Jeff Flowers on July 17, 2013 0 Comments Summer heat is miserable without the proper appliances to keep you cool. Compact living quarters often make it hard to find the right appliances for your cooling needs. Unfortunately, if you are renting, you oftentimes do not have the option of installing permanent air-conditioning units. If that’s the case, don’t worry. Here’s a few space-saving cooling solutions that will help keep you comfortable in your apartment all summer long. Portable Air Conditioners Portable air conditioners are designed to move easily, allowing you to place them wherever they are needed. These air conditioners sit on the floor and they come with a window kit that is placed in the window. The window kit is easy to install and takes up little space in the window. The instructions for the window kit are simple to follow, and the initial installation process takes only minutes. Consisting of four basic components, portable air conditioners are designed to sit on the floor and be moved rather easily. The window vent fits directly into the window. The exhaust hose attaches to an exhaust hose coupling and allows hot exhaust air to escape outside. To get your air conditioner set up, connect the exhaust hose to the back of the unit, install the window vent and connect the exhaust hose to the window vent. Your air conditioner is then ready to cool. Portable air conditioners come in different sizes to cool large or small rooms. It’s important to know the differences in BTU ranges. 7,000 BTU air conditioners cool areas up to 250 square feet. 12,000 BTU air conditioners keep a room that is 450 square feet comfortable. A 14,000 BTU air conditioner is the largest one offered and is designed to cool a room that is 600 square feet. Knowing how big your room is will help determine which portable A/C unit is right for you. Window Air Conditioners Another great way to beat the summer heat, is to install a Window air conditioner in your apartment. Unlike the portable units mentioned above, these air conditioners are installed right in your window. Living in an apartment usually means you are limited to air conditioning units that are not permanently attached to the building structure, which is precisely why a window cooling unit is a great solution. Not only are window air conditioners easy to install, but they fit most types and sizes of windows. To ensure compatibility, be sure to measure the dimensions of both the unit and the window prior. Additionally, window units can be uninstalled just as easily as they were installed. So, whenever your lease is up, you just simply take the unit out and take it with you. There are plenty of brands to choose from, but Frigidaire and LG are two of the most popular. You can’t go wrong with either brand. Personal Fans & Air Circulators Another popular option to help keep you cool in the summer are air circulators and fans. Just as the name implies, these devices will help cool down your living area by providing better air circulation. The main benefits of using a fan is the ease of moving it around at your leisure and the lower cost of obtaining it. The downside, however, is that an air circulator is not going to cool you off nearly as fast as a window or portable unit. Things To Keep In Mind Portability and ease of installation are important characteristics when it comes to purchasing an air conditioning unit. Whether you’re wanting to cool an extra large room, cut energy costs or other limiting circumstances keep you from installing a window unit, portable air conditioners are practical and simple to use. Instructions booklets, user manuals and help numbers are all included with your portable air conditioning unit to make installing and using your unit as easy as possible.
