Air Conditioners

Best small air conditioners (5,000 to 10,000 Btu)

We found good reviews all around for Frigidaire air conditioners in the FAA series, which all have a variable-speed fan, directional control, a sleep mode, remote control and air filter. These models all have digital controls and temperature readout. Some (but not all) are Energy Star rated. The Frigidaire FAA055P7 (*est. $170) is a 5,200 Btu air conditioner that's appropriate for small rooms of about 150 square feet. In addition to the features above, it includes a low-voltage control feature that modifies operation automatically during brownouts and periods of low voltage. This unit has an air filter and touch-button air purifier. However, we didn't see the air purifier function specifically tested. The only common complaint we found was that it beeps when the target temperature is reached.

We also found good reviews for a larger version, the Frigidaire FAA065P7A (*est. $175), a 6,000 Btu unit with identical features and performance. A unit of this size can cool about a 200 square-foot room. The next size up in this series is the Frigidaire FAA086P7A (*est. $210) , an 8,000 Btu unit that can cool a 400 square foot room. This model has identical features and is Energy Star rated. If you're looking at one of these Frigidaire air conditioners, be aware that there are several other units in the FAA series that are not Energy Star rated. Some of these, including the 8,000 Btu Frigidaire FAA084P7 (*est. $200) cost about $20 less, but because they have a lower efficiency rating, they’ll cost more to operate in the long term.

Keep in mind that many municipalities offer a rebate for upgrading to an Energy Star air conditioner. Check with your local government. If you trade in an older non-Energy Star rated air conditioner, you could get a $20 to $50 rebate, depending on where you live.

If you don't care about getting an Energy Star model (which will save you money on power over time), the 5,150 Btu Kenmore 75050 (*est. $100) is very inexpensive and gets good reviews from owners who say it does a nice job in a very small bedroom. This inexpensive model has mechanical controls instead of digital controls, and there's no remote control. Other Kenmore air conditioners are Energy Star rated -- check the labeling.

Priced a bit higher, Sharp sells the AF-S60FX (*est. $205). It also has 6,000 Btu and can cool a room of about 200 square feet. Reviews say it performs quite well at cooling, but it doesn’t have an energy-saving mode or a dirty filter indicator. It’s about average for noise. The Sharp AF-S60FX is Energy Star rated, however. Like most other modern air conditioners, it has electronic controls and a remote control.

If you're not crazy about a window air conditioner blocking out all your natural light, you might consider a low-profile air conditioner. These units are shorter, but they're quite a bit more expensive. We found some excellent user reviews for the LG LP6000ER (*est. $350), a 6,000 Btu Energy Star unit. Reviews like it for its efficiency, attractive design and quiet operation. But its most notable feature is its low profile. It also has standard features such as a remote control and an automatic thermostat.

Kenmore also sells a low-profile air conditioner in this size, the 6,000 Btu Kenmore 75062 (*est. $230). It’s Energy Star qualified, with electronic controls and display, an electronic thermostat, a remote, a timer with delay and other common features. Like the LG low-profile air conditioner, this model also gets positive reviews.

In past reports, we've found good reviews for the smaller models in GE's AGM series. However, most of these smaller units are no longer available.

Friedrich air conditioners are very expensive compared to others, but they are super efficient. With 8,400 Btu, the Friedrich QuietMaster SS08L10 (*est. $765) can cool about a 400 square-foot room. It has all the usual features -- digital controls, a remote control, etc. But the remarkable aspect is its very high EER of 11.4 -- the highest in this size range. While you'll spend less on energy, the unit itself is very expensive and not particularly quiet, according to reviews.

Larger air conditioners

If you need a window air conditioner for a room that's over about 450 square feet, you'll need something larger than about 10,000 Btu. Most air conditioners in this size range come with a slide-in chassis, which makes installation more secure.

In this size range, the 10,000 Btu Kenmore 75101 (*est. $300) is Energy Star rated and should cool a room of about 500 square feet. We found some nice owner-written reviews for this model, which is inexpensive for its size. Most reviews and owners say it's relatively quiet. One noted that although airflow is good, it blows primarily to the left. This may be a consideration, depending upon where you plan on placing the air conditioner. This Kenmore air conditioner has an auto restart in case of a power outage. It also comes with digital controls and a remote control. An energy-saver mode turns off the compressor when the desired temperature is reached, further saving energy. Like many larger window air conditioners, the Kenmore has a slide-out chassis. That means you install the outer shell of the unit first, then slide in the heavier "guts" of the unit. Although they take longer to install, reviewers say this kind of installation is ultimately more secure.

Frigidaire's FAC106P1 (*est. $275) is another good choice for larger rooms. This 10,000 Btu unit has received some good reviews and is Energy Star rated. However, unlike the Kenmore model, the Frigidaire doesn't have a slide-out chassis. That makes it a little harder for one person to install without help. This model has all the usual features including a digital display and remote control. An anti-microbial filter is supposed to reduce bacteria, room odor and other airborne particles (we didn’t see this tested). It also has brown-out protection. We did see a few complaints that the Frigidaire FAC107P1 isn't particularly quiet, however.

