Author: Dennis Reed

Dennis Reed Owner and Author @ BreatheBetterAir.org

12 Types of Machines That Clean the Air

Finding the right air cleaning machine can be tricky. There are so many types of air cleaning methods and not all are suited for your immediate needs. Getting to know a few and what they do is a great place to start.

So let’s give it a go…

Machines that Cleans the Air- 12 Types

1. HEPA air purifier

HEPA filtration is the most widely used type of machine for air cleaning.

HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Absorber) filters are engineered to capture particles as small as .03 microns. And collect

Which works very well for large particular looks like dander and pollen, as well as dust mites.

HEPA filters are a very dense media made up of random fiberglass fibers.

Interestingly, there are so many knock offs filters that do not meet regulations that HEPA is known as True HEPA now to help consumers find the real thing.

HEPA filter air cleaners are primarily single room purifiers that work better for smaller areas.

Levoit Core is our pick for Best Hepa air purifier- See it Here

 

2. Negative ion Generator

A negative ion generator is a machine that cleans the air by electronically charging particles and emitting them into the air.

This works because when the negatively charged ions from the machine are dispersed into the air, they instantly latch onto the positively charged ions already in the air,  trapping any pollutants in the way into the newly formed bond.

Once these newly formed bonds accumulate, they clump together and fall out of the air.

Negative ion generators also work best in a small area.

3. Ozone Generator

Ozone generators are machines that intentionally create Ozone gas to clean air.
They can effectively remove long-standing odors and kill any bacteria or viral contamination in an area.

Ozone or activated oxygen as it’s also  sometimes called is an oxygen molecule (O2) that contains a third atom. (O3)

Ozone (O3) is very unstable.  So much so that when it comes into contact with any airborne contaminant, it destroys it through oxidation.

Ozone is a very potent air cleaner and is never used in an area occupied by people, or animals.

The reason being is that ozone gas will oxidize your lung tissue if it is breathed too heavily.

It is important to follow the guidelines when dealing with ozone.

Ficus Benjamina - weeping fig4. Humidifier

A Humidifier is a device that does not normally come to mind when you’re talking about a machine that cleans air but you might be surprised.

A humidifier is simply a device that adds moisture to the air.

But when the air is dry, dust is easily kicked up into the air stream. Leaving you wide open for an allergy attack.

A humidifier can help control dust by adding moisture to the air so that dust particles get wet and bind together.

Making the dust particles adhere to surfaces rather than float in your breathing space.

Air Innovations are the Mother of All Humidifiers- See Them Here

5. Bi polar ionization

Bi polar ionization is a type of machine that emits anions and cations simultaneously.

This dispersion of both positive and negative ions have an immediate purifying effect on the air quality of a room.

Air pollutants like cigar smoke can be instantly removed.

Bi polar ionization also has a dramatic effect on bacteria and viruses.

By surrounding the pathogens with negative and positive ions , the cells become damaged and rendered inactive. 

Winix Uses Plasmawave Bi-Polar in Their Units- Check Them Out Here

6. Dehumidifier

A dehumidifier reduces the humidity in a room by turning it into condensate and capturing it in a localized container.

What does that have to do with air cleaning?

High levels of moisture in the air creates droplets that act like traveling containers for air pollutants like mold spores and bacteria.

Humidity is also a major food source for dust mites.

By reducing the humidity in your home or office, you are effectively reducing dust mites and mold spore populations in the air.

7. Air Washer/Water Air Purifier

 

An air washer is a machine that cleans the air by filtering it through water.

The air is pulled in and literally thrown against a series of vats that wash the air before it is released through the other side.

The machine also doubles as a humidifier.

The plus of this type of air cleaning machine is that it never requires any replacement filters and it also moisturizes the air.

The minus is that it is not useful in the humid months.

Air washers also come in compact devices called Revitalizers.

Revitalizers throw aromatherapy into the mix. The machine comes with its own brand of essential oils to use in it.

8. Activated Carbon

Activated Carbon is an age-old method of reducing pungent odors.

Activated Carbon is like a naturally occurring sponge that instead of absorbing water, adsorbs fumes and gases.

It is particularly good at reducing offending smells. Which makes it great for areas like crafting rooms and kitchens.

Types of carbon include charcoal and coconut husk.

The most popular being charcoal.

Activated Carbon is also sold by weight.

Most Hepa Air Purifiers Combine a Carbon Filter as a Set-

Blueair top the list of Best Air Purifiers With A Carbon Filter- See One Here

9. Ultraviolet Irradiation

Ultraviolet light has the ability to destroy any type of pathogen that it is targeted on.

The optimal word being “targeted”.

UV as an air cleaner means targeting the ultraviolet light on a source of air pollution.

One source of air pollution that can be targeted by a UV lamp is the condensation runoff and drip pans inside of a central heat and air handler (HVAC).

Because of the environment of moisture and the absence of light inside a HVAC unit, mold can become an issue that becomes distributed throughout your home whenever your heat or air comes on

By placing UV Germicidal lamps at the source of the mold, you can reduce it before it ever becomes an air quality problem.

10. Photo catalytic oxidation

Photo catalytic oxidation or PCO is another way UV can be utilized as a machine to clean the air.

PCO targets Ultraviolet light onto a titanium oxide catalyst in a hydrated cell.

This process creates a mass blanket of hydroxyls and hydroperoxide ions.

This air cleaning method is essentially like pouring hydrogen peroxide solution, the same stuff used to disinfect a wound, on every airborne germ floating through the air.

See: Air Oasis for the Best PCO air purifiers

11. Air Conditioning

Air conditioning is another type of machine that you may not automatically equate with air purification.

But if you have an air conditioner that has a button on it to enable something called dry mode, then your air conditioner is outfitted with a dehumidifier.

Dehumidification is a type of air purifier because it removes the moisture from the air that is a primary source of food for dust mites in the high humidity season.

It also reduces the humidity that nourishes mold, which in turn releases mold spores into the air.

Even if your air conditioner does not have a dry mode setting, refrigerated air dehumidifies as it cools the air as part of its primary function.

That’s why you have condensation that drips out of your air conditioner.

Central heating and air is another way that air conditioning reduces pollutants in the air.

The air filter that you replace in your HVAC system is not only there to protect your system from getting dirty, it is also there to reduce the pollutants in the air that are circulated through your house every time the air conditioning unit kicks on.

12.Essential oil diffusers

Diffusers can be a great machine for helping clean the ambient air.

Not only do they function as a humidifier to a certain extent, they also disperse whatever essential oil you add to them.

There are many essential oils that have medicinal qualities that help remove airborne pollutants like mold.

Tea tree oil for example is known for its antimicrobial properties.

Likewise Eucalyptus and Lavender, which are both very popular aromatherapy oil additives, are both known to have antifungal properties.

A warning though, essential oils like eucalyptus and tea tree oil can be very potent and even dangerous to animals, especially dogs.

