BTU Ratings and Pricing

Most people think of air conditioners as appliances that cool, but there actually is much more to air conditioners. They control temperature, dehumidify, circulate, and should produce clean, cool, air.

Usually, consumers are most concerned with a unit's price and the BTU rating (the higher the rating the more the cooling effect). The smart procedure is to have a survey made of the dimensions of the room(s) the unit is intended to cool, so that the BTU rating is adequate; too small a unit will not do a thorough job of cooling and too large a conditioner's BTU rating will be wasteful. But even the BTU rating by itself is an insufficient guide, as there are many inexpensive units that are not reliable, but which carry the same BTU rating as dependable units. In other words, beware of conditioners that carry too low a price tag.

Also avoid one-piece units, that present service and other difficulties. You are much better off with slide-out air conditioners that may be removed from their chassis's.

Through-the-wall units with BTU ratings of 8,000 (for a room about 12' by 18') to 14,000 (typically for a living room approximately 450-600 sq. ft.) are priced from about $435 to about $600, depending on the time of year when the purchase is made, the wiring, and the model. If the living room opens into a dining area, a larger BTU rating will be needed.

Window units are more wide-ranging, with BTU ratings of as low as 5,000 BTUs to as high as 36,000 BTUs, depending on the area to be cooled, the wiring, model, and other factors. The pricing of reliable window units starts at around $400 and reaches $2,000 or more, and, may also vary with the season, sales specials, and other considerations.