The Friedrich QuietMaster SS10L10 (*est. $850) is the class-leader in efficiency for its size. This room air conditioner is rated at 10,400 Btu, yet it attains an EER of 12.0, higher than any other model. It is also one of the quietest air conditioners in its size range. Although QuietMaster performance is impressive, experts say Kenmore units cool just as well for less money.

For even larger areas of about 700 square feet, a good choice is the GE AGM14AJ (*est. $400) with 13,800 Btu. This GE unit has a remote control, 24-hour timer and two-speed airflow, in addition to three fan speeds and electronic controls. Its EER is 10.8, and its Energy Star rated. This large GE air conditioner installs with a separate slide-out chassis, a good thing since it weighs 125 pounds.

Air conditioner sizing

Sources vary on how large a unit you should buy for a room of a given size, and experts say that factors such as multiple doors, sunny exposure and high ceilings will increase the Btu you need (air conditioner cooling is measured in British thermal units per hour). Consumer Reports magazine's estimates are on the low side compared to those offered by the United States Department of Energy. We've combined the two to give you a general air conditioner sizing guide. Calculate square footage by multiplying the length times the width of your room.

Room Size	Btu needed for a less sunny room	Btu needed for a sunnier room
100 to 250 sq. ft.	5,000 to 6,000	5,500 to 6,600
250 to 350 sq. ft.	6,600 to 7,000	7,000 to 7,700
350 to 450 sq. ft.	7,700 to 9,000	9,000 to 10,000
450 to 550 sq. ft.	10,000 to 11,000	11,000 to 13,500
550 to 700 sq. ft.	12,000 to 13,500	13,500 to 15,000

Important Features: Air conditioners

Energy efficiency ratios (EERs) have steadily improved over the last decade, partly due to rising government standards. For room air conditioners made after October 2000 and having a capacity of less than 8,000 Btu, the EER must be at least 9.7 (the higher the number, the better). For a model to receive an Energy Star rating, it must reach 10.7 EER. You can estimate energy savings by calculating a 10% savings for each point difference of EER. If you go for a model rated at 10.7 EER, you'll save 10% in energy costs over a 9.7 EER model. By estimating the number of years you expect to use the unit, you can gauge whether a higher initial cost will eventually pay off.

Thanks to government regulations, manufacturers are required to clearly display EER ratings on air conditioner units, making it easier to comparison shop.

Here are some other considerations when shopping for a room air conditioner:

• Get the right size. Air conditioning is half cooling, half moisture removal. A unit that's too small for your room will not cool enough, while one that's too large will not remove humidity effectively. Consumer Reports' handy calculator (http://www.consumerreports.org) can help you determine what size air conditioner is right for your room. You must be a site subscriber to use Consumer Reports' calculator, but a less-extensive free calculator is available from WarmAir.net (http://www.warmair.net/html/window_air_cond.htm).

• Check the ease of installation. Even the lightest air conditioners are heavy, and the heaviest can weigh more than 100 pounds. You'll probably need assistance to install a heavier air conditioner, and even with a lighter one, an extra pair of hands is a good idea. Many units also require special installation. A slide-in chassis makes installation easier because you install the lighter portion first, but this means it can also take more time.

• Check for special requirements. Some large units require a special 220-volt plug, and some have louvers that blow air more in one direction than in others, a fact worth considering depending on where you're planning to install the air conditioner. The filters in certain units may require you to have additional space on one side, so be sure to check out how easy it is to install and remove the filter once the unit is in place. The models in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers all require a three-pin outlet. Experts recommend you run an air conditioner on its own circuit to avoid circuit overload.

• Look for convenience features. Thermostats, digital controls, remote controls and built-in timers are becoming more common, even on low-priced models.

• Know what level of noise you're willing to live with. You may be willing to save some money on a noisier unit if you're not cooling a bedroom, but if you're a light sleeper, check out models known for quiet operation.

• Get the highest-efficiency unit you can afford. In general, you'll pay a bit more for a high-efficiency air conditioner, but you'll make up the difference in your electricity bill over the unit's lifetime, not to mention the benefits to the environment. Experts note the price differences have diminished between high and lower efficiency air conditioners, and sometimes more efficient models are no more expensive than others.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of Picks	Model (with retailer links)
2	GE AGM series
2	Frigidaire FAA series
1 each	Friedrich S508L10, Frigidaire FAC107P1, Fujitsu ASTA12LCC, Kenmore 75062, Panasonic CSE 12FKR, CUE 12FKR, Sharp AFS60FX, Kenmore 75101, LG LP6000ER

Many air conditioners perform well, say reviews. Differences noted are mainly related to convenience features, efficiency and noise. GE models are quieter, but Friedrich models are generally more efficient. Kenmore is a good balance of both factors. Frigidaire units are also a good median pick. LG units used to be more efficient than others, but the latest LG units have actually dropped in efficiency. However, owners like low-profile LG units.

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