Some air cleaners are made to reduce dust while others are intended to destroy germs and viruses.

Knowing what types of machines that clean air and what they do is a great place to start when searching for an air cleaner.

AC making noise? 13 Noisy AC Problems Explained

Is your AC making noise?

Or does it make a loud noise when starting up or shutting down?

Most of the time it’s pretty easy to tell when the air conditioner is making a noise that you are not familiar with. Most of the time.
The air conditioner turning on and air compressor buzzing, pretty much just fade into the background.

So when you hear your AC making unfamiliar noise, it can be disconcerting and that’s the time to act. A little sound or a little problem can turn into a big problem fast when neglected.

Here is a short list of different noises your AC can make.

1.  AC making rattling noise

When your AC is making a rattling noise outside, the easiest thing to do is inspect the outside of the unit. It could be as simple as one of the side panels has loosened and it’s rattling back and forth while the AC is running.

Debris like Sticks on the outside of the unit can get stuck and rattle when the compressor is on also. Be sure to clean the outside of the machine well.

However, if the rattling is coming from inside of the AC unit and sounds more like a mechanical issue, it could be the fan blower motor.

2. AC making whistling noise

A whistling noise coming from your AC is more than likely a blockage somewhere that is causing air to be forced through.

Things you can check:

  • Clogged or dirty filters
  • Something blocking or covering up a vent
  • Register vents that have been closed

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3. AC making clicking noise

A clicking sound in the air conditioner is likely pointing you to something obstructing the fan blade or a fan blade that has gotten bent and is out of balance.
Clicking or crackling can also indicate a door or side panel that is not tightened down fully and is knocking back and forth.

If your AC is making a clicking or crackling noise and it’s not easily identifiable by inspecting the outside of the unit, just like any suspicious sound
In your air conditioner, it’s worth having it inspected.

4. AC making humming noise

A humming noise coming from the AC is usually very common. The sound from the compressor running is usually described as a humming noise.

But a motor that is seized can also make a loud humming noise. If your air conditioner is not coming on and you hear a loud humming noise, then your compressor has a serious issue and you need to call a tech right away.

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5. AC making gurgling noise

A gurgling noise coming from your air conditioner is going to be related to liquid somehow.

  1. Condensate pump
    A condensate pump is used to pump the water in the drain pan outside.If the condensate pump is leaking, it can make a gurgling sound.
  2. Clogged drain pipe
    A gurgling sound can come from an obstructed drain pipe. If you have a clogged drain pipe or a leaky condensate pump, the next progression is water leaking inside. It needs to be fixed right away.
  3. Refrigerant levels.
    If the refrigerant lines have air in them, the sound could be described as a gurgling noise. Though common, it is not natural and should be inspected.

NOISY AIR CONDITIONER

6. AC making hissing noise

A hissing noise coming from the AC means there is a leak somewhere.
Just like a tire that has a nail in it, and hisses as the air is escaping through that small hole,
When the AC is hissing, there is either air or refrigerant gas escaping somewhere.

As you can guess, this is an issue you want to have inspected as quickly as you can.
Not only will you have diminished results with your air conditioner until you do, you do not want to risk anything being wrong with your compressor. A very expensive fix.

7. AC unit making beeping noise

A beeping noise coming from your AC is typically an alert letting you know that it is either time to replace something or switch to a different setting.
Some alerts include:

  • Scheduled Filter replacement
  • Excess condensation
  • Low thermostat batteries

8. Air conditioner making pulsating noise

An air conditioner making a pulsating noise is usually just the ebb and flow of the compressor cycling. If the pulsating sound is a constant, it could be that the compressor is poorly insulated which makes it easier to hear.

If the AC is making a pulsating noise that is not typical, it could possibly mean something has come loose and is vibrating extra loud.

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9. Air conditioner surging sound

An air conditioner making a surging or pulsating sound is generally the amplified sound of the compressor cycling on and off.
If one of the components of your AC unit is against the frame of the house, the sound of the compressor could throughout the house. Even the compressor that is not insulated could be amplified by the vent system.

10. AC vibration noise

A Vibrating noise in the AC could indicate a lack of airflow caused by the extra force it takes to pull the air through the system.
You could also mean that something like a side panel has worked itself loose and is making a vibrating noise.
Cleaning the filters and giving the AC a good overall cleaning will typically remove these small vibrating noises.
But if the vibration is new and very noticeable, it could indicate something worse.
Having a Tech inspect your unit is a worthwhile investment to keep your AC running well.

11. AC unit buzzing every few minutes

An AC unit that buzzes off and on every few minutes is an indicator that you have a problem.

  1. Balance
    An easy place to start is to check out AC housing itself and make sure that it is not out of balance.
  2. Frozen over
    Another easy reason is that the AC is frozen over. Which generally means a clogged air filter.
  3. Screw loose
    A buzzing sound every few minutes in your AC could also mean that something has worked itself loose and is vibrating every few minutes.
  4. Compressor
    Worst case scenario, there is something malfunctioning inside of your compressor. The compressor is easily the most expensive part to replace on your AC so having it inspected as soon as possible is suggested.

12. Air conditioner squealing noise

When the air conditioner has a squealing noise the most likely culprit is a fan belt. The belt that connects the fan blower to the motor may have gotten out of line or maybe ready to break.
The squealing or squeaking noise coming from a fan belt is an indicator do you have it checked or changed.
You can still run the AC with the squealing noise, but when the belt breaks, there won’t be any cool air till you get it fixed.

13. AC making loud noise inside the unit.

If your AC is making a loud noise inside the unit, it is more than probable that something has broken or come completely loose.
Even if your AC is only making a loud noise when it is starting, something has gotten out of balance or broken.
It’s impossible to tell what has broken till you get inside and inspect it.
Nevertheless, you should have it looked at immediately.


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Should a Window Air Conditioner Be Tilted? 11- AC Queries

Should a Window Air Conditioner be Tilted?


Not all window air conditioners are designed to be tilted backwards to drain the condensation from them. On many newer units you will find the drain hole located to the left side centered rather than positioned to drip out the rear. 

The best policy is to check the user manual to find out for sure if you have a window air conditioner that requires tilting or not.

If your window AC requires tilting per the manual it should be tilted slightly backwards 3 to 5° to provide a runoff for the condensation that is created while the AC is running. 

If the window AC is not tilted, the water will eventually puddle up and fling back into the room.

Worse, if the unit is tilted the wrong way, the water created by the condensation will flow back into your room and potentially ruin your window sill, drywall, wallpaper, and floor or carpet.

You can keep any damage that water from your window AC could cause at Bay by simply tilting your air conditioner slightly backwards so that the water runs through the drain hole outside of the house.

Window AC Not Dripping Water

If you have a window AC not dripping water, the problem is most likely a clogged drain hole.

Since the outside of the air conditioner is exposed to the elements, it is not a surprise that debris can get into the casing of your window air conditioner and clog your drain hole up.

