Air Conditioners
Size comes first. An air conditioner too small for the room never catches up on a hot afternoon; one too large cools in short bursts and leaves the air clammy. Capacity is given in BTU per hour, and the room's size, its sun and its ceiling height decide how many you need.
A window unit is the more efficient choice where a window allows it; a portable unit goes where one does not, at some cost in efficiency. Inverter models hold a temperature more quietly than units that cycle on and off.
The comparisons below put capacity, efficiency and price side by side for each family.
All 3 comparisons
- Midea Inverter Window and Portable Air Conditioners: Which One to Buy
Best overall: Covers up to 350 sq ft with 8,000 BTU and includes heat as well as cool for $379.00.
- Midea U-Shaped Window Air Conditioners: Which BTU Size to Buy
Best overall: 10,000 BTU and 450 sq. ft. of coverage at $449.99 fits the most common bedroom or living-room size.
- Windmill Air Conditioners and Purifiers: Which One to Buy
Best overall: Covers 250 sq ft at $289.00 with a 4.8 rating, and it is the only air conditioner in the lineup.