Do you want to buy a new air conditioner? Or maybe you need some help choosing the right air conditioner for your home or apartment.

With so many options, from central air conditioners to portable and window air conditioner units to ductless mini-split systems and more, it can be difficult to figure out how to choose the air conditioner that best suits your needs. Fortunately, you'll find all the answers in this step-by-step guide.

The first thing you should do when choosing an air conditioner is to determine how much you are willing to spend on cooling units.

Generally speaking, air conditioners do tend to fall into the category of "high-priced appliances".

However, depending on your budget, you can get a relatively affordable cooling system that can save you money in the long run.

Your spending power will tell you what type of air conditioner you can use.

The average price of a window air conditioner is between $150 and $300. These air conditioners are best for those who are looking for the cheapest way to enjoy the cool air. They are designed to cool a single room.

The window unit has to be installed inside the window, but it's easy to do. Window mounting brackets and accordion panels are included with purchase, allowing you to install windows of various sizes.

The average price of a through-the-wall air conditioner is between $400 and $700. These air conditioners are actually the same as window units, but you install them through the wall instead of the window. Each unit comes with a sleeve to support the weight of the unit on the wall. This type of air conditioner is great for people who want to keep their existing windows in use while still having an inexpensive air conditioning system.

The average price of a portable air conditioner is between $250 and $500. The purpose of a portable air conditioner is to cool a single room. One advantage these units have over the window and through-wall units is that they can be moved from room to room. However, some versions do require hot air to be exhausted out of the windows (or by other means).

The average price for a ductless mini-split air conditioner ranges from $700 to $2,500. These air conditioning units are perfect for anyone who wants to use air conditioning in a windowless room or who can't install ductwork for a central air conditioning system. These air conditioners consist of two parts: an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit is mounted on the wall and delivers cool air, while the outdoor unit powers the system and is mounted on the exterior wall or floor. These air conditioning units can be used to cool a single room or linked together to cool multiple rooms at the same time.

The average price for a central air conditioner ranges from $1,000 to $3,500. Many homes now have these air conditioners installed. However, if a new system does not exist, you can add a new system. Professional installation is recommended due to the complexity of adding ductwork and the size of the air conditioning unit to fit the square footage of the home.

When choosing the right air conditioner, it's important to keep in mind the physical space provided to you and the structure of the room in which you will install the unit.

Explain:

Placing an air conditioner that is too powerful for the room in which it is placed can cause several problems, all of which stem from the fact that the unit will alternate between cycling on and off too often.

You can experience high humidity in the room

Air conditioners consume more electricity

Frequent switching between cycles can cause premature wear on your equipment machinery

On the other hand, if your room's air conditioner is too small and underpowered, the most obvious problem is that your room isn't cooling properly.

It can also increase energy costs because it has to run at full power for longer. The best way to find the right size air conditioner is to measure the room in which you plan to place it.

Note: This recommendation only applies to single room window, through-wall, portable, and ductless mini-split air conditioning units. Professional measurement and installation is recommended for ductless mini-split and central air conditioning systems that will cover multiple rooms or an entire home.

To determine the right size AC unit, all you need is a tape measure. Then follow these two simple steps:

1. Measure the width and length of the room in feet

2. Multiply these two numbers to get square feet (square feet)

For example, a 20-foot x 30-foot room equals 600 square feet (20 x 30 = 600).

Once you get that number, you can buy the right size air conditioner. You just need to go one step further and match your square footage to the correct British Thermal Unit (BTU) for your air conditioning unit.

Depending on the type of house or apartment you own, there may be certain legal restrictions on the type of air conditioner you can install.

For example, some residential complexes and apartment complexes don't allow you to install window air conditioners because part of them hang out of the window.

Also, you may not be able to install a through-wall air conditioner or a ductless mini-split system because it would require structural changes to the walls. However, portable air conditioners are generally allowed because these units do not hang out of windows and do not require any special installation. 

As for central air conditioning, some houses that were not originally built with this system may not be able to cope with this type of upgrade due to their structure. These air conditioners require ductwork, which the available space may not allow. Therefore, if you want to use cool air in your home, you must choose among other types of air conditioning units.

After you've worked out your budget and sorted out the constraints you might face installing equipment, it's time to answer the big question:

What exactly do you need an air conditioner for?

When it comes to choosing an air conditioner, figuring out your air conditioning needs will point you in the right direction. Ask yourself these questions to figure out how to choose the right air conditioner unit. Decibel levels vary widely in air conditioners.

The central air conditioner was the quietest (10dB), followed by the ductless mini-split system (20dB).

Window and through-wall AC units are tolerable (50dB) because the noisiest part of the system is outside or in another room.

Portable air conditioners are loudest (70dB) and can be as loud as a vacuum cleaner.

Now that you've learned a little about air conditioners and asked yourself some preliminary questions, it's time to make a final decision on how to choose an air conditioner. You can choose according to the above steps. Choosing an air conditioner really comes down to setting a budget, understanding what options are possible within your home, and choosing the one that best meets your expectations. If you still have questions or want to buy an air conditioner, please contact us.

ComforPlanet is a professional custom air conditioners and accessories manufacturer. We are committed to providing safe, portable, and sustainable green energy products. Our reseller partners are on a mission to simplify their work and provide the highest quality at the most affordable price. You can find many air conditioner brands here, and also let you know how to choose the air conditioner that's right for you.