Sediment forming from the minerals in the condensation can also build up to the point that you eventually have a stopped up drain hole.

1You should be able to access the drainage hole from the bottom of the window AC and use a screwdriver to press into the hole and clear it out as a temporary fix.

I say temporary because you are more than likely not be able to clean it out too well from the bottom.

2.Window AC units are meant to be able to withstand rain so with that in mind, using the power washer on your garden hose to spray out the inside of the AC from the rear is also a method you can use to clean out the debris from the inside of the air conditioner.

3.If neither one of those fixes work, then you’ll probably need to resign yourself to pulling the window AC out of the window and taking it apart so that you can access the area that is clogged up from the inside.

Will Rain Damage a Window Air Conditioner?


Window air conditioners are built to withstand the elements, including rain. A typical rainstorm will not damage a window AC. But of the air conditioner is exposed to a hurricane type rain situation where the rain is blowing sideways, then the electronics of the window AC will have more of a chance of getting wet.

If that’s the case, then the best policy is to let it thoroughly dry before turning it on.

Normal rainfall should not have an effect whatsoever on your window AC unit.

Do Window AC’s Have Filters?


A window AC has a washable filter located directly on the face of the inside portion of the air conditioner.

It can be easily accessed usually by pulling open front panel. In some window air conditioners, the filter is inserted into a slot. Pull tabs are usually put into place to be able to pull out the filter easily in order to clean it.

Window Air Conditioner Not Blowing Hard


When your window air conditioner is not blowing hard, the first place to look for a solution is the filter. If the filter gets too dirty, you will have limited air flow.

Limited air flow will also lead to the coils freezing over, decreasing your airflow even further.

Make sure that any grills on either the sides or the rear is completely free and not up against something or else have something draped over them like clothing for instance.

Check the rear grill to make sure that it is not covered in gunk. If so, wash it with some hot water and soap.W

Can a Window Air Conditioner Cool an Entire House?

Window Air conditioners are not made to cool off an entire house. A large 10,000 BTU window AC is good about 350 to 400 square feet. Which is only about half of a very small house.
Running 2 to 3 smaller AC window units will provide better coverage than trying to get the same coverage out of one big large BTU AC.

Do Window Air Conditioners Pull Air From Outside?

Window air conditioners work by pulling room air through the front grill that is located behind the vent.

But many window AC’s have a damper lever that when opened allows a small amount of outside air to come in to a room through the air conditioner as a means of letting in some fresh air.

The ideal is that sometimes since the window is being taken up by the air conditioner that there is no way to let any fresh air inside. That’s why that vent exist at all.

But the conditioned cold air coming from the window AC there’s not originate outdoors. It is the room air being circulated through the air conditioner.

Do Window Air Conditioners Need Freon?

Window air conditioners come pre-loaded with refrigerant for freon and or a closed system. The freon or refrigerant in a window AC that has never experienced any damage should never run out.

Adding refrigerant or freon to a window air conditioner is not a normal part of maintenance and if it does deplete, then you know you have a leak.

Can Window Air Conditioners Be Recharged?

If you find that your window air conditioner has completely leaked the refrigerant out and is no longer getting cool whatsoever than it is possible to buy a kit to refill the refrigerant.

But the probability of the refrigerant leaking back out is pretty high since the AC unit is meant to be a closed system that does not require refilling at any time.

In other words, the only reason you would need to add refrigerant to your window AC is if you have a leak caused probably by some sort of damageW

Does a Window Air Conditioner Dehumidify?

 

 

Window air conditioners like all refrigerated air conditioners dehumidify as they cool the temperature. And many come with a dry mode that allows you to use your window AC as a dehumidifier without having to use the AC function.

The reason is, refrigerated air conditioners pull warm air across cooling coils that cause the moisture to separate from the air. The moisture called condensation is then routed outside through a drainage hole.

Can Window Air Conditioners Cause Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?

No. Window air conditioners cannot cause carbon monoxide poisoning because Carbon monoxide is an invisible gas found in fumes. that are produced by burning fuel.

Window air conditioners do not burn any fuel whatsoever and cannot cause carbon monoxide poisoning for that reason.

Thermostat flashing “Cool On”-Honeywell Troubleshooting

1. Honeywell Thermostat flashing cool on

The “Cool on”  message on a Honeywell thermostat is also known as “delay mode”. It often flashes in the form of a blinking snowflake  or as the word “wait’ as well.

It’s a courtesy message to let you know that the AC will delay in coming on for approximately 5 minutes in order to protect your unit from short cycling which can cause damage.

Honeywell thermostat says waiting for equipment

The waiting for equipment message on a Honeywell thermostat is to let you know that there will be a short delay before the AC powers on to prevent short cycling.

Honeywell thermostat says temporary

Whenever your Honeywell thermostat says temporary or temporary hold, it means that the temperature has been temporarily adjusted until the next scheduled change.

The “permanent hold” message indicates that the temperature is set at its permanent scheduled setting.

Honeywell thermostat says recovery

Recovery is a thermostat mode that indicates your air conditioner has turned back on after it has shut down because of a scheduled “off” period. The recovery mode message is nothing to worry about, it is simply a courtesy to let you know your AC has restarted in order to begin reaching the next scheduled temperature.

Honeywell thermostat says aux heat on

The Aux heat message on a Honeywell thermostat is to let you know that auxiliary heat has turned on in addition to your compressor as a supplement to get your temperature up.

It is a feature put in place to help your heat maintain temperature when the outdoor temperature is extra cold.

honeywell thermostat not turning onHoneywell thermostat “Return” blinking

The word “Return” flashing on a Honeywell thermostat simply means that the thermostat is returning to the preset schedule that it has been programmed for.

Honeywell thermostat says low battery with new batteries

According to Honeywell, if you are still getting a low battery message or the word Lol appears on screen even after you have replaced the batteries,
Then take the batteries out and replace them in the opposite , completely backwards position.
Leave the batteries in the thermostat backwards for about 30 seconds.
Take them back out and put them in the right way.

The message should be gone.

If that doesn’t work, there’s responsibility that the batteries are not good. Retry with new batteries.

Honeywell thermostat says ” leave”

Leave is the message on the Honeywell thermostat is the setting that you put your thermostat on when you are going to be away.
In other words, you’re going to be leaving for a while so you leave your thermostat on a lower or higher number based on the season so that it is not running at full capacity the entire time you’re gone.
Or it could be that it’s just sick of your face.

Honeywell thermostat blinking heat on

Heat on is the message on a Honeywell thermostat that is letting you know that there will be about a 5-minute delay before the heat comes on after the thermostat has been set.

The reason for this is to protect the equipment from short cycling and doing damage to the compressor.

This is the same message that appears when the AC comes on, except when the AC comes on the message will read “Cool on” or show a symbol of a snowflake.

