How to Buy an Air Conditioner

It does sound incredible for anyone to intentionally leave the refrigerator door open for a rush of cool air in the thick of a heat wave. This is just what Mookie did, the character played by Spike Lee in his 1989 film, Do the Right Thing. In reality, this action only makes the room hotter because the heating pump behind it extracts and releases more heat in the room. Here are tips to buy yourself an air conditioner:

  -- Shop for an air conditioner during winter – brands are often on sale and in stock;

  -- Choose between a window, wall, or portable air conditioning unit – wall units need a hole in the wall, while portable units need a window for the ventilation hose

  -- Measure the room to be cooled – buy an air conditioner with the appropriate cooling capacity

  -- Check the Energy Efficiency Rating (EER) of air conditioners – units with higher ratings consume less energy

  -- See if the louvers are adjustable – purchase models that have rotating louvers to circulate air

  -- Reckon special features – some brands offer remote controls, timers and filters to remove odors, dust and especially allergens

  -- Compare products – search consumer sites and other reliable sources for advice and feedback

Try the air conditioning at the store – listen to the noise that a unit makes and see if it can be operated easily. Don't even think of looking to your fridge for a blast of cold.