Air Conditioners

We take them for granted, let’s be honest. Air conditioners are an absolute wonder, they keep us sane in hot and wet and sticky conditions. They keep us cool, not fighting with relatives and friends, able to maintain a steady environment free of stress and most important … cool. It’s hard to imagine a time when people lived without these. Like the microwave or the internet, how did they do it? This was also the time when saber-tooth tigers were trying to consume you or fellow Neanderthals attempting to club you over the head. So, there were other worries than staying cool, that’s for sure.

An air conditioner works by calling upon chemicals that convert gas to liquid, and then back to gas again. A typical unit has a compressor, condenser and an evaporator. The outside part of the system houses the compressor and condenser, and the inside contains the evaporator. The cooling fluid will hit the compressor in the form of low-pressure gas at which point it is squeezed, allowing the molecules to pack closely together. The sheer pressure of this compression causes the temperature and the energy to rise which in turn can either heat a unit (heater) or cool a unit (air conditioner). This is the reason why many machines do both as the chemistry behind heating or cooling air is quite similar.

Now on to what you’ve been waiting for, the cream of the crop when it comes to A/C units. Tell the kids you’ll have to play with them later, put that third Diet Coke down (it’s not contributing to any weight loss), take off your shoes and slide in to your Lazy Boy. We’re going to jump off first with the LG LW8016ER, a monster of a machine blasting out 8,000 Btu units yet runs at a lower volume than any comparable unit. Cool, extra features such as two-axis fan blades, a removable drain plug and a fresh-air vent might sound minor but are highly valued. This is a great unit for a den or office and even quiet enough to install in your bedroom and sleep with.

The Frigidaire FFREO833S1 is bit louder than the LG, but just a sprinkling. It is also higher pitched yet equally capable from a performance perspective. This unit is lighter and smaller than comparable units, so installation is not as cumbersome. Speaking of installation, it might be worth it to spend a couple extra bucks to make sure it’s done right. Installing an A/C unit can be rough at times, despite the technology that has supposedly made it easier.

The Frigidaire FGRQO833U1, not to be mistaken from the earlier set of numbers that followed the first Frigidaire, this unit is an absolute treat for the bedroom. It’s quite possibly the quietest unit on the market today and while the cooling performance might not be at the level of the LG, it’s pretty darn close. Couple that with what folks online describe as a snap to install, contracting someone might not be needed. The only downside to this unit is it at times it’s not in stock 100% of the time.   

All great A/C choices, ladies and gentlemen, take your pick!