Either way, there is nothing to worry about. It is simply a courtesy to let you know that there is a small delay between setting your thermostat and it coming on.

Honeywell thermostat is blank with no display

If your Honeywell thermostat is blank, the most likely issue is that the batteries have died. If you’re thermostat does not have batteries, then you have probably thrown a breaker.
Simple fix. Check the breaker first. If it is not tripped, then switch out the batteries.

Thermostat flashing _Cool On_ - HoneywellHoneywell thermostat reading wrong temperature.

The temperature sensor on a Honeywell thermostat is the most likely culprit win the thermostat is reading the wrong temperature.

Dust inside of the thermostat can accumulate on the sensor and cause it to gauge the temperature accurately. Popping the thermostat open and blowing out the dust with a can of keyboard air may solve the problem.

Another issue that can cause a Honeywell thermostat to read the wrong temperature is that it is not level.
Check to see if the thermostat has been knocked out of place and is sitting crooked.
If it is, simply level it back out and the thermostat should be reading the right temperature again.

3.  Another scenario that can cause your Honeywell thermostat to read the wrong temperature is its placement inside of your home. If it is not centered correctly inside of the area then it will not read the whole room accurately and could be affected by hot or cold spots in the room.

Honeywell thermostat not turning on

A Honeywell thermostat not turning on is usually a case of not getting power. If the batteries are completely dead, the thermostat will not turn on.
Also if the breaker is tripped, the thermostat will not be able to get power either.
A blank display, buttons not working, thermostat just not coming on, are all indicators that you need to check the battery or check and see if the breaker is tripped.

If the display is on but the thermostat is still not adjusting the temperature, then more than likely you have a dirty or malfunctioning sensor. Taking the thermostat apart and blowing out the dust can clear the sensor off and get the thermostat to working again. Or else replacing the thermostat is a little easier job than disassembling one.

Can You Leave a Window Air Conditioner on 24/7?

It’s that time again. The heat and the humidity have shown their ugly face once more.
You hate to do it, but it’s almost too  unbearable to go without the AC. But how much is too much?
 Does a window air conditioner have a limit for the amount of summertime abuse it can take?

How long can you leave a window air conditioner running? 24/7?

Technically you can leave a window air conditioner running all day and all night if you want and it will not hurt the AC or cause it to overheat in any way.
 But you may want to remember that a large Window AC can use up to 1400 watts. Which will cause a substantial rise on your energy bill.
 Window air conditioners cool extremely fast so if your bot going to be in a room for awhile, the best money is on switching it off when your out.

How long do window air conditioners last?

There is no reason that a window air conditioner will not last you 10 to 15 years as long as it is maintained properly. Even running it 24/7 all Summer long.

But even though it will not do any damage to the window AC itself, running a window AC 24/7 will reflect substantially on your energy bill.

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How many watts does the window AC use?

You can expect a 10,000 BTU window AC to use 830 watts. Which translates to about $120 a day if you were to run it for 12 hours a day in Texas. And Texas is by no means the most expensive state. 
That’s a pretty shocking estimate. Even a window air conditioner that consumes 450 Watts would run you around \$65 for a 12 hour day. Still pretty shocking.

How long do window air conditioners lastMost window air conditioners are made to cool down a room very quickly so unless the room that it is being used in is occupied 24/7, there is really no need to keep a window AC unit running non stop.

Granted, there are times that you want the AC running for a little while before you get home from work or school or if it’s too hot to sleep and you want to keep the AC on till you get to sleep. But you don’t need it on all night

Welcome to the modern world.

Window air conditioners now come Wi-Fi enabled.

Smart window ACs come with their own app that you can use to schedule when your AC is on, or turn the AC on or off from a remote location. You can also change the settings to increase or decrease the temperature.

This is a big advantage when you are shopping for a new window AC.

What are the benefits of Wi-Fi smart window air conditioners?

1.  Energy savings

The ability to schedule your AC to run only according to your daily schedule means using your AC less and having more control over the amount of energy that is used. The smart app will also give you a detailed read of your usage to allow you to schedule even smarter.

2.  Convenience

Smart window air conditioners control the temperature and only give or take as much as you need by monitoring and controlling the unit according to your indoor climate.

The app gives you complete voice command to switch your AC modes with ease also.

3.  Maintenance and Notifications

Through the use of the smart app, you can keep track of every part of your air conditioner. This includes being notified when it’s time to change your filter or if any individual component goes out. It will also let you know if your AC is not draining properly.

Smart thermostats have been a thing  for quite a while now and offer the luxury of being able to schedule your heat and air so that you use less energy.

Now you can get the same control with a window air conditioner.

Yeah sounds great. But I’m not really in the market for a new window AC. The one I got works perfectly fine. After all, these things last for 10 plus years if you treat them right, right?

If you already have a window AC that you’re perfectly content with and it’s not in the market for a new one, yet you would love to have the smart features that you can find on the newest window air conditioners,

The easy solution is a smart plug.

The truth is if you have a hub like Alexa, you can turn any device that you plug in to an outlet into a smart device with scheduling capabilities and remote operation.

Though there are obviously some features you’re not going to get with a smart plug over a fully integrated Wi-Fi smart window AC,

The capacity to schedule the plug so that it only comes on during the times that you have indicated is a big part of the equation that will take you a long way even if it doesn’t give you regular updates an alert you when you need to clean your filter.

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How many watts does the window AC useSummary

Even though running a window air conditioner all day and all night will not hurt the air conditioner or cause it the overheat, it will have a big impact on your energy bill.

Window air conditioners use a lot of Watts. Which will add up to a hefty Energy bill if not kept in check.

That’s why even though it’s fine to run a window AC 24/7, it is not suggested.

Scheduling your AC to run only when you need it is the best way to keep your energy bill in check.

But it is not the easiest thing to do, since there are times when you want the AC to run but you do not have access to be able to turn it on.

The newest kid on the block, the Wi-Fi smart window air conditioner has all the answers when it comes to being able to schedule your AC to come on and turn off when you want it to and also the ability to turn on and off by the use of built-in sensors.

A smart app gives you the ability to schedule your window AC, monitor the temperature, control it remotely, and even notifies you when you need to clean out the filter.

But if you are not in the market for a new window AC but you still want the capabilities of scheduling it, smart plugs can give you access and the ability to control when anything that is plugged into them is on or off.

A smart plug maybe the cheap way out, but sometimes expensive is just expensive.

Can You Use Fragrance Oils in Diffuser? (a Loaded Question)

If you’ve been down the diffuser and potpourri aisle at the local Walmart or dollar store lately, you know the huge selection of different types of scents available not only in essential oils, but also candles, air fresheners, reeds, and warming fragrance oils.

Not only is there a huge selection, it’s all basically combined together with the fragrance oils sitting right next to the essential oils and the essential oil reeds.

And it is not exactly clear on which oils go with which devices.

Or if you can combine different oils with different devices.

