Air conditioner units make the long, hot summers so much more bearable. They’re especially useful and necessary in countries that enjoy very warm climates. These home appliances make use of the refrigeration process to cool an enclosed area and dehumidify it.

There are many methods of installing the several types of air conditioner units. We are all familiar with central air conditioner which provides cooling to the entire house. These require a very large financial investment, however. Let’s therefore look at some of the more affordable units such as window air conditioner units which are also referred to as room air conditioners.

These are used to cool one specific part of the home, say the bedroom. As their name indicates, they are fitted into windows and function from that position and can be turned on or off according to one’s needs.

The efficiency of window air conditioner units are determined by viewing their Energy Efficiency Ratio or EER. This ratio shows the capacity the unit has to cool the room as against the amount of energy they consume. So, units that claim higher EER ratings are the ones to choose. New window air conditioner units are the most efficient when they have an EER of 10.0 or higher. Day-to-day efficiency can also be enhanced by setting it up in a window that’s not situated in direct sunlight which can reduce its efficacy by as much as 10% and making sure you install the unit so that it’s level.

Today window air conditioner units are manufactured with cooling capacities that range between  5,500 and 14,000 BTU on an hourly basis. Choosing the right sized unit is the key to ensuring maximum efficiency. In this case, big isn’t really better as large sized units don’t have the ability to cool an enclosed space uniformly. Smaller sized window air conditioner units, on the other hand, cool uniformly even if they take a little longer to achieve that. To identify the size you require estimate 20BTU per square foot of the room you intend to install the unit in.

Benefits:  Any way you look at your decision to install a window unit you’ll find it saves you money. Here are three ways in which these units are more economical than the other types of air conditioner.

1. The first and foremost benefit of installing a window unit is the amount saved in setting up more costly types of air conditioner which aren’t just expensive but also involve extra expenditure for installation purposes.

2. The very fact that these units can be turned off at will and only used when required means you’ll be saving a lot of energy and in turn saving the money you’d otherwise spend on your electricity bills.

3. The installation charges of window mounted air conditioner units is lesser for the simple reason that the window already exists and doesn’t have to be created.

Friedrich is the most popular brand that manufactures window units of the best quality. Their products also meet the Energy Star requirements.