The main criterion to narrow down your hunt for a perfect window AC is to compare the unit and the space you want to fit it into. Matching the above mentioned two factors will result in the right and most appropriate choice. The basic functioning of the window AC is like a refrigerator. The evaporator coil cools the room while the condenser coil throws the hot air outdoors.

The cooling capacity of the air conditioner is measured in BTU (British Thermal Units). Air conditioners with higher BTU count will have higher cooling capacity. They can keep you cool even in extreme heat. The EER ratio in an air conditioner is a very important factor to be taken into consideration. This is the ratio of its cooling capacity to the power it consumes. Systems with higher ratio are better for both the user and the environment. Generally these models are expensive; however they save money in the long run by consuming lesser energy. The thermostat in the unit is responsible for the temperature of the air that comes out of it. In some air conditioners these can be set manually, while in some others they are programmable. The programmable units have remote controls to make the product more user friendly and comfortable. To add on to the comfort, some units also have features like digital display, auto timer, etc. There are filters provided in the air conditioners in order to clean the air that passes through it. This feature is very beneficial. However it is a tedious process to clean the filters. Therefore the units with filters that can be easily cleaned are preferred, even if they are high priced. The units with variable speed fan are generally more in demand since they give better cooling. Those units with louvers that adjust up/down and right/left are more user friendly and helps give uniform cooling.

In this type of air conditioners, the chassis is available in both fixed and slide out types. Small units that are light in weight have fixed chassis, since it is easy to move them for cooling. Larger, heavier models have slide out chassis, this makes the unit slide out easily for maintenance.

Innumerable variables have to be taken into consideration before purchasing a window AC. The number of windows, number of people occupying the room, the direction to which the room is facing, the ceiling height, etc. The size of the room is an important factor that is used to decide which unit, with what cooling capacity should be purchased. The bigger the room the higher should be the unit’s cooling capacity. Generally for an area of around 250 – 300sq ft a unit with 7000 BTU/hr will be appropriate.

The popular belief that bigger is better is wrong in this case. A larger unit will consume a lot of energy and exert unnecessary load on its components. Mailnly window acs are designed to fit double hung windows. Therefore when purchasing this unit a proper and exact measurement of the window into which it has to fitted has to be taken. This way you can avoid unnecessary trouble while installation.

Any problem with the air conditioner is avoidable by simple maintenance of the unit. For easy maintenance, it is better to keep the filter and the coils clean or to replace them at the right time as directed by the manufacturer.