Staying Cool This Summer
by Sandy Fitzgerald
While many houses have central air these days, there are still some older houses and apartments that do not have central air.
Some days, it’s okay to open your windows and let the fresh air keep you cool, but in the middle of summer, when the humidity levels climb along with the temperatures, there’s only one real way to stay cool in your home, and that’s an air conditioner.
Luckily, if your house or apartment has a window that can be opened, you can install an air conditioner. If you don’t have a window, you can always purchase a portable air conditioner that sits in a room, not in a window.
So what should you look for when buying an air conditioner?
- How much space are you trying to cool? If it’s just a bedroom or other similar sized room, you can use a 5,000 btu air conditioner and have plenty of relief. If you are trying to cool a larger space, you ‘ll need a bigger air conditioner. The larger the air conditioner, the more money you’ll pay.
- Are you going to be able to turn on or off the air conditioner at any time? If you are, then one without a thermostat control is fine. However, if you’re installing it in a bedroom, you should look for a unit with a thermostat, so it will shut itself off during the night. That is, if you don’t enjoy waking up feeling as if you slept in an ice box because your air conditioner ran all night. A thermostat will also help you control your electric usage.
- Ease of use and installation. Most air conditioners are pretty easy to use, and those extra bells and whistles cost extra money.
- Size. Will the one you’re choosing fit in the window where you want it? A large air conditioner will generally fit in a standard sized window, but you might not have a big enough window for that in other locations in your house. Measure before buying.
How much will you expect to pay? Well, a small air conditioner for a bedroom or other small space can be found as cheaply as $80 and up. A larger air conditioner, of course, will cost into the hundreds, but it’s a great investment because you’ll only have to install one of them to keep a whole floor of your house cool.
You’ll also want to seek out a quiet air conditioner. Read consumer reviews before deciding, or you might get a unit you’ll regret.
Of course, once you get your house cooled down, you might be very reluctant to venture out in the heat!