Beat The Heat--Choose The Right Air Conditioner

Tuesday, March 1, 2005

Beat the Heat—Choosethe Right Air Conditioner (NAPSA)—It’s easy to beat the heat with a room air conditioner, if you know how. To help, the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) has a web site, www.cooloff.org, with a simple three-step way to help consumers select a room air conditioner by first determining cooling needs measured by BTUs per hour. At the site you can also use the searchable directory to find units with certified performance ratings and links to manufacturers’ sites for additional information. It is important to choose a room air conditioner with the proper cooling capacity. There’s a close relationship between cooling capacity and dehumidifying. An oversized unit will cool quickly but will not run long enough to dehumidify, resulting in a “cold, clammy”feel. The web site offers selection information on proper cooling capacity, energy efficiency, instal- lation requirements, as well as efficiency use and maintenance tips and takes you through the process step by step. First, determine how many BTUs you need with the Cooling Load Calculator. Then, search and print a list of models that meet your needs. You can compare other features and benefits at manufacturers’ web sites. The models listed in the When the heat is on visit www.cooloff.org to select a room air conditioner that is right for your home. searchable database have had their performance tested and verified through AHAM’s Certification Program and are searchable by brand, BTU, EER (energyefficiency ratio) or voltage. If you have questions about certified room air conditioners, visit www.cooloff.org, or e-mail info@aham.org. AHAMis an organization that certifies the testing results of home appliances such as room air conditioners, dehumidifiers and room air cleaners, making com- parison of products easier for consumers and giving them a consistent product standard they can trust.