Looking for a Portable Air Conditioner? BTU Makes a Difference

Portable air conditioner BTUs make all the difference between whether you’ll have a unit that cools your room well or one that works poorly. You might be tempted to go with the cheapest unit that you can find at the store. Let’s face it, these units can be expensive and cost more than what many renters can afford. However, you can make up the costs later in the savings you get from using less energy than a heat, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, central air conditioning and some window units. If you get a unit with insufficient BTUs though, you won’t enjoy any savings in your electricity bill.

BTUs Explained

British thermal units (BTUs) indicate how fast an air conditioner can cool a room. It measures the amount of heat (how many BTUs) that the air conditioner removes from the air. Portable conditioners with BTUs that are too low for a room’s size won’t cool all of the room, because it can’t. The higher the BTUs, the larger the room size it can cool. If you purchase a portable air conditioner that has too many BTUs for the room, then you’ll be using much more power than you need, which results in higher bills from your electric company. Your goal when shopping around for a unit is to find the air conditioner with the right number of BTUs for the room size. Each air conditioner lists the BTUs in its product description online or on the box, which corresponds to a maximum room size.

5,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner

Expect a portable air conditioner with 5,000 BTUs to cool a room that’s no more than 175 square feet. Try to find one with a dual hose to cool the room even faster. Variation in temperature control settings is also key, and you should make sure that the portable air conditioner that you’re considering has one.

8,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner

If you want to cool a room that’s 200 square feet, then you’ll need a portable air conditioner with 8,000 BTUs. If you have enough money to buy one with a self-evaporative system, that’s even better. You won’t have to worry about emptying out trays every day, which is the case with non-evaporative units.

10,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner

Living room areas or large bedrooms that are around 300 square feet will need a portable air conditioner with 10,000 BTUs. Some units include a built-in shut on/shut off thermostat to help you conserve energy. You can also set it to come on minutes before you come home from school or work.

12,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner

A portable air conditioner with 12,000 BTUs can cool a room up to 400 square feet. If you need to heat your room as well, consider a 2-in-1 air conditioner and heater combination. However, if you experience severe winter temperatures, it’s not the best option for heating your apartment.

14,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner

A portable air conditioner with 14,000 BTUs is capable of cooling a room up to 450 square feet. Some units come with a remote control that makes them convenient to use. You can also buy one with a built-in dehumidifier.

A portable air conditioner with BTUs to match your room size can be the best solution for cooling any apartment you rent. Find the best value for what you can afford, and consider the amount of BTUs.