Purchasing a Portable AC? Keep These Tips in Mind


(StatePoint) With scorching summer temperatures here, a cautionary tale unfolds for those in search of a portable AC unit to beat the heat. Enticing promises and clever marketing tactics make it easy to fall prey to the pitfalls that await unsuspecting buyers. Here’s how to be a savvy shopper:

• Ratings: Be aware that a higher advertised BTU rating doesn’t always guarantee a cooler paradise. Crafty sellers may advertise more BTUs than the product’s actual performance, but buyers beware. The truth lies in making sure you are matching the Department of Energy’s (DOE) BTU rating to your room’s square footage according to the DOE guidelines. When shopping online or in-store, be sure to check the fine print for the certified DOE rated BTU level for correct coverage – and if you don’t see this information listed, stay away! A free online BTU calculator can help you choose wisely.

• Certification: Manufacturers are quick to parade their products with proclamations of excellence. Don’t let smooth talkers lure you in with mere claims and great prices. Insist on reviewing the product’s energy guide for the actual BTU rating. Also, make sure the portable AC you are interested in is authenticated by credible third-party organizations. This indicates it has met or exceeded performance standards.

• Type: Before making a decision between window ACs or portable units, determine which type best suits your needs and the room before making a purchase. As a general rule, portable units can be easier to install and more versatile.

• Noise: Whether you’re sensitive to noise or simply don’t prefer to hear the sound of a motor running, check the unit’s decibel (dB) rating. It’s one easy-to-ignore specification that can make a huge difference. The good news? Cool interiors and ultra-quiet performance can co-exist, if you shop around.

In addition to purchasing a great portable AC unit, proper maintenance can help ensure it runs smoothly and efficiently. Periodically remove the filter from the unit and dust it, and clean debris from inside the unit with compressed air. A few lifestyle changes can also contribute to a cooler, more comfortable home. These changes include avoiding the stove and oven on super-hot days, planting shade-bearing trees or bushes outside windows, and swapping out incandescent bulbs for energy efficient LEDs.

Navigating a sea of misleading product claims can be exhausting, particularly when it comes to buying the equipment you need to keep your home and family comfortable in extreme weather. However, when it comes to a cool home, you don’t have to sweat it. A bit of research can help you achieve optimal comfort this summer.


More Resources

5 Reasons to Make Early Spring Firewood Time at Your Home
As the weather hints of warmth and the spring buds appear on trees, firewood may not be the first thing that comes to mind. But early spring is the ideal time to buy or gather your firewood for your fireplace or woodstove.
The Solar Energy Industry Grew 67% Last Year: Are You Making the Best Decision for Your Future?
Are you considering using renewable energy resources to heat water or generate electricity?Would you like to be independent from the grid?Do you want to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions you and your family produce?Great! You are not alone in your quest.The demand for solar power energy is growing.
5 Easy Steps to Protect Your Hardwood Floor From Disaster
Common knowledge states that hardwood floors are a great investment for a homeowner. They add a certain charm and character to a home that can't be replicated by laminates, carpeting, or any other type of flooring.
Pre-Fabricated Steel Buildings
More and more construction is being done with steel in recent years, as more people learn about the many benefits of using steel vs. other construction materials.
Three Great Concepts for Remodeling a Master Bedroom
Since it's one of the places people spend the most time, one of the most satisfying home makeovers is the main bedroom. Here are three ideas for creating a dynamic new main bedroom space:The Passion BoudoirThe French have always led the world in designing sexy bedrooms, and now homemakers all over the world have followed their lead and begun decorating their bedrooms for sex and sensuality.
Heart of the Home
It started with my need for a new mixer. OK.
How To Buy Double Glazing In The UK
Double glazing reduces heat loss through your windows. You can save money on your heating bills.
Choosing The Right Window
When you have reached the decision to purchase new windows for your home, be sure you choose the right windows to suit your needs. Determine the reason why you are replacing your windows.
A Beautiful Carpet Sets The Mood Of Any Room
The first discovered carpet dates back to 1480 BC in the form of an Egyptian Fresco of handloom. Ever since, carpets have made their mark in most tastefully decorated hearths and homes.
A Place For Everything And Everything In Its Place
Tax season is over..
Gel Candle Safety: What You Should Know Before You Buy
A lot of attention has been focused on gel candle safety in recent years. Irresponsible (usually foreign) candlemakers have flooded the shelves of dollar stores and discount retailers with poor quality and at times unsafe container gel candles.
Baking Soda for Cleaning
Baking soda is a common, inexpensive household item that can be used for many kinds of cleaning projects. In an era when we are all exposed to many toxic chemicals, it's nice to know that something so mild can be effective.
Do You Have a Master Bedroom? You Shouldnt! Tips for Remodeling Your Bedroom
The word "master" is an antiquated term that suggests control, domination, and inequality, and in today's cooperative partner and/or single parent household, the label "master suite" has become obsolete. In that light, master bedrooms would more properly be called "main bedrooms" in today's society.
Planning Your In-Wall Speaker System
So you've finally decided to get your favorite music throughout your house. What's next? Where do you go from here? That depends upon your requirements and weather this will be an installation in an existing home or a music system in a new construction home.
Save Time & Money Doing Your Own Basic Electric Wiring
Hiring a professional electrician can be very expensive and is often the reason why people try doing their own basic electric wiring themselves.I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly results of these efforts and I have come to the conclusion that basic electrical wiring is not something anyone should do without proper guidance, tools and confidence.
How to Remodel A Small Bathroom
Not all bathrooms can be lavish spaces with whirlpool tubs and two separate vanities. For some bathrooms, space is at a premium and knocking out walls is not an option, but remodeling must be done.
Creating Your Joyful Home: Dawning of Your Emotions
"I keep the subject of my inquiry constantly before me, and wait till the first dawning opens gradually, by little and little, into a full and clear light."-Isaac Newton (1642 - 1727)Creating a joyful home requires careful planning in order to choose the perfect interior design details.
Make Your Hardwood Floors Shine
You have just installed hardwood flooring in your home. Now what? How do you keep your hardwood floors clean and shiny? Read the following Q&A in which two hardwood floor owners are asking just that.
The Dangers of Pesticides and the EPAs Harrowing Plan to Test Them on Kids
Pesticides are a ubiquitous toxin in our environment. We spray them liberally on ants and spiders in our homes, use them in our gardens and on our lawns, fog our streets with them to kill mosquitoes-even spread them on our own bodies to keep bugs away.
Is It Time For Solar Energy to Get Hot?
Solar energy has been around for quite a while and most people don't think about it much except for the ones who are already into renewable sources of energy. Environmentalists have always loved the idea of solar energy but what has kept it from going more mainstream, being more widely used and looked upon as something someone wants to spend money to install on their property? There have been improvements in the technology of solar energy, but has there been enough? Isn't the war on terror and the desire to be independent of foreign energy sources enough to persuade people to use solar energy? At what point will solar energy become the great and never ending source of energy many of envisioned many years ago?Well, I, for one, think that the time has just about come for solar energy to really take off because of one reason: it will be economically the right and smart thing to do.

More Home Improvement Information:

Related Articles

Be Cool and Comfortable While Saving Money
The cost of energy is on the rise, so if you want to have better air quality and feel more comfortable, you must be prepared to pay for it. People in homes and businesses are looking for ways to save money and still remain comfortably cool.
What is Wire EDM?
What exactly is wire electrical discharge machining, also referred to as Wire EDM? Wire EDM is the process whereby hard metals, those that previously could not be machined or manipulated by traditional methods, could now be machined, manipulated and designed by electrical charges in order to cut away the unwanted metal into heretofore unattainable shapes and designs with greater tolerances and precision.The one limiting requirement for wire EDM is that the material must be electrically conductive.
If You Want to Bring Your Bathroom Up to Date, Consider Fitting a Shower Stall
Modern shower stalls look sleek and stylish. If you have the space, adding a shower stall in addition to your bathtub can be a great way to improve your bathroom.
Remove Ink Stains From Carpet
One of the best solvents you can use to remove ink stains from carpet is also one of the cheapest: rubbing alcohol. It works better if it is 90% isopropyl alcohol, but there is no danger in trying the ones that are 70% if that's what you have available.
The Motors Best Friend
The starting current of motor can become 3 to 6 times the normal running current! That's normal for motors. The motor can experience this high current for a period ranging from 20 to 50 seconds.
Improving Your Bathrooms Appearance can be as Simple as Changing Your Bathroom Cabinets
Your choice of bathroom cabinet can affect the look and feel of your entire room. If your bathroom could benefit from a fresh new look, then consider replacing your old storage cabinets with stylish new ones.
Planning Permission Tips UK - Loft Conversions in UK Properties - Do They Add Value?
We get a great many requests to view the potential of Loft conversions. This type of extension has remained fairly popular since I first started designing property & is perhaps even more in demand now than ever before - especially in dense urban areas where the alternative choices for that fourth bedroom are somewhat limited.
Natural Gas vs Charcoal Grills - Which One Is Right For You?
Barbequing outdoors is a pleasure that anyone can partake in and with so many types of grills available you can practically cook anywhere. One exception to the list is a natural gas grill which needs a permanent hook up.
Hot Tubs Create a Backyard Oasis
What would you like in the backyard that is great for entertaining, would be a focal point and can be enjoyed by the whole family? Hot tubs could be what you are looking for. Immersing in hot or warm water goes back centuries to Greek, Japanese and Roman texts.
Warm Up the Night! Patio Heaters and Fire Pits
In some areas right now, the weather is ideal for sitting outside in the evening -- the bugs have gone and the sky is clear -- but the nights are chilly. Don't let the cool evenings send you inside -- extend your outdoor living season by heating your deck or patio.
Remodeling Your Kitchen
Remodeling a kitchen is one of the best investments a homeowner can make. For most homeowners it is the most important room in the house.
How to Install a New Toilet in 5 Easy Steps
If your toilet is old and in need of repairs, it is cheaper to replace it by installing a new one. This is quite easy to do and can be completed in an afternoon.
Choosing a Vinyl Replacement Window Contractor
Whenever I write an article, it's usually tailored to the do-it-yourself homeowner to help them save some money on the high cost of labor these days. This article is for the "not so handy" homeowner who wants to have new vinyl windows installed in their home.
Warm & Toasty Outdoors with Patio Heaters
The Heat is On with Patio Heaters Any outdoor lover will tell you that the right patio heater will allow you to extend your love of the open-air life all year round. A 15-20 foot circle of heat can easily increase the outside temperature by 10-25 degrees Fahrenheit and that makes all the difference between having to stay inside and eating out.
Have You Considered Fluorescent Lighting for Your Home?
Many of us know that fluorescent lighting is common in work areas and schools. It is the long tubes that run in ceilings, right? Fluorescent lighting is more then just that.
Choosing Color Schemes: Colors and Physiological Response
Because colors have tremendous emotional impact, understanding how color affects human beings can help you create a harmonious, joyful home. But studies have also shown that color elicits physiological responses, as well.
Which Type of Radiant Floor Heating is Best For Me?
If you are looking to warm your floors with a radiant heat system, and have typed "radiant heat system" into a search engine, you might find yourself scratching your head at this point. There are dozens of products available to purchase, and there are even more companies telling you that their product is the best.
How to Finance a New Kitchen?
Want to improve the look of your property? Want to add value to your property?Been dreaming of a brand new kitchen? Do not have readily available cash to pay for it?Are you planning an extension to your home, a new kitchen, would you like to have double glazing, a new conservatory, patio, or a new heating system, or are you undertaking the general up keep of your home but finding it hard to pay for?Why not consider a Home Improvement Loan. Make the dream become reality with a UK Home Improvement Loan.
Log Home Mistakes Ebook Review
Ok, you are ready to build a log home. If you are not going to build it yourself, it mean you will hire a builder.
Installing a Toilet
The installation of a toilet is a relatively easy job for a homeowner. With a couple of wrenches, a screwdriver and a few shims a new toilet can be installed in about one hour.