The Best Air Conditioners
Though everyone loves a hot climate on their beach vacation, living in that kind of climate is another matter. High temperatures not only impact your sleep and your energy, but they can even make you think differently. That's why air conditioners are an essential home appliance if you live in an area of sun, sweat, and sizzle. Unfortunately, choosing the right cooling system isn't as simple as it seems. From size to installation type, there are many factors to consider when buying your first AC. Here we've done the research to give you our top selection of air conditioning units, any of which will cool you down fast and with less fuss.
Midea U Inverter Window Air Conditioner
Cool down without the costs
While there are a seemingly infinite number of specs we could go into when describing the perfect air conditioner, the reality is that you’re likely just looking for a quick cooling system that won’t run up the electric bill too much. That’s why the Midea U window air conditioner wins our nod of approval. Saving you a whopping 35% in energy costs as compared to many other units, this baby gives you the maximum cold air circulation without the huge price tag at the end of the month. And because it’s WiFi-enabled, you can control it from anywhere using the handy MideaAir app or by syncing it to your favorite voice assistant.
Pros:
- Choose from 8,000- to 12,000-BTU operation depending on room size
- Installs in single-hung or double-hung window
- Comes with a support bracket to let you open the window
Cons:
- Installation may be difficult as the unit doesn’t come with instructions
SereneLife Portable Electric Air Conditioner
Chill out in every corner
Unless you live in a studio apartment, outfitting your whole space with AC units gets super costly super fast. But you also shouldn’t have to limit yourself to staying in the one room in your home that feels bearable during a heatwave. Here’s where a portable air conditioner like this one by SereneLife can save the day. This wheeled cooling unit can be rolled from room to room to accommodate your needs, and you only have to switch the exhaust tube when you do move it. The sleek model runs completely on plug-in electricity and has three different modes to accommodate outside temperatures. And to fully complete the portable picture, the AC includes a digital touch control for easy remote operation.
Pros:
- Great cost value
- Includes a sleep option
- Built-in humidifier
Cons:
- May have slight leakage from the bottom
LG Window-Mounted Air Conditioner
Less heat, less hum
Though white noise helps some of us get to sleep, for others, nighttime sounds are an instant trigger for restlessness, which can be a major problem if you’re also looking to run your AC while you’re sleeping. Thankfully, the engineers over at LG don’t think you need to choose between coolness and quiet. This window-mounted AC unit is designed to operate at sound levels as low as 52 dB. Even when the compressor kicks in, you won’t hear any excess noise, but rather just a gentle, low-pitched hum. All the while, this unit will speedily cool and maintain the temperature of a medium-sized room.
Pros:
- 3 fan speeds, including auto-cool
- Includes a remote control
- Energy-star certified
Cons:
- Heavy unit requires two-person installation
Emerson Quiet Kool Window Air Conditioner
Thrifty temperature control
Unfortunately for our budgets, warming up is much more cost-effective than cooling down. The more efficient and quieter an AC unit, the more it’s going to cost. But don’t fret (nor sweat) just yet. The Emerson Quiet Kool window air conditioner will cool you down for half the price tag of other air conditioners. While its 5000 BTU capacity won’t circulate through an entire apartment, it’s more than enough to keep your bedroom or workspace cool throughout the day. And with two cooling speeds, two fan speeds, and a variable temperature dial, you’ll get full control of the room’s conditions no matter the weather outside.
Pros:
- Removes excess moisture from the air
- Eight-way directional air louver
- Auto-restart function
Cons:
- Not as quiet as other AC units
Della Mini Split Air Conditioner
A smarter split
If you haven’t heard of them already, split AC units are the hot new trend in cooling systems. That is mostly because they offer more ease of use and quicker cool-down times than traditional units. A mini-split air-conditioner like this one by Della is more energy-efficient, quieter, and takes up less indoor space than your standard window unit. Available in various configurations ranging from 12,000 to 24,000 BTU, this unit can help you regulate even the biggest rooms. And because a split air conditioner is all about convenience, this baby senses and adjusts airflow and temperature automatically at the site of the remote controller, giving you constant comfort for less energy expenditure.
Pros:
- Quiet operation at only 30-41 dB
- Comes with a timer and energy-saver mode
- Includes heat option as well
Cons:
- Higher cost
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which BTU capacity is right for me?
A higher BTU rating basically means your AC is more powerful. Generally, you’ll want about 20-25 BTU per square foot of living space that you intend to cool down. You’ll also want to aim for a slightly higher rating if your room has high ceilings, a lot of traffic through the day, or directly faces the sun. But keep in mind that the higher you go, the more energy you’ll be spending, so do the proper calculations before making your final purchase.
Is it safe to run my AC all day?
While you may be tempted to let your AC take a break after a full day’s work, doing so won’t actually impact your energy bill too much. Your unit works the hardest when it’s cooling down a hot room in the first place, so turning it off and on can actually use more energy this way rather than just keeping the temperature at a steady state.