And some devices seem to do the exact same thing, which only compounds the confusion.

In this article, we will try to clear up the confusion and also make the confusion worse by throwing in some grey areas where these scents and devices can overlap.

The device is a diffuser. Specifically the water diffuser.

Technically, the only thing you want to use with a diffuser is essential oils. Diffusers are specifically made to work with aromatherapy essential oils. Diffusers are designed to get the best possible results out of aromatherapy oils.

That’s the official black and white answer.

But can you use a diffuser with anything else other than essential oils?

Warning, This is a grey area and if you decide to add anything to the diffuser other than what is listed in the packaging, you could very well break the warranty. 

Again, that’s the official black and white answer.

Can you put perfume in a diffuser?What can you put in a diffuser besides essential oils?

1.Non Healthy
The main issue with adding any other product besides essential oils to a diffuser is that they do not have the aroma therapeutic healing properties that essential oils do. Not only do they not, they are more likely to have chemicals that aren’t necessarily made for breathing.

2.Too Oily
The second main issue with adding other products different than essential oils to a diffuser is the  texture of the oil.

Even though the term “essential oil” makes it sound like essential oils would have a baby oil type consistency, the truth is, it has more of a watery consistency that allows it to dissipate in water.

Other products like warming oil actually have an oil consistency that doesn’t allow it to dissipate in water and stays separated when mixed with water.

This is not necessarily a deal killer but the likelihood of clogging the diffuser as much higher than using a scent that is water based.

Intelligent Aromatherapy

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Can you use fragrance oils in a diffuser?

Fragrance oil is another term for warming oil. Fragrance warming oils have a oily texture that doesn’t mix with water. If you put fragrance oil in a diffuser, you will definitely get an aromatic result because fragrance oil is very strong and tends to make anything it comes in contact with smell strongly.

But the texture of fragrance oil will definitely clog up your diffuser faster than using essential oils.

And unlike essential oils, fragrance oils are made to add a aroma to the air and will do nothing to add any type of therapeutic benefit to the air.

Fragrance oil vs Essential Oil in Diffuser

Fragrance oils are made to be used in oil warmers. Oil warmers are Glade plug-in type devices.
They have an oily consistency that does not mix well in water.
Though you can get a fragrant result by putting fragrance warming oils in a diffuser, the likelihood of clogging the diffuser up as much higher because of the residue left behind by the fragrance oil.
Fragrance oils compared to essential oils are strictly meant to add a scent to the air and carry no therapeutic benefits.

Essential oils are made from plants and are specifically used for their medicinal and antibacterial properties.

Essential oils compared to fragrance oils have a watery texture that completely dissipates when added to the water in a diffuser and does not run risk of clogging up a diffuser.

What can you put in a diffuser besides oil?

You can put any product that can dissipate in water into a diffuser. The term essential oil is a misnomer because essential oils actually have a watery consistency and will mix with the water in a diffuser without adding any risk of stopping it up.

Can you put a vanilla extract into a diffuser?Can you put a vanilla extract into a diffuser?

Vanilla extract can be used in a diffuser because it has a watery consistency and will mix well with the water in the diffuser.
But vanilla extraction not be mistaken for vanilla essential oil. Vanilla extract in a diffuser will add a sweet vanilla scent to the air but it will not do anything to help you health-wise.

Vanilla essential oils on the other hand are well known to fight fever and other infections as well as help reduce inflammation.

Given that vanilla extract can be quite pricey on its own, the choice between vanilla extract and vanilla essential oil should be pretty simple.

Vanilla essential oils are made to go into a diffuser and offer a much more benefit than using vanilla extract in a diffuser.

Can you put perfume in a diffuser?

You can put perfume in a diffuser because Perfume usually has a watery consistency that will easily mix into the water of a diffuser.
It also does not have anything in it that will leave a residue and cause any stoppages in the diffuser.

It is not advised to put any type of perfume that has an oily texture in a diffuser because of the residue that can be left behind and eventually stop up the diffuser.

Perfume is strictly a fragrance and will not add any benefit or therapeutic value to the air that you breathe.

Levoair Smart WiFi Essential Oil Diffuser

See Levoair @ Amazon.com

Ultrasonic Aroma Diffuser with alarm clock, temperature, weather, week display, timer ,schedule,
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Summary

What can you add to a diffuser? If you’re using a humidifier type diffuser that you put the sense directly into the water, you can get away with putting about any type of scent that will dissipate in water.

If you add fragrance oil to a diffuser, you run the risk of clogging up your diffuser because fragrance oil compared to essential oils actually has an oily consistency that does not mix with water.

You may be able to get a fragrant result out of putting fragrance oils in a diffuser, but you run the risk of needing a new diffuser before too long.

Perfumes and products like a vanilla extract can be used in a diffuser easily because they do mix well with water and do not leave a residue behind.

But they are only beneficial for adding a sent to the air and will not do anything for you therapeutically.

Can you get away with putting different types of oils in a diffuser?

Obviously you can, but the truth is, you get a much better result if you just keep a diffuser to use with essential oils and not venture outside of the box.

These products are all pretty inexpensive and it’s rare that you need to put anything into a diffuser because you’re in a pinch.

Evaporative Cooler – Benefits and Drawbacks of Water Cooling

Evaporative coolers go by several different names.

They are also called air coolers, swamp coolers, desert coolers, personal coolers, and ventless air conditioners.

What is an Evaporative Air Cooler?

An  evaporative cooler is a type of air conditioner that uses water to absorb heat and a fan to blow the water cooled air into a room. It does not generate any heat that needs to be exhausted like that on a standard AC unit.

What is Evaporative Cooling?

Evaporative cooling is a method of cooling down the air in a room by blowing air with a fan through a water soaked pad.

  The air is made cooler because of the capacity of the water to absorb the heat and bring down the temperature of the air.

Evaporative cooling is basically a simulation of air blowing over a body of water similar to the natural process of air cooling off as it blows over a lake or an ocean. Only done mechanically in your home.

  There are more components to an evaporative cooler obviously, but that is the basic premise.

How does an Evaporative Cooler work?

An evaporative cooler works through a simple relationship between a fan motor, a pump, and a rigid pad media too soak with water.

Through a 3 -step process, an evaporative cooler works by:

  1. Pumping water through the use of a water pump onto a rigid pad media to soak the pads through with water.
  2. Blowing a fan through the water soaked pad media into a room
  3. Air is pulled through the room by opening a window on the opposite side of the house or room.

The combination of a fan moving air through a water soaked pad reduces the temperature of the air around 20%

Who can Benefit from an Evaporative Cooler?

1.Rooms with No Windows

Anyone who needs an air conditioner but does not have a way to exhaust the heat generated by the standard window AC or portable AC through a window.

Personal or portable evaporative coolers can be an excellent alternative to window air conditioners or portable air conditioners because they do not need a way to exhaust the heat from them.

