Learning Center » Buyer's Guides » How to Choose the Best Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner [Buyer’s Guide]How to Choose the Best Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner [Buyer’s Guide]There's nothing better than air conditioning on a hot day. And the technology keeps getting cooler. The latest sleek-looking room air conditioners sport digital displays, timers, "smart" fans that automatically adjust speeds to maintain desired temps, and remote controls. They're also quieter, more energy-efficient, and easier to install and maintain than units made only a few years ago.Here are some of the most frequently asked questions, answered by our experts at the Good Housekeeping Research Institute.What are the different types of air-conditioning units?There are four main types of air-conditioning units. Window mounted: The most common type, window-mounted units temporarily slide into double-hung window openings. You can buy a cooling-only unit or a cooling/heating unit for supplemental heat if your home is located in an area with moderate temperatures.

Pros: Low cost, most work with existing electrical wiring in your home, and they're easy to install. Cons: They're typically designed only for double-hung windows. If you live in the north, it's best to remove units at the end of the season.Prices: From less than $200 for cooling a 100-square-foot room to $400 for cooling a 200- to 500-square-foot room. Step up to an $800 model and you can pick up a unit that cools and heats a 700- to 900-square-foot room.2. Wall-mounted: These room air conditioners are permanently mounted in a wall by attaching a metal sleeve through the wall and sliding in the AC chassis from inside. Wall-mounted units also come in cooling-only or cooling/heating varieties.Pros: Aesthetically appealing, fit more securely than window units, no storage necessary, easy to repair and replace. Best of all, if you have only one window in the room, a wall-mounted model will still let sunlight into the space.Cons: Installation can get costly — you must cut an opening through an outside wall, and larger units may require installation of a dedicated 220-volt line.

What's more, many models don't include the exterior metal sleeve, so you'll need to purchase it separately (costing $50 to $100).Prices: Range from roughly $400 for cooling a 400- to 700-square-foot room to $700 or so for cooling/heating a 1,000 square-foot room.3. Window/wall-mounted: This versatile type can be temporarily installed in a window or permanently mounted in a wall.Pros: Ideal if you're buying an air conditioner for, say, a rental apartment window and you may want to later install it in a home wall.car ac repair alexandria laCons: Window/wall-mounted models generally don't include window installation kits — the nuts, bolts, and frame needed to secure the unit in a window. mitsubishi hvac wall unitDepending on the plug type and/or amperage, you may need a dedicated 220-volt circuit.car ac repair alexandria la

Prices: About the same as wall-mounted models.4. Portable: This is a mobile air conditioner on wheels that can be rolled from room to room and includes a tube to exhaust heat out of a window or through an opening in a wall.Pros: It's easy to store at the end of the season.Cons: Slightly higher-priced than comparable window units, eats up floor space, and the exhaust tube must be installed each time it's moved. Prices: Range from about $700 for cooling a 150- to 300-square-foot room to $1,000 or more for cooling a 500-square-foot room.Learn 5 ways to save money on air conditioning from The Daily GreenHow do I find the right size unit for my room?Choosing the right size room air conditioner is as important as selecting a reliable brand. Shop for a model with a cooling capacity, measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units), that's appropriate for the square footage of your room. BTU figures typically range from 4,000 to 20,000 and more — the larger the room, the more BTUs are needed. But bigger is not necessarily better.

An oversized unit will be costly to operate and won't run long enough to dehumidify the air, resulting in a "clammy" feeling. A too-big unit can also reduce air quality and aggravate allergies. And, buying a unit that's too small will be inefficient, too. Use our Air Conditioner BTU Calculator to find the right size unit for your room.Installation: Room air conditioners come in a variety of dimensions, so measure before shopping. For window units, measure the height and width of the opening while the window is completely open.What are some key terms in air conditioning?Here are some terms that you should be aware of when shopping for an air-conditioning unit: Amperage: Most rooms have circuits rated for a total of 15 amps of electricity. Unless the space you're installing your air conditioner in has a dedicated electrical line, take note of the unit's amps, ranging from 5 to 15 or more. Large air conditioners with 12 to 15 amps can trip the circuit breaker. In that case, you may need a dedicated line.

Dehumidification: This measurement gives you a rough estimate of how much moisture the unit removes from the air. It can range from one pint per hour to as many as 10. Higher-rate units are best for those who live in high-humidity areas.Efficiency: To find out how energy efficient a model is, look at the manufacturer's EER (Energy Efficiency Rating), which is the BTU (also known as the cooling output) divided by the power consumption in watt-hours. The higher the EER, the less you will spend on energy bills. Shop for a model that has the federal EnergyStar label, shaving bucks off your annual utility bill and possibly making you eligible for a rebate from your utility company. For more information, visit energystar.gov.Plug type: Many units have common 125V/15A, three-prong plugs that can be used in most homes. Larger models may have 125V/20V, 250V/15A, or higher plugs, requiring you to call an electrician and upgrade your circuitry. If you're replacing an existing unit, choose an air conditioner with a plug type that matches your old model.