Comparing Air Conditioning Units for Your Small Aparment

If you’re looking for air conditioning units, chances are you may not have central heating and cooling in your apartment. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as it takes a tremendous amount of electricity to run those, which means a higher electric bill. You can control your bill a lot better by isolating your use of air conditioning to the room you’re using. With the right unit, you can achieve comfort and frugal living at the same time. Here’s a comparison of some air conditioning units to help you make the right choice for your small apartment:

Portable Air Conditioning Units

If money is your concern, then this might be your best option. Portable air conditioning units are light enough to carry from room to room, and you can use it as much or as little as you want. With central air, you just have it running throughout the entire apartment, which can be wasteful when you’re cooling rooms you’re not using. There are ways to minimize that waste by covering up vents, but it doesn’t compare to using a portable air conditioning unit. Portable units are also designed for small spaces, which makes it ideal for small apartments. They are more effective than portable air coolers (a different product), because they use Freon and not water.

Floor (Standing) Air Conditioning Units

This is one type of portable unit that is taller than typical portable air conditioning units. These are better to use if you want to keep the air on you while you’re sleeping, if you’re working at a desk, or if you want to feel the air at a higher elevation. Some also like floor standing units for their style and slimmer size, as they are narrower and taller than portable units. This is really a preference issue, as both portable units work the same.

Window Air Conditioning Units

These are another option for your small apartment, but will require more power to run. You might also need permission from your landlord to run these because it could trip the breakers that you share with other tenants. Check your lease agreement for any restrictions, and ask your landlord if you’re not sure. Their concern would be damage to the window frame and violations of city zoning laws. If your landlord gives you the okay, then window air conditioning units are another option to explore.

You have to be meticulous about shutting them off manually, unlike central air which shuts off automatically when your room reaches a certain temperature. You do have the benefits of using these in the specific rooms you’re using, however, if you’re not careful, you could use as much power as central air if you live it on all the time.

One of the advantages of renting a small apartment is the ability to reduce your heating and cooling bill by using air conditioning units instead of central air. Before making a purchase, it’s important to read as many reviews as possible on any unit you wish to purchase. Also, compare the Watts required to run each unit, which determines how much electricity the unit will use.