Choosing a Room Air Conditioner

Considerations when buying a Room Air Conditioner

If you're in the market for a new room air conditioner Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center carries two excellent RAC brands that cover every style and size from a portable evaporative cooler for spot cooling to the big 30,000 btu plus through the wall units – Friedrich and Soleus-Air.

Here are a few things to consider:

Replacement vs New Installation

If you are merely replacing an existing room unit, you already have a specific size and location. For convenience, you may wish to simply get a unit of similar capacity and dimensions. If it is a new installation, there are a different set of issues including determining capacity, location, and even type of unit.

Types of RAC Units

Evaporative/Portable

Soleus-Air 8,000 BTU Evaporative Portable AC:Model: KY-80

Soleus-Air has air conditioners on wheels that provide evaporative cooling. These units are effective for spot cooling and since they add cool moist air to the room, they are especially effective in dry climates.

Cool Only.

If your sole need is for cooling there are numerous models to choose from ranging from 5,000 to over 20,000 btu.

Heat Cool.

For rooms that have no central heating, an air conditioner that heats as well as cools may be what you need.

Heat Pump

Heat pumps are a special type of heat and cool air conditioner. The compressor which cools the unit does double duty by “reversing” so that it can provide warm air as well as cold air for the room.

Window or Thru the Wall

Typically, room air conditioners are made for installation in a window or through a wall. Friedrich manufactures WallMaster through the wall units with a solid sleeve that works well for thick wall installations and provides multiple installation options.

Casement Units

SG-CAC-08ESE Soleus-Air Casement Unit
Casement room air conditioners are designed to fit casement or slider windows.

Power Requirements 120v or 230/208v
Smaller room air conditioners will work on a standard 120v circuit, while larger units are going to require 230/208v.

Dimensions
While there are no “standard” dimensions for air conditioners, Freidrich does make a series of through the wall units that are a perfect fit for existing 27″ wide sleeves, a common replacement size.

As you can see, there are many choices to be made in selecting a new room air conditioner. A good start would be to consult the professionals at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center.

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Two locations to serve you – Calabasas and Studio City:

Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center

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