The energy efficiency ratios of air conditioners have improved dramatically during the last decade or so. The reason behind this is stricter government standards. A room air conditioner that is manufactured after October 2000 and has a capacity of less than 8,000 BTU must have 9.7 EER.

According to government regulations, manufacturers have to clearly display the SEER ratings on air conditioning units. When purchasing an air conditioning unit, you have to consider the following things:

Get the right size air conditioner
An air conditioning unit performs both the functions of cooling and moisture removal. If the air conditioning unit is smaller for your room size, it will not cool the room properly and if the air conditioner is too large it will not control humidity properly.

Check the ease of installation
Air conditioners that appear light in weight may not be easy to install. As far as possible, install the air conditioner unit with the help of an air conditioning professional. There are many air conditioners that require special installation. The slide-in chassis makes it easier to install the air conditioner, since you have to install the lighter portion first, but the process takes a while longer.

Check the convenience features
Always purchase air conditioners that have thermostats, a digital control, built in timers and remote control features. These features are now usually available in the low priced models too.