Conventional Air conditioners use a refrigeration method that absorbs heat and expels it either through the rear of the air conditioner or with a hose that has to be ducted out of a window.

Portable evaporative coolers do not require any type of heat exhaust, which means they do not have to be near a window. Which makes them actually portable compared to a portable AC that needs a window to exhaust the heat from.

2. Garages

Garages in most cases or not outfitted with the ductwork necessary for the HVAC (central heat and air) to cool off the garage.
A portable evaporative swamp cooler is a great choice to cool down a garage. Not only can you put it anywhere you want in the garage, there is usually outdoor access to a faucet nearby.

3.Apartments

If you’re living in an apartment that doesn’t have adequate cooling throughout the whole apartment or one that does not allow you to use a window for a air conditioner,

A portable air cooler can be used as a way to cool down the apartment or as a supplement in the areas of the apartment that do not get cool.

4.Office Spaces

Mini air coolers have become very popular as a desktop solution to keep your personal space cool while you work at your desk.

5. Environmentally Conscious Persons

Unlike refrigerated ACS that can emit dangerous chemicals into the air because of the refrigerant that is used to absorb the heat,

Air coolers do not require anything besides a water hookup and a fan motor. There is nothing potentially dangerous or any chemicals that can be released from an air cooler.

6. Energy Saving

Unlike refrigerated air conditioning that can account for up to 5% tire Energy bill, swamp coolers require very little energy and you can expect your bill to be in the range of running a fan.

Evaporative Air Cooler
Disadvantages of an Air Cooler

1.  Limited Cooling

Evaporative coolers are limited and how much and how accurate they can cool a room.
The settings on a swamp cooler are limited to high, med, and low to control the fan speed and a switch to turn the water pump on.

There isn’t a thermostat to dial in a set temperature that you want the room to cool off to.

2. Do Not Work Well in Humid Climates.

Air coolers require dry air in order to get the best use out of them. Once the humidity reaches above 20 percent outside, it is just as effective to run a fan alone than to use a swamp cooler.

At that point, using a swamp cooler is only adding humidity upon humidity which will make the room feel sticky and “swampy”. Thus the name “swamp cooler”.

Unfortunately there are regions that are humid all year long and can’t really benefit from an evaporative cooler at all.

3. Don’t Cool Enough.

There was a time when swamp coolers ruled the world. People were used to warmer temperatures consistently. But now since Central heating and Air has come to the forefront, people are used to cooler temperatures coming from their air conditioner. And for a lot of people, evaporative cooling is just not cool enough anymore.

4.  Maintenance

Though not as much of an issue with large desert coolers that are designed to have the water ran directly to the machine,

When it comes to portable air coolers, they have to be filled with water in order to operate. That typically means carrying a bucket of water to the machine or running a garden hose from a faucet to the machine.

Water pad media must be kept fresh also in order to hold water.

5.  Bacteria

Evaporative coolers have the potential of standing water built into the design.

Since air coolers require water as part of the cooling process, they must be emptied anytime they are not in use to avoid the growth of bacteria.

Legionnaires disease is a deadly disease that has been traced back to bacteria growing in standing water primarily in commercial swamp coolers that had not been maintenance.

Standing water is also a nesting place for mosquitoes.

5.  Water Consumption

Though a great deal was made out of savings of you electricity by using a evaporative cooler of a refrigerated unit, little is mentioned about the amount of water that is used in an evaporative cooler.

For a portable air cooler, the amount of water used does is work mentioning. But for outdoor desert coolers, you will basically be using the same amount of water as you would to water the yard everyday.

6.  Noisy

Noise is always going to be an issue with evaporative cooling. The combination of a fan and a water pump create double the noise of just a fan. The water has its own sound compared to slurping or washing. Noisy nonetheless.

Summary

There was a time when evaporative cooling was the main form of air conditioning. It was much more common for someone to have a swamp cooler hanging out their window than to have the luxury of refrigerated central heat and air.

Though there are still certain areas that rely heavily on evaporative coolers, refrigerated air has become much more prevalent.

But does that mean that there is no place for evaporative cooling?

Not at all. There are many circumstances were air coolers make more sense than refrigerated coolers.

For instance there are many people who need a way to cool down a room or area who do not have access to any type of window to exhaust the heat of a standard refrigerated air unit.

This makes evaporative coolers a much more convenient way of cooling off multiple tops of rooms including garages, shops, apartments, etc.

The fact that air coolers are much cheaper to run and do not have any negative effect on the environment by the emissions of any type of chemicals is also a big plus and a central reason why some people choose evaporative cooling over refrigerated air.

But there are a drawbacks to air coolers too.

For one you can’t use an air cooler when the humidity is too high. But not only leaves out a huge amount of people who live in regions that are extra humid, it also excludes getting a very good result out of a evaporative cooler in the hot humid months of Summer when you need an AC the most.

Another drawback evaporative coolers have is the potential of standing water. Anytime and air cooler is not in use, it requires emptying the water so that there is no risk of developing mold and bacteria in the machine.

Legionnaires disease is a serious condition that can be traced back to origin, coming from commercial rooftop air coolers there were never maintenance and water allowed to stand and facilitate bacteria.

Stagnant water also invites mosquitoes to lay eggs in the water and become another issue that is absolutely not welcomed especially when you’re already dealing with humidity. 

Can You Put Essential Oils in a Humidifier? (Hint-Yes You Can)

Aromatherapy and Essential oils have for quite some time been the buzzword in the alternative healing world. The rediscovery of the benefits and the medicinal properties of essential oils has led to great popularity and widespread search for the perfect way to get the best use out of the oils.

A humidifier would seem to be the easiest way to distribute the oils given that it already has all the components that make up a essential oil diffuser.

But that has led to some surprising information when it comes to humidifiers.

Can you put essential oils in a humidifier?

You can absolutely put essential oils in a humidifier provided it’s the right type of humidifier. Many humidifiers come equipped with an essential oil tray. Choosing a humidifier that is essential oil ready is a easy choice when you are in the market for a humidifier and a diffuser.

But what if you already have a humidifier?

When can you not use essential oils in a humidifier?

Not all humidifiers are made to be used with essential oils.
Though most and more the popular brands like Levoit and TaoTronics have begun to include the aromatherapy tray as a basic accessory, most of the humidifiers you see in the vitamin department of Walmart or Dollar store are basic low cost water misters that use cheap plastic.

1.  Cheap Plastics

Humidifiers seem to be the perfect solution for not only humidifying your room but being able to get the benefits of the essential oils at the same time. But unfortunately with some types of humidifiers, that is just not the case.

The plastic that the basic humidifier without a essential oil tray is not made to withstand the corrosive oils that are put in essential oil scents.

You will find if you put essential oils in the basic big box store humidifier, that the plastic inside of the humidifier will begin to crack and eventually crack open.

Granted, even though these humidifiers maybe made cheaply, they or also not very expensive.

2.  Clogging

Putting oil into a humidifier is asking for your humidifier to eventually clog up. Even though  most essential oil may seem to have a watery texture, they are still mixed with a carrier oil even if lightly so.

Eventually, if the plastic doesn’t crack open, you will have to deal with your nozzle getting clogged.

Oil and water do not mix.

3.  Warm mist humidifiers

Essential oils are not meant to be boiled and heating them will diminish their healing effects.
Warm mist vaporizers heat the water to a boiling point.
You might think because the water gets so hot that the likelihood of clogging would not be an issue when adding oil to the water. That’s a Good point.
But it doesn’t negate the fact that heating the essential oils can reduce the benefits of using them in the first place.
Warm mist vaporizers like the Vicks vaporizer actually have a tray to put the Vicks ointment.

4.  Timer limitations

Essential oils are not meant to be breathed in continuously. In fact, 15 minutes is about to limit that you want to diffuse an essential oil.

Most humidifiers do not come with built-in timers, and if they do, then there is a good chance that they already have a proper aromatherapy tray included with them.

The basic cool mist humidifier is a “just add water” and turn it on till the water runs out type of humidifier.

And that is what it is made for, to humidify the room.

Once you add essential oils to the mix, then you have to set a limit on how long you’re going to use the humidifier or else risk overdoing it with the essential oils.

Which reduces the amount of time that you’re using the humidifier to do the job it was made for, which is add humidity to the air.

A vicious circle.

5.  Climate

The need for aromatherapy without the need of a humidifier.

Humidifiers are seasonal. And for most people, they’re only useful for about half of the year. Why is that? The climate.

There are certain times of the year when adding more humidity to your air is not only not needed, will make you feel uncomfortable to say the least.

Even If you could use a humidifier to disperse essential oils without it having any negative effect so ever on the humidifier,

You would still be limited by the fact that humidifiers are not needed all year and you cannot use the humidifier without it humidifying.

Conclusion

The Best policy is just to get the right humidifier that is made to be combined with the diffuser or to buy a humidifier and a diffuser separately.

I lean towards the latter.

Why?

Diffusers are very small and they are made to disperse essential oils correctly.

They’re much more mobile than a humidifier because of their size, and there are different types of diffusers that do not require adding water at all.

Not only that, the price of a diffuser without all the bells and whistles is about 10 bucks and it will properly diffuse my essential oils, which do cost a lot, without over doing it or wasting them.

Lagunamoon Premium Essential Oils Set 20 Pcs

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Determined to go ahead?

This would be the part of the article where I tell you that the only way to get a humidifier to work with essential oils is to buy the property humidifier that has the essential oil trade built in.

And these are your three choices…$$$ ChaChing

But the truth is, there are many ways to get humidifiers to work for you more than just to add moisture to the air.

There are also more ways to use essential oils with humidifiers other than to drop them right into the water.

1.  Cotton Ball

Put the essential oil on a cotton ball and place it over the misting nozzle at the top of the humidifier.
Put the cotton ball directly on the nozzle, then add a couple of drops of essential oil to the cotton. Turn the humidifier on, and reap the benefits.

The reason you should put the cotton on the nozzle first is that the smell of essential oils is very potent if you get it on your hands, it tends to stay with you for a long while.

Also, it’s way better to start small with the amount essential oil you use, cuz a little goes a long way with essential oils. And you can always add an extra drop or two if you need.

2.  Who needs a store-bought humidifier?

In my house growing up, grandma just put a pot of water on the furnace or on the stove and added eucalyptus to it. Easy peasy. Let the water simmer to it needs to be refilled, then start over.

3.  Lemon peels

Adding lemon peels to your humidifier water
will create a fresh fragrance to your home and also have an effect on your demeanor. Lemon is also a great all natural residue remover.

Summary

Can you use essential oils in a humidifier? The answer is yes. There are many humidifiers that are essential oil ready and contain everything needed to operate as both a humidifier and a diffuser.

But there are also a ton of cheaply made humidifiers that will crack because of the corrosive nature of essential oils. 

So if you want the convenience of using a humidifier with essential oils then be sure that the humidifier you purchase is built for it.

And remember just because you can doesn’t mean you should.

Humidifiers are typically appliances that only get a lot of use in the winter months. Essential oils are presumably something that you want to be able to use all year long.

In the long run, it is probably, in my opinion is that it is better just to purchase a separate diffuser. Not only is it made for the job, it isn’t climate dependent.

And the bottom line is, diffusers are one of the cheapest appliances you can purchase.
It’s the essential oils themselves, that get you in the wallet.

Can I Run My Swamp Cooler All Day?(Evaporative AC Hacks)

Living in the Southwest my entire life, one of the most common sites in the neighborhood was the big blocky swamp coolers hanging off the side of nearly every house on the block.

Of course this was more like 25 years ago and these days, swamp coolers are a lot less popular, which in a lot of regards is a much better.

But the good ol evaporative swamp cooler has a lot of advantages if you know how to get the best out of one.

Can I run my swamp cooler all day?

One of the best ways to get a swamp cooler to cool the house is to turn it on in the morning when the air is cool and let it run the entire day.

Provided you have the proper hookups in place to be able to run the water all day to keep the pads wet.

The reason I make that distinction is that evaporative coolers have become popular as standalone portable units and some are quite small.

If you have the type that you have to fill with a bucket, then running it all day may be too difficult to keep up with.

But regardless, if you can, starting a swamp cooler in the morning will cool the air nicely and give you a much better head start to keeping the house cool during the afternoon heat.

Hessaire MC18M Portable Evaporative Cooler – Gray, 1300 CFM, Cools 500 Square Feet

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How to make a swamp cooler colder?

One of the easiest ways to make a swamp cooler feel colder is to take a garden hose and spray down the pads real well. Or if it’s an indoor evaporative cooler, saturate the pads using a bucket of water.
This will add an extra bit of kick to the swamp cooler when the sun gets high.

This is a technique I remember real well doing as a kid. It seems like I was constantly being told to go outside and spray down the air conditioner when the afternoon heat hit.

How to use an air cooler with ice?

  1.  Lift out one padded side of the swamp cooler.
  2.  Add ice or bottles of iced water into the water basin.
  3.  Put the padded side back on by inserting it at the top and bringing it in at the bottom

Putting ice in the water tank of a evaporative cooler is a method of getting a cooler temperature out of a swamp cooler.

If you have plenty of ice, then dumping a bag of ice into the water will make the air coming from your cooler much colder for a little while.

And though you can add ice directly to the water, you will probably find that it melts faster than you want to keep at it.

One one way of making the ice last longer is to freeze water bottles (full of water of course) and put those into the water instead of adding the ice directly to the water.

How many bottles do you need? According to the size of your swamp cooler, anywhere from 3 to 6 bottles of Frozen water.

The point is to cool the water off. Not to replace the water with ice. If you completely replace the water with ice, the swamp cooler will not be able to run at all.

Many a lot of the popular brands of portable ventless air coolers come with plastic ice packs that eliminates the need for a DIY method like putting bottles of Frozen water in your swamp cooler

Air cooler not cooling?

If your air cooler is not cooling, There is only a handful of things that you can check to diagnose the problem.

1.  Are the pads getting wet?

If the pump is running, but you don’t feel cool  air coming from the cooler, there’s good chance that you’re you’ve got to stoppage somewhere or a disconnection.

Take the pad walls off of the machine and make sure that all the water hoses are hooked up correctly and that there is water flowing through them well.

2. Is there proper air flow in the room?

In order to get good air flow from a swamp cooler, you need have a window or door open on the opposite side of the house. If there is not a window or door open then the air coming from the machine does not have anything to pull it through the house.

Vice versa, if you have too many doors or windows open then the air coming from the cooler will just end up getting pulled out of the house and too much outdoor air will be allowed inside.

3.  Do evaporative coolers work in high humidity?

If you’re evaporative cooler is not cooling and you’ve determined that you have proper water and air flow, you may just have a problem with the humidity being too high to tell that the air cooler is making much of a difference.

Unfortunately swamp coolers get their name because of the swampy feeling that you get when you add humidity on top of humidity.

When the humidity is already high, trying to cool off a room by adding more humidity only compounds the problem and can make you feel even hotter.

Can you use an evaporative cooler with a dehumidifier?

Using a dehumidifier to reduce the moisture in the air with an evaporative cooler seems like it would be a good idea, right?

Doesn’t it make sense that if you could reduce the humidity with a dehumidifier, then all you would be left with is cool air?

But there is a couple of problems with that theory that don’t exactly pan out.

1. Dehumidifiers exhaust heat.

Dehumidifiers expel heat from the rear similar to what you have probably experienced by walking behind a window air conditioner.
Placing of the humidifier in the room to reduce humidity but not only reduce the amount of cool humidity that you are getting from the air cooler, it would also add the additional heat that it is exhausting in the process.

2. Dehumidifiers are expensive.

If you were going to purchase a dehumidifier to work with an evaporative cooler, you might as well purchase a window air conditioner or a portable air conditioner. Both the window ac and a portable air conditioner will dehumidify as they cool and most of the time they come with dry mode which will operate as a dehumidifier separately.

What Should You Look For in a Small Window AC? (3 Favorites)

Small window air conditioners  generally cover right around 150 square feet for 5000 BTUs. 250 square feet for 6,000 BTUs.

BTUs which stands for British Thermal Units can be a confusing metric to base your AC needs off of.

Most people are unfamiliar with what BTUs actually are.

That’s okay,  so am I.

An easier way to figure out what size AC you actually need is to base it off the square footage. Which is generally labeled on the box near the same area where the BTUs are listed.

The formula for square footage is length x width.
In simpler terms, if you have a room that is 10 ft going one way and 12 ft going the other way, you multiply 10×12 to find that you have 120 square feet of space.

Using the same formula, you can find out how many BTUs you need by simply multiplying the square footage by 25.

Sq ft x 25 = BTUs.

But to be fair that is a rough estimate and doesn’t take into account variables like high ceilings, hot climates, and rooms that are directly in the Sun.

If any of those variables applies to you, then you should probably consider stepping it up to the next size.

What should you look for in a window AC?

 

1.  Sq. feet covered
Getting the right AC to match your square footage is important. Air conditioning is not like a race car engine that works better when it has more power. Two large of an air conditioner can actually make the room extra humid. Not to mention the extra energy required to run a larger air conditioner.

2.  Physical Size
It’s important to match the physical size of a window AC to the actual window it’s going in. Though with a small window air conditioner, it will not usually be the case, it is possible to get a AC unit that is just too large for your window.

3.  Watts/ energy usage
The amount of watts an AC uses will impact the amount of money you spend to run the unit every month. It’s a good idea to check the wattage to find a unit that is relatively low.

Beyond this small list, it is really just bells and whistles.

Some of the extras you can expect to find in a Window AC are:

 

1. Dehumidifier

Humidity on its own can make a room feel hot without the actual temperature being that high. A dehumidifier or dry mode as it is usually called, will reduce the humidity in the room without using the refrigerator function to cool.

2. Auto shut off

Auto shut off on a window AC is an excellent feature because it will turn the AC off once the desired temperature is reached.

3. Remote control

A remote control with your window AC is one of the best features you can look for when shopping for an AC. Can you imagine any other item that has made life easier than a remote control?

This list of small window air conditioners is comprised of units that use 5,000 and 6,000 BTUs or cover 150 to 250 sq. ft.

Della 6000 BTU

  • 15.26 x 13.45 x 19.04″
  • 6000 BTUs
  • 690 w
  • 250 square feet

The Della small window AC is a great air conditioner that covers 250 square feet handily. It comes featured with full on dehumidifier, auto shut off, 3 speeds, and the obligatory remote control.

Cons

Heavy- 53 lbs
Available in White only
690 w- Expect to use more energy

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LG Energy Star Rated 6000 BTU

  • 19.56″ x19.38″ x12.38″
  • 6000 BTUs
  • 480 w
  • Covers 260 square feet

The LG 6000 BTU window air conditioner comes with everything you need. It is a very quiet AC that comes equipped with dry mode for dehumidification and a remote control.

Built-in timer allows you to set the duration that you want the air conditioner to run.

Indicators let you choose between cool, energy, fan only, and dry mode.

It also has a indicator light to let you know when it’s time to clean the filter.

Low wattage means a lower energy bill with this unit also.

Cons – oversized.

Check it Out Here

MIDEA MAW05M1BWT

Need something a little smaller? Back to the basics?

MIDEA offers a 5000 BTU window air conditioner with mechanical controls. 7 temperature settings and two fan settings.

This is a entry level low priced AC set to be released in April 2021.

  • 15.98 by 13.19×12.05 in
  • Covers 150 square feet
  • 450 w
  • 5,000 British thermal units (BTUs)
  • Washable filter
  • Easy installation- minimal modification needed

Cons

No bells and whistles.

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TOSOT 10000 BTU

Need something a little bigger?

TOSOT offers a 10,000 BTU window air conditioner that covers 450 square feet

  • 21.4×22.8×15.8 in
  • 115 w
  • Covers 450 square feet
  • 10,000 BTU

The TOSOT 10000 BTU has a sleek modern look with a digital readout. It also does not have the standard grill on the front side of the AC that is typical for nearly all other window air conditioners.

Smart remote control uses sensor technology to monitor the temperature of the air and adjust the air conditioner strength.

Sleep mode- adjust the temperature throughout the night to give you the best comfort. throughout the night

Modes include fan, sleep, timer, swing, and I feel

Very low wattage for a window AC. Energy saver.

Energy STAR certified

Review stating that it is the best AC they’ve ever had.

See it Here