Does it sometimes make sense to use a window air conditioner rather than a central air conditioner?

At times, it does make sense to use a window air conditioner instead of a central air conditioner. For example, if you are home alone, there is no need to keep the entire house cool when you will be primarily in just one room.
When selecting your window air conditioner, sizing it properly is one of the most important decisions. The size of a window air conditioner or heat pump is rated by its output in Btu per hour. If a window model is too small for the room or area, it will run almost constantly and not be able to adequately cool the room on the warmest days.

If the window air conditioner is too large, it can create a cool, humid feeling, similar to a damp, moldy basement. Most retail outlets have charts with recommended cooling capacities for various room sizes. Factor the capacity up a bit if your room has many windows or faces the sun.

The efficiency of window air conditioners is called the energy efficiency ratio. Some window air conditioners have an EER as high as 12.
Select the highest efficiency model with perhaps fewer features even if it costs a little more initially. Increasing the EER from 8.5 to 9.5 can save as much as about $400 over 10 years in northern climates and $750 in southern climates.

Your needs, comfort and energy bill may dictate when a window air conditioner is right for you. This summer, keep your cool as well as your dollars.

Questions? Write to James Dulley, Colorado Country Life, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com.