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Guide to the Best Home Air Conditioners

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The sweltering heat of the summer months is a good reminder of the value of an air conditioning unit. In parts of the country such as Las Vegas, Phoenix and Arizona, summer highs can reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. On the other side, parts of the North-East and the Midwest experience biting cold in the winter. This makes it necessary to install a robust air conditioner unit to balance out the extremes.

Air conditioner units come in portable as well as fixed versions. A portable air conditioner can stand in a small space inside the house and typically runs on electricity. Fixed style air conditioners are larger and will cost more.

You can get air conditioner units for the home starting from around $250 for portable units, and $500-$5000 for wall mounted air conditioners.

Reputable Air Conditioner Brands

Buying a brand name air conditioner gives you the peace of mind that the product will last. This is critical when buying an air conditioner since you will need its services for a long time. You want a unit that will last for years without frequent breakdowns.

GE is a market-leading brand when it comes to air conditioners. It leads in the category for window-installed air conditioners. Some of its models include the GE AEC08LW, GE AEZ08LV, and GE AHM05LW.

Another leading air conditioner brand to consider is LG. LG makes high-quality consumer electronics, including everything from TVs to home air conditioning units. The LG LW8016ER and LG LW6016R are some of the air conditioners available from LG. LG air conditioners will cost around $150-$500 for window units.

Other brands like Kenmore and Frigidaire also offer great value when it comes to air conditioning.

The Best Ranked Home Air Conditioner

Many established brands sell quality air conditioners. Some of these include LG, GE, Amana, and others. However, another brand stands out for offering the best components and builds when it comes to air conditioning systems. That company is Goodman.

Goodman is one of the best brands in the market and has been tried in some of the toughest markets around the country. Customers in heat pockets such as Arizona and Texas have come to rely on Goodman's ability to keep their homes cool during the scorching summer heat. Goodman has a solid reputation for its business practices and has also won numerous industry awards.

For most homes, units like Goodman's GSXC16/DSXC16 or the even more powerful GSXC18/DSXC18 will do a thorough cooling job. The GSXC18/DSXC18 operates very efficiently, with a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER Rating) of 18. This indicates very efficient cooling capabilities, making it an ideal choice for the home.

Best Overall Portable Air Conditioner Brand

A portable air conditioner is adequate for small houses and large rooms. It costs less than a central air conditioning unit and can be relocated around the house depending on where it's needed most.

Honeywell is one of the best brands to consider when shopping for a portable air conditioner. The company has highly efficient portable air conditioners such as:

Honeywell MN10CESWW 10,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner - Costs arround $400
Honeywell MM14CCS 14,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner - Costs arround $500

These are very powerful units that will keep the house cool even on very hot days.

Carrier Air Conditioners

Carrier has some of the most powerful air conditioners on the market. The company's high-end models have very high SEER ratings. Running a Carrier unit means that you will save money on cooling costs over the course of the year.

Carrier's high-end air conditioners are available from major suppliers at these approximate prices:

Infinity 24ANB1 21 SEER - Costs arround $4,000
Infinity 24ANB7 17 SEER - Costs arround $2,600
Performance 24ACB7 17 SEER - Costs arround $2,400
Performance 24ACC6 16 SEER - Costs arround $2,300

With a solid industry reputation, Carrier competes very favorably against other leading brands such as Goodman and Amana.