ask before you buy.

Manufacturers of air conditioners

Friedrich

Frigidaire

GE

Haier

Kenmore

LG

Sharp