You’ll also want to figure the distance to the nearest electrical outlet and determine whether other items share the same circuit. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/b/b0/Buy-a-Window-Air-Conditioner-Step-1Bullet1. jpg/v4-460px-Buy-a-Window-Air-Conditioner-Step-1Bullet1. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/b/b0/Buy-a-Window-Air-Conditioner-Step-1Bullet1. jpg/aid691277-v4-728px-Buy-a-Window-Air-Conditioner-Step-1Bullet1. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">
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<br />\n</p></div>"} Consider whether the room is self-contained with a door that closes or part of a larger area. Window air conditioners work better for small areas. If you need to cool a large area that makes up your living room, dining area and kitchen, make sure you consider the entire space, as well as the height of the ceiling.
If it’s a simple rectangular room, this is easy. Measure the long wall and the wall adjacent to it. Multiply the two measurements to get the square footage. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/7/73/Buy-a-Window-Air-Conditioner-Step-2Bullet1. jpg/v4-460px-Buy-a-Window-Air-Conditioner-Step-2Bullet1. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/7/73/Buy-a-Window-Air-Conditioner-Step-2Bullet1. jpg/aid691277-v4-728px-Buy-a-Window-Air-Conditioner-Step-2Bullet1. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">
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<br />\n</p></div>"} For a more complicated area, draw a rough diagram. Divide the area into squares and rectangles. Measure the sides of these and multiply to determine the size of each. Add each section to get the total.
A small 8 x 8 foot room would need a window air conditioner rated at 5,000 BTUs. A room that measures 250 to 300 square feet needs one with a rating of 7,000 BTUs. A large area measuring 500 to 600 square feet should have an air conditioner rated at 12,000 to 14,000 BTUs.
Models with a thermostat allow you to adjust the level of cooling, which can make the unit more effective. A fan speed can help you adjust the speed of the air. If you want to consider an option with a fan, also look to see whether you can adjust the louvers directing the flow of air. Filters can help clean the air pulled in by the window unit. You may want to find out where the filter is and determine how easy it will be to clean. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/0/02/Buy-a-Window-Air-Conditioner-Step-6Bullet3. jpg/v4-460px-Buy-a-Window-Air-Conditioner-Step-6Bullet3. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/0/02/Buy-a-Window-Air-Conditioner-Step-6Bullet3. jpg/aid691277-v4-728px-Buy-a-Window-Air-Conditioner-Step-6Bullet3. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">
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<br />\n</p></div>"} If possible, determine the noise produced by the